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Posts tagged green cleaning

Green Spring Cleaning

Mar19
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Clean

Every spring, the same urge to clean surges through households across the country. This year, though, as you open the windows and whip out the cleaning supplies, take time to stop and think of ways to go green.

Making environmentally conscious decisions is not relegated to any one area of life: it affects the types of products we purchase and the types of activities we enjoy. This time of year, it’s especially important to apply a green perspective to our cleaning routine. Here’s how:

1) Evaluate your chemicals.
In many cleaning products, harmful chemicals release pollutants that can damage the air you breathe. Look for natural ingredients like grain alcohol and coconut/plant oils in cleansers, or, alternatively, do a little research to learn how to make your own!

2) Look for reusable supplies.
Rather than going through rolls of paper towels while cleaning, opt for reusable rags and towels in order to minimize needless waste.

3) Conserve water.
Ideally, you’re looking to cut water use whenever possible, and this includes when cleaning. Turn the spout off unless you’re getting water; don’t just let it run.

All of the principles that apply to green living in everyday life apply to green cleaning.

For more information, see these Buy Owner Blog articles: 12 Quick Ways to Go Green, Green-ovations or Energy-Saving Tips.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged cleaning, environmental consciousness, environmentally friendly
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Top 10 Green Cleaning Products

Feb19
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

Clean

Spring cleaning is right around the corner, so this year opt to use green cleaning supplies! Tons of new products are available now that only contain the ingredients you need to keep your house clean. They also keep your tables and countertops safe and sanitary. Many of our standard, outdated cleaning products contain bonus ingredients, also referred to as bad chemicals or toxins, which can pollute our air, cause an irritable reaction to our skin and more. Here are the top 10 green cleaning products to replace your old cleaning supplies with, many which can already be found in your cabinets!

1. Baking soda. It’s not just a baking ingredient anymore! Sprinkle some baking soda onto a wet rag or sponge and you can wipe out just about any dirt anywhere in your home. It doesn’t get simpler.
2. White vinegar. Toss some of this in with a load of laundry and your clothes will appear soft and cling-free. White vinegar also kills most bacteria and mold.
3. Lemon juice. Combine this with water and you just created a grease-free window cleaner!
4. Borax. A handful of borax (sodium borate) can clean floors, wallpaper, paint and just about anything. It also deodorizes.
5. Cornstarch. This is a great substitute for polishing furniture and, mixed with water, shampooing your rugs!
6. Plant-based cleaners. From dish detergent to all-purpose cleansers, opt to use a plant-based cleaner from corn, coconut oil, etc. Steer clear from scented detergents.
7. Concentrated detergents. If you must stick with your favorite dish or laundry detergent, use the newly concentrated versions that use less water, less detergent and less packaging.
8. Dried herbs and flowers. You can create your own air freshener or potpourri that leaves out toxins and unknown fragrance sources.
9. Soap. Regular bars of soap or liquid soap is just as effective at removing germs as antibacterial soap. Antibacterial products are said to grow resistant bacteria.
10. Plants. Not only are plants attractive, they also keep the air clean by removing toxins that may be floating around your interior. Peace lilies are especially effective at cleansing the air.

If you combine these home ingredients into various mixtures, you can create all sorts of cleaning products for all types of cleaning and sanitizing! Read this past blog entry for more cleaning ideas. If you’re not sure whether to use the cleaning products you already have, here are the top 10 ingredients to steer clear of: chlorine, ammonia, phosphates, corrosives, alkyphenol ethoxylates, phthalates, aerosol sprays, petroleum, antibacterial cleaners, disinfectants.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged Home Improvement, home ownership, selling a home
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Getting Clean while Going Green!

Jul29
2008
2 Comments Written by Allegra

mop it upWhen preparing your home to be sold, one of the easiest things you can do to make sure it’s in top-notch showing condition is to…clean it!

Simple, yes. But full of impact. A clean home can make a big difference to potential buyers. It shows that you are motivated enough to use a little, good ol’ fashioned elbow grease and that you care about the home you’ve been living in.

You’ll want to clean everything from the windows to ceiling fans and everything in between. With all of this going on, typical cleaners can let a lot of harmful toxins into the air and cause pollution. Consider using green products for this chore or even homemade products.

Traditional products are typically petroleum-based and have negative effects on both your health and the environment. These products also contain harmful chemicals that you don’t actually need to clean your home. Watch out for anything with corrosives, chlorine bleach, ammonia or phosphates. These chemicals cause skin irritations, burns, inflammation and vomiting, and they release toxins into the atmosphere. Doesn’t really sound like something you want in your home, does it? Especially when you need your whole house to be spick-and-span for a showing. 

Alternatively, green products are non-toxic and biodegradable, and they are just as effective at getting your home clean enough to show off to potential buyers! The best way to get a totally green product is to buy one that lists all of the ingredients and specific information.

Quality green cleaning products include Soap Works products, Earth Rite products, Clorox Green Works products and Weiman products, just to name a few. 

To take it a step further, use natural fiber sponges and rags instead of paper towels to reduce paper waste.

You can also make your own cleaning products with these simple recipes that are completely green and work great! The basic ingredients of most home recipes are white vinegar, baking soda and borax.

Home recipes for green cleaning products:

Countertop and Cabinet Cleaner: Mix warm water with dish soap and baking soda. Dip cloth in mix and rub on surfaces.

Glass Cleaner: Mix one cup each of rubbing alcohol, water and vinegar in a spray bottle.

Carpet Freshener/Rug Cleaner: Sprinkle on borax or baking soda over the area and vacuum or repeatedly blot the stain with a mixture of vinegar and soapy water.

Furniture Polish: Mix one cup of olive oil with half a cup of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Use a rag to clean.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Make a solution of half a cup of borax with a gallon of water and use to scrub, or you can put a fourth of a cup of borax in the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. Scrub it the next day.

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix one quart warm water, one teaspoon liquid soap, one teaspoon borax and a quarter cup white vinegar in a spray bottle. Use it on counters, floors, walls, carpets, upholstery or wherever else you need in it your home. It is all-purpose after all!

Remember, when using your new green products, test each mix on a small part of what’s being cleaned to make sure the cleaner is compatible with the surface. Also, clean from top to bottom since loose dirt tends to fall from ceilings and walls to lower surfaces like the floor.

Now get out to the store to pick up your eco-friendly products or start mixing up your own. By using the green-cleaning method, you’ll get your home green clean!

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Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas
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