Clean Green

When you want to clean your apartment, you probably just grab whatever cleaning products you have in the cabinet under the sink.  And if you are like most people, you have bought mostly name brand cleaning products that you recognized from ads on television or that your mom used.  If you are cost-conscious, maybe you bought store brands because they are cheaper.

You may not know it, but some of these cleaners are terrible for the environment.  They contain dangerous ingredients that can be toxic to your health and the earth.  We’re hoping that many of you have tried to switch to cleaners that are labeled green, but you may have noticed that they can be more expensive than traditional cleaners. 

To help those of you on a budget, you may want to try to make your own homemade cleaners.  The three cleaners below are easy to make and easy on the wallet.

• Window cleaner – Just mix two tablespoons of white vinegar with one gallon of water, then stir it up and pour it into a spray bottle.  That’s all you need to keep your mirrors and windows sparkling.  The first time you do this, you may have to add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap to get rid of the residue left over from commercial glass cleaners.  After that, you can just use vinegar and water.  And use a lint-free cloth or crumpled up newspaper, instead of paper towels, to prevent streaks.  (Hint: windows tend to streak when they are hot and dry quickly.  It may help to wash them in the evening or when it is cloudy.)
• Tile cleaner – Place one-half cup of baking soda into a bowl and stir in liquid soap until it resembles frosting.  (Optional: add 5-10 drops of pure essential oil or lavender or rosemary).   Now you are ready to apply this to a sponge and scrub those tiles.  Don’t forget to rinse when you are done.
• Oven cleaner – Oven cleaners contain some of the harshest chemicals you can buy.  Try this instead: mix 1 tablespoon natural dish liquid and 1 teaspoon of borax in 2 cups of hot water.  Spray this on and wait 20 minutes to let it soak in, then wipe up with a clean cloth.  It helps if you wipe up any grease or other fresh drippings off the surface before you begin.

We hope these cleaners help you save some money and the environment at the same time.