Organic Cleanup

Have you ever looked around your home and noticed the different types of metal there are?

Aluminum pans, silverware, copper pots, stainless steel utensils, iron railing, and brass doorknobs or faucets. With a variety this wide of metals, a good metal cleaner is essential. Of course most metal cleaners use harsh poisonous chemicals and give off toxic fumes.

Luckily there are many natural alternatives that will leave your metals bright and shining. Here are some easy recipes to get you started.

1. Aluminum – White vinegar and cream of tartar. Use two tablespoons of cream of tartar and add just enough vinegar to create a thick paste. Use a cloth or sponge to wipe the paste on the aluminum. Let dry. Rinse well with hot water.
2. Silver – Make a baking soda paste with water, apply to the silver and rinse well with hot water. This is a quick, simple and effective silver cleaner but if you are willing to put a little extra effort, you can make a better cleaner by filling a large pot with enough water to cover the silver piece, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt as well as a couple of sheets of aluminum foil. Let sit for an an hour or so (you should see the foil attracting the tarnish) and rinse well with hot water. Polish dry with a lint free cloth.
3. Brass or Copper – Take one tablespoon white flour and two teaspoons salt and mix with enough vinegar to make a thick paste. Use a clean sponge to wipe the paste onto the metal, let dry and rinse with hot water. Polish.

These recipes should be enough to get most of metal around your house gleaming bright with breaking the bank or stinking up the place.

Everyone loves the look of shiny chrome. But who wants to deal with the toxic chemicals and odors of chrome cleaners? We’ve found three all natural products that can be used to clean chrome without the smelly side effects.

1. Paste of Baking Soda – Baking soda is a perfect abrasive cleaner for just about an metal – including chrome. Be sure to rinse well or you could end up with a foggy film.
2. Lemon Juice – I’m not sure why lemons clean chrome so well but I think it must have something to do with the citric acid. You can buy a bottle of lemon juice at the grocery store. Drench a cloth with the juice and rub the chrome until clean.
3. Cider Vinegar – Probably works for the same reason the lemons do, the acid. Soak a sponge until saturated and wash the chrome. No rinsing is necessary.

A homemade furniture polish should have two features – a fresh scent and a shiny finish. These two recipes won’t cost you a lot and they are much better for your furniture, your skin and your air quality.

1. For a deep clean and polish on solid wood, this recipes brings a glow to all your fine wood furniture.

• 1/8 cup food-grade linseed oil (you can find it in the supermarket)
• 1/8 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1/4 cup food grade lemon juice

Mix ingredients together in a glass container. Using a soft cloth, rub polish into the wood until it is clean. Add a few drops of Vitamin E before storing to keep the solution effective.

2. This lighter polish is easier to manage for weekly cleaning rather than a deep cleaning once in a while.

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
• drop or two of lemon oil or other herbal oil of your choice.

Mix in glass jar and shake well. Use a moderate amount on a soft cotton cloth to polish furniture.

I know composting may not fall under the heading of cleaning but I’m so passionate about composting that I thought it would be a good idea to talk about how easy it is to do and, since you are reducing the amount of garbage you will have, I guess that could be considered keeping your house cleaner.

When I first decided to start composting, I looked up how to do it on the Internet. It seemed like all I could fine was specific and expensive or complicated bins to make and complex “recipes” to follow. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that complicated.

All you need is a corner in your yard, “green” waste, “brown” waste and a tarp to cover your pile so it stays warm and moist. Green waste is vegetable waste, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags and grass clippings. Avoid putting diseases fruit and vegetables although spoiled produce is fine. Also too much grass is supposed to be bad for the compost too but since our yard is small, I don’t know that for sure. Brown waste is dried leaves or paper, especially newspaper. Do not use glossy paper and I would recommend shredding the paper before putting it into your pile.

Keep your pile moist and warm so it will decompose faster. Other than that just make sure you turn it over with a pitchfork once a week and you should have rich, fertile soil within 6 to 12 months.

And that’s all there is to it.

Most stores have aisles and aisles of products dedicated to the purpose of cutting grease, cleaning your home and killing germs. Most people spend an average of $35 a month buying products to keep their homes clean.

For that same amount, paid only once, you can get a handheld steam cleaner for your home. Not to be confused with a carpet cleaner, a steam cleaner is for cleaning counters, floors, appliances, and anywhere that you want to get rid of dirt. I use mine to clean any really grimy areas, my appliances, and my tub and shower unit.

The best thing about a steam cleaner is all it uses is water. That’s right, no toxic chemicals, no cleaning agents at all. Nothing but really, really hot water. It’s so easy it takes all the work out of cleaning as well as killing germs through sterilization.

For green cleaning, you can’t beat the power of steam.

Most of the time when someone makes the decision to start living a greener, more earth-friendly lifestyle it is because of the effect it will have in protecting the planet. Of course this is the best reason to try living greener but there is a bonus to a green lifestyle that few people consider – It’s cheaper!

