Clean Green: Easy Recipes for Natural Household Cleaners

Isn’t it great when something you want turns out to be less expensive than something you don’t want?

These days it seems every company is jumping on the green bandwagon to promote their products. Certainly reducing toxins in our environment is excellent for all, but most of the cleaning products that are good for our planet cost an arm and a leg. The great news is that all the new green cleaners are based on old cleaning recipes using ordinary household products.

Follow these simple recipes to make your own green cleaners without spending much green in the process.

All-Purpose Household Cleaner and Disinfectant

Mix equal parts white vinegar and tap water. Put it in a spray bottle for surface cleaning.

Vinegar disinfects 99% of germs, so use this liberally. I like to disinfect all surfaces babies touch with this non-toxic cleaner. I also spritz my wooden cutting board after wiping it down to keep the surface disinfected.

You can use this ratio with hot water to wash your floors.

Glass Cleaner

Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1 cup tap water.   Add 3 Tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.

Put on a spray bottle and use old newspapers and/or a squeegee instead of paper towels for absolutely beautiful results

Wooden Furniture Polish

Mix the juice of 1 lemon with a cup of inexpensive olive oil. Shake well and pour a bit onto a rag to polish.

Silver Cleaner

Put a sheet of aluminum foil at the bottom of the sink. Fill sink with hot water. Dissolve 1 teaspoon each of salt and baking soda. Soak silver for 10 minutes. Remove and dry. The foil will attract the tarnish and your silver will sparkle. 

Alternatively, you can use toothpaste, not tooth gel. Smooth on the paste, rinse and dry.

Copper Cleaner

Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle a generous amount of salt on it. Scrub copper and it will easily gleam. Give it a quick rinse with water and dry with a cloth.

Bathroom Cleaner (for toilets and soap scum)

Mix 2 parts white vinegar with 1 part baking soda.

Microwave Cleaner

Microwave 1 cup of white vinegar for 2 minutes. Immediately wipe down surfaces. The vinegar steam will have loosened any splatters and removed the food odor. Vinegar itself has a strong smell, so leave the microwave door open after cleaning until the odor evaporates.

Mold and Rust Cleaner

Mix equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Use an old toothbrush to work into the grooves. Let it rest for an hour. Come back and clean with hot water.

Happy Cleaning. Happy Earth. Happy Wallet.