Non-toxic Cleaning Recipes
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
Suggested uses: hard surfaces like countertops and kitchen floors, win- dows and mirrors.
2 cups white distilled vinegar 2 cups water
20-30 or more drops of essential oil (optional)
Tip: Warm in microwave until barely hot to boost cleaning power for tough jobs. (Only microwave in a glass container.)
CREAMY SOFT SCRUB
Suggested uses: kitchen counters, stoves, bathroom sinks, etc.
2 cups baking soda ½ cup liquid Castile soap* 4 tsp vegetable glycerin (acts as a preservative) 5 drops antibacterial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree, rosemary or any other scent preferred (optional).
Mix together and store in a sealed glass jar; shelf life is two years.
Tip: For exceptionally tough jobs, spray with vinegar first—full strength or diluted, scented—let sit and follow with scrub.
*WVE recommends using a liquid Castile soap that does not contain sodium lauryl (laureth) sulfate (SLS) or diethanolamine (DEA), which may have harmful side effects.
TOILET BOWL CLEANER
Option 1 – Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, drizzle with vinegar, let soak for at least 30 minutes, then scrub with toilet brush.
Option 2 – Put ¼ cup borax in toilet bowl and let sit for at least 30 min- utes. Swish with a toilet brush, then scrub. Add a few drops of pine oil to increase disinfecting.
(Note: Some people are allergic to pine oil.)
Tip: Let ingredients soak longer for even easier scrubbing, especially on persistent stains like toilet bowl rings.
DRAIN OPENER
½ cup baking soda ½ cup vinegar
Pour baking soda down the drain and follow with vinegar. Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Flush with boiling water.
Tip: Prevent the shower from clog- ging by using a drain trap to catch hairs.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT
1 cup soap flakes ½ cup washing soda ½ cup borax
Make soap flakes by
using a cheese grater to grate a favorite pure vegetable soap. Mix ingredients together and store in a glass container. Use 1 tablespoon per load (2 for heavily soiled laundry) and wash in warm or cold water.
Adjust for soft water by using 1 cup soap flakes, ¼ cup wash- ing soda and ½ cup borax. For hard water, use 1 cup soap flakes, 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax.
Tips: Add ½ cup white distilled vinegar to the rinse as a fabric softener. For a whitener, use hydrogen peroxide rather than bleach. Soak dingy white clothes for 30 minutes in the washer with ½ cup of 20 percent perox- ide. Launder as usual.
Source: WomenAndEnviron ment.org; for additional recipes, visit EarthEasy.com/ live_nontoxic_solutions.htm
natural awakenings
May 2010
41
Make nontoxic cleaning products.
Simple and inexpensive ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and borax can be used in many different ways for effective cleaning. Adding essential oils such as lavender or rosemary infuses a fresh scent and boosts antibacterial properties. Have fun learning to make natural cleaning products by buying ingredients in bulk and throwing a green cleaning party with friends (free Green Cleaning Party Kit atWomen
AndEnvironment.org).
Finally, WVE suggests we buy products from manufacturers that disclose ingredients on the label. If the ingredients aren’t listed, call the product’s customer service number and ask the company to disclose them. It’s a good way to ensure that our homes stay clean—and healthy.
Download a free Safer Cleaning Prod- ucts fact sheet at WAToxics.org/files/ cleaningproducts.pdf.
Erin Switalski is the executive director of Women’s Voices for the Earth (WomenAndEnvironment.org). WVE’s Safe Cleaning Products Initiative is a national effort intended to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in cleaning products. Sign the petition at http:// tinyurl.com/yln44bt. For more informa- tion on chemical policy reform, visit SaferChemicals.org.
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