Towards a Cleaner, Greener Home

TOWARDS A CLEANER, GREENER HOME  

Homemade duster
Make your own dusting cloths. Stir in one cup of lemon oil with two cups of hot water. Dip lint free cloth into the potion and let it air-dry. Then store the duster in a covered metal container until you're ready to dust. The oil picks up the dust and the lemon gives your dusting a fresh aroma.  

Shoe cleaning
A quick way to put a beautiful shine on your shoes is by rubbing them with a banana skin on black shoes or the soft side of a lemon skin on brown shoes.  

Cleaning a mirror
Dip a soft cloth in a weak solution of vinegar and water, and then wipe the mirror clean. This works better than commercial spray cleaners, which can leave a film or deposit.  

Cleaning filthy fridge seals and finishing off the exterior
The plastic seals of refrigerators can be wiped free of debris using a toothbrush with toothpaste. Mildly abrasive toothpaste helps to cleanse and brighten fridges without the scratching properties of most household cleansers. Apply liberally with the toothbrush and scrub until stains disappear. Then wash down with wet cloth and dry thoroughly. Failure to dry the seal properly will allow mould and mildew to grow, so finish the job by wiping the seal carefully with a dry, absorbent cloth. The sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) found in many toothpaste brands acts as a cleaning agent, which neutralizes acids. It is also an abrasive, which removes built-up dirt.  

Doing the dishes
Rinsing dishes before food residue hardens makes cleaning them easier and uses less detergent.

 Cleaning tiles
Most commercial tile cleaners do more harm than good because they contain chloride, a serious irritant to the eyes, nose and skin. Wipe or spray vinegar onto mould or mildew, leave overnight and scrub in the morning. Use a firm bristled brush.  

Clothes that need dry-cleaning
Try to buy items that do not require dry-cleaning, as most dry-cleaning solvents are toxic and have been identified as endocrine disrupters that have been linked to breast cancer. If you must dry-clean, air the clothes thoroughly before bringing them indoors. Many garments labelled "dry clean only" can be safely hand-washed using mild soap.  

Keeping drains clean and open
Your drains can be kept open, clean and odour-free without the use of corrosive drain cleaners. There are two simple rules: 1. Never pour grease down the drain 2. Always use a drain sieve. In addition, use this preventative measure for routine maintenance up to once a week. Pour ¼ cup bicarbonate of soda down the drain. Follow with ½ cup vinegar and plug the drain until fizzing stops. Flush with 4 litres of boiling water. If you have two sinks, plug one side before commencing the procedure. Also try this method if a clog does happen.  

Buying a carpet
When buying a carpet, choose natural materials such as cotton and wool over synthetics. Buy rugs and carpets that haven't been treated with insecticides and fungicides. When rugs are cleaned, make sure no pesticides are used. Avoid commercial products containing chlorine, formaldehyde and solvents such as trichloroethylene, methylene and nitrobenzene.  

Make your own natural antibacterial spray:
Mix 20 drops of pure essential oil of lavender and 1 cup water in a spray bottle and shake to blend. The essential oils of lavender and thyme are more antiseptic than phenol, the industry standard.  

Reusable and Unbleached
Store food in bowls or Tupperware that can be reused endlessly. Use unbleached coffee filters. Use waxed paper, as it is biodegradable, instead of foil and plastic wrap.  

Oil-Based vs Latex Paint
Oil-based paints are toxic. They cannot be thrown out in the trash, but require special "hazardous waste" handling available at only some recycling facilities. Use latex paint instead. To dispose of excess latex paint, leave the can uncovered to allow evaporation, then pull out the hardened paint and recycle the can. Never pour paint on the ground or wash brushes outside, as the runoff can contaminate groundwater.