As promised, I will be rounding up my favorite green cleaning products and personal recipes for making your own products. We have a "green" household and I am aware that almost everyone is on the green bandwagon these days, but I like to think of us as one of the first! The reason for this is that my mom was a bit of a earth mama. We were the only people in our neighborhood in the 80's that had a push lawn mower, a compost pile, an organic, pesticide free lawn and garden and a membership to every state park in Michigan. Not to mention that before I was born, my mother was a very active member in our local food co-op. She was ahead of her time.
She has taught me everything I know about caring for our earth by making changes in our own home. She is a wonderful inspiration!
Pesticide/ Disinfectant10 drops of lemongrass or peppermint essential oil mixed in a spray bottle of hot water will eliminate pests in your house (fruit flys, ants, etc.) and disinfect counter tops and bathrooms. This mixture smells great!
Drain Cleaner (for clogged/slow drains)
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar down your slow drain. Let sit for a few minutes with the drain cover on, then flush with boiling water.
All-purpose Cleaner
Mix 1 teaspoon of borax, 1 tablespoon of castille soap, 1/8 cup of white vinegar, 10 drops of essential oil and 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle and use for all general cleaning. Vinegar fights off mildew but the scent is not always pleasant, so the essential oil will mask the vinegar fumes.
Vinegar of the Four Thieves
This legendary cleaning solution is said to have protected grave diggers during plague outbreaks. Hey, if it works for that, it must work for our bathroom! In a large jar (with a tight-fitting screw on lid) mix together 2 quarts of apple cider vinegar, a small pinch of each of the following dry herb: lavender, rosemary, sage, rue and mint. Leave the ingredients in the jar for four weeks, then strain out the herbs and pour mixture into a spray bottle. Use in areas that are prone to germs.
Green Clean by Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin is a great cleaning handbook. It addresses everything from how to read cleaning product labels to an index of every stain you can imagine and how to treat them. What I really love is that it is water and stain proof, so you can leave this book in your cleaning bucket without worrying about ruining it. I often find myself reaching for this book in the middle of a cleaning project, soapy hands and all!
I think that Method products are such a great deal- earth friendly and wallet friendly. I love their foaming hand wash (lavender scented of course!) and their grapefruit dish soap. We do not have a dish washer, so if I am going to hand wash all my dishes I want a great smelling, gentle dish soap- Method fits the bill!
When I feel like a splurge, I love Mrs. Meyers products. My favorite is the Lavender Scented Surface Cleaner. It is great for tackling those tough jobs, like soap scum build up in the bathtub!
As promised, I will be rounding up my favorite green cleaning products and personal recipes for making your own products. We have a "green" household and I am aware that almost everyone is on the green bandwagon these days, but I like to think of us as one of the first! The reason for this is that my mom was a bit of a earth mama. We were the only people in our neighborhood in the 80's that had a push lawn mower, a compost pile, an organic, pesticide free lawn and garden and a membership to every state park in Michigan. Not to mention that before I was born, my mother was a very active member in our local food co-op. She was ahead of her time.
Pesticide/ Disinfectant
I think that Method products are such a great deal- earth friendly and wallet friendly. I love their foaming hand wash (lavender scented of course!) and their grapefruit dish soap. We do not have a dish washer, so if I am going to hand wash all my dishes I want a great smelling, gentle dish soap- Method fits the bill!
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