Green Cleaning Tips | Wild Goose Chase

I feel like everyone needs help and tips when it comes to cleaning. From oven cleaning tips to carpet cleaning help, anything can help make your home nicer. There are a TON of green cleaning tips… I choose only a few to share with you today. Enjoy.

(note: this IS a FEW!! You should of see the FULL list!!!!!!!)

Green Cleaning Tips

Safety Tips:

DO NOT ADD VINEGAR TO THE TOILET BOWL IF YOU ARE USING A BLEACH TAB OR SOME OTHER BLEACH PRODUCT THAT IS RELEASED WHEN YOU FLUSH. THE COMBINATION IS DEADLY!!
When using hydrogen peroxide, never swallow it, don’t use it on metal surfaces, and keep it in its dark container until you use it, as it will lose its strength if exposed to light.
Clean from the Top Down: When house cleaning, save the floor or carpet for last. Allow time for the dust to settle before vacuuming. When you do get to vacuuming, you may want to think about using something like a robot vacuum to take some of the stress of cleaning off of your shoulders.

Hygiene:

Remove residue and styling product build up from hair: After shampooing, rinse your hair with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 warm water to remove all the build up and get rid of that dullness.[@more@]

Generic:

A straight 5% solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of viruses. Having said that, mix distilled white vinegar and water in spray bottles to keep in your bathrooms and kitchen – to disinfect and clean.
All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.
Another alternative is micro fiber cloths, which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.

Bathroom:

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a dark color spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.
Calcium Deposit Cleanup – Use full strength white vinegar on calcium deposit buildup. Let it soak in.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.
Clean sink and tub with full-strength vinegar. Simply apply with a sponge, wipe clean to a sparkly shine.
Soap scum & hard water spots on the tub and shower stall? Soak a sponge in full strength vinegar, wipe, let stand for five minutes then rinse with clean water.

Kitchen:

Disinfect countertops, cleaning sponges, and cutting boards. Also mix 1/4 peroxide with some salt in a sink full of cold water to kill salmonella and viruses on fruits and vegetables.
Disinfect and clean wood cutting boards: Rub with vinegar to disinfect and clean. If your cutting board has deep grooves, you can also soak the board in vinegar for 5-10 minutes.
Greasy pans, dishes, stovetop – add a few tablespoons of vinegar to your soapy dishwater. Remove grease from kitchen walls: Put straight vinegar on a dishcloth to wipe grease off kitchen walls, or the stovetop.

Living Room:

House odors – Place white vinegar in shallow bowls throughout the house to absorb household odors.
Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water. You may require professional carpet cleaning services for awkward and stubborn stains.

Laundry/Utility:

Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.
Stain Remover – Keep a spray bottle filled with 50-part white vinegar to 50-part water near your washing machine
. Spray on clothes that have stains as you would with a commercial stain remover before you put them in to be washed. Businesses may want to consider a commercial laundry service by phs Besafe to relieve the pressure of managing staff workwear.

Resources

Many uses for Hydrogen Peroxide http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/index.html

Green and clean recipes http://www.womenandenvironment.org/

Recipes for alternative cleaners http://www.ecocycle.org/hazwaste/recipes.cfm

Using vinegar inside and outside http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

Cleaning with vinegar http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/cleaning-with-vinegar.html

Guide to less toxic products http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?

Toxic household product info http://www.non-toxic.info/index.htm

Toxic contamination http://isitinus.org/home.php

Environmental Working Group http://www.ewg.org/

The following company websites offer information on toxic chemicals, coupons, links, etc.

Seventh Generation products http://www.seventhgeneration.com/