In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to give you a few easy ways to save some green and be green when cleaning your home. The home is where you, your family and your fur children (pets) live so it is especially important that you are careful with which cleaning products you decide to use.
Cleaning Tools
Before I start discussing the different cleaners, let’s talk about tools. One of the best sink scrubbers is old toothbrushes. Yes, you heard that right— toothbrushes. Before you chuck out your next old toothbrush, put it in a cup marked “For cleaning” under your sink (or wherever you store your cleaning supplies) and use it the next time you need to clean grout or hard to reach places. Another great cleaning tool that will save you some green is using an old loofah. If you have an old loofah or two or have one you never use, put it to work! The loofah does a great job at removing build-up on tiles and tubs without scratching.
Another cleaning tool that you already have at home is using old clothes for rags. Instead of throwing out your faded shirt or sock with holes, keep it in a designated space for rags so you can easily find it when cleaning. Old cotton t-shirts make a nice drying cloth when cleaning glass because, unlike paper towels, they don’t scratch and can be reused after a wash. Our last cleaning tool we will include in this blog post is steel wool. If you don’t have any steel wool in the house, you should put it on your next grocery list. It has so many great cleaning properties! It helps remove rust, remove black shoe marks off vinyl flooring, polish real brass (with a little salt and lemon juice), clean your windows (be sure to get the finest steel wool), cleaning your grill grates, and fill in any holes or gaps you have in your house to prevent any rodents from entering– so many diverse uses from such an affordable product!
Green Cleaning Solutions
Now that we’ve discussed briefly some great household items that can be recycled into cleaning tools, let’s talk about some cleaning solutions that you can make yourself. Lemons aren’t just for cooking, they make to be a great cleaning product as well. Its acidity plus its fresh, clean scent makes it a staple additive for your cleaning solution. Lemons, baking soda, vinegar, and plain ol’ soap are all widely used household products that can be mixed together to create safe cleaning products. Here are just a few different mixtures you can make yourself:
All-Purpose Cleaner and Deodorizer – Works well to clean kitchen countertops, backsplash, and appliances
• 4 tablespoons baking soda OR white vinegar
• 1 quart warm water
Homemade Glass Cleaner
• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• 1 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Commercial Green Cleaning Products
There are also several great blogs and websites that have more green recipes to use anywhere from removing mineral deposits in your toilet to cleaning grease off your stovetop. Or, if you simply don’t have time to research a recipe and create a solution yourself, there are some commercial products that we recommend for cleaning your kitchen or bathroom or even just your hands (as those are important too!).
Orange TKO: The Power of Nature at Work
This cleaning product is made from orange peels and is 100% environmentally friendly. It is a great cleaner and degreaser and will leave your home smelling like fresh citrus!
Buy it here.
E-Cloths
These cloths come in a variety of different textures to help clean different surfaces. One is great for scrubbing while another is better for dusting. Get this whole set for $40 on Amazon. Makes for a great housewarming gift! Buy them here.
J.R. Watkins Hand Soaps
View their hand soaps and home care products here.
Do you have any green cleaning solutions that you like to use? Do you have any other recommendations for green cleaning tools? From everyone here at kitchen & bath CRATE, we wish you a Happy Earth Day!