Many of the steps you’ll take to live a greener lifestyle will also save you money; from buying in bulk to using cloth napkins instead of paper towels to cleaning from your pantry instead of with expensive commercial products to using cold water to wash your clothes instead of warm or hot. All of these things keep pennies in your pocket while protecting the planet. Some more ways to save money while helping the Earth…

1. Eat at home – eating out produces more waste and uses more energy than cooking and eating at home. Fast food restaurants, especially, create a lot of waste with their packaging and cooking styles. Buy your groceries in bulk and you’ll save even more and create less waste.
2. Bike instead of drive – by using a bike instead of your car whenever possible you will save money on gas (always a good thing) and reduce carbon emissions at the same time. Additionally, biking is a great way to stay in shape.
3. Changing your lightbulbs- Okay, I’ll admit that this doesn’t sound like it will save you money but really, if you get rid of your old lightbulbs and replace them with the new energy-efficient CFL bulbs, you will see your electricity bill go down right away and you will end up buying fewer bulbs overall. My family use to spend $20-$30 a year on lightbulbs and roughly $75 a month on electricity. Now, we haven’t ought a light bulb in over a year and our electric bill is about $20 less a month (approx. $55). Trust me, this is a step worth taking.
4. Create a compost pile – by turning your vegetable waste into a rich, fertile soil you will save money on buying fertilizer every year. Don’t get intimidated by all the information out there on compost piles. Pick a corner of your yard and dump your vegetable waste, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags and shredded newspapers into a pile. Every week turn the pile over. In 6 to 12 months you will have dark, rich soil to use for your garden. Less waste – More money!
5. Use both sides of the paper – When you print something out and are done with it, use the other side for more printing or for scratch paper. Not only will you product less waste, you also won’t have to buy paper as often and will save money in the long run.

As you can see, living green can be good for the Earth and your pocketbook.

Lately there has been much debate about the use of Triclosan in antibacterial products, such as hand soap. Although scientists and “experts” can’t agree whether there is any harm in using this product, I’m here to tell you some facts and let you draw your own conclusion.

• Triclosan is an “organic” powder that is proven to kill bacteria.
• It is used in a plethora of consumer products including hand soaps, face and skin cleansers, toothpastes, deodorants, cosmetics, shaving gels, and some first aid supplies.
• It has also been used in pesticides and to kill the antibiotic resistant MRSA infection.
• There have been several studies (mostly by producers of products containing triclosan) that have proven no harmful effects to humans.
• There have also been studies showing triclosan linked to birth defects, problems with the thyroid signaling in the body, weakening of the immune system, and uncontrolled cell growth.

Personally I have switched to non-antibacterial soap and check products for triclosan before buying. I don’t know if it can really cause thyroid problems or uncontrolled cell growth. I do know that if it currently is used to kill MRSA than antibiotic-resistant germs haven’t gotten resistant to triclosan yet and I have no interest in rushing that  process.

If you were to look around your kitchen you would find some powerful cleaning products – and I’m not talking about the ones in the plastic bottles with the toxic odors and the unnatural colors. I’m talking about fruits, spices, minerals and herbs.

Citrus Fruits:Ever wonder why lemon scent is added to so many cleaning products? More recently lime and orange scents have been elbowing their way onto to the shelves. Although commercial cleaning products add a small amount of citrus extract and a whole lot of artificial (and not helpful) citrus smell, citrus fruits actually have very powerful cleaning properties. The extract from citrus peels have anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. They can cut grease, deter pests such as fleas and mosquitoes, and offer a freshener component to whatever you are cleaning.

Baking Soda:Baking soda is one of the best cleaners available (and it’s so cheap!) It whitens, polishes metals, absorbs odors, and deodorizes stinky areas like drains and toilets. All you need to do is mix with water and you have an all purpose cleaner for only pennies a bottle.

Salt: Salt works as a non-scratching abrasive cleaner and can stop bacteria from growing on surfaces.

Lavender: freshens the air while providing bacteria-inhibiting properties.

Peppermint: Cleans grime, freshens the air, and prevents bacteria growth.

Cloves:Can be boiled for a natural air freshener. Also has bacteria-inhibiting abilities.

Tea Tree Oil (If you don’t have this, you can find it in the vitamin section of your local drug store): This is an essential oil that has natural fungicidal and bactericidal properties. It is not only good for cleaning but has many medical uses as well.

Vinegar: Referring to white distilled vinegar, can be used to cut grease, clean glass and prevent mold growth.

Olive Oil: Combine olive oil with white vinegar and use to dust and polish wood furniture. You can also add a little lemon oil for that lemony-scent.  Although this may be the most expensive ingredient listed, only a small amount is needed to accomplish the same polishing as a commercial dusting agent.

Making things yourself is one way to not only eliminate the majority of harmful chemicals from your home but is also a great way to save you money. Laundry Detergent is no exception.

To make a simple but effective laundry detergent at home you will need  the following materials:

• A container capable of holding two gallons of liquid (I use my old detergent containers which have been rinsed out). You can use any plastic container as long as it has a lid.  
• A solid bar of laundry soap. I use Zote which is pink and smells very pretty. You can use regular bath soap too but I would suggest using two normal-sized bars.
• Borax. You can find this in the laundry aisle of just about any retail or grocery store. Borax is also used for cleaning other things so buy the biggest box you can find.
• Washing soda. The most common brand (in fact the only brand I could find) is Arm & Hammer but this is not to be confused with baking soda. It isn’t the same thing at all. I have some trouble finding this but managed to get it for a couple of dollars a box at my local Stop & Shop. You can also ask the manager of your supermarket to order it for you.

Start by boiling a five cups of water in a large pot. As the water is heating up, shave or grate to bar(s) of soap. Once the water is boiling, add the soap and stir until the soap is melted. You should have very soapy water at this point.

Remove from heat. If you plan on using your pan for food preparation, transfer the mixture into another container and add 1 gallon of hot water, 1/2 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup borax. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Transfer into the storage container you plan on using.

You will need about a cup of this detergent to clean an average load of laundry. This detergent doesn’t get very soapy looking so do not worry if you don’t notice the detergent sudsing up. It isn’t the suds that do the cleaning anyway.

Clean & Green:The Complete Guide to Nontoxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping by Annie Berthold-Bond reveals 485 ways to clean your house and car without using toxic chemicals or harming the environment.

Not only does the author discuss in great detail the benefits of the usual suspects of nontoxic cleaning like baking soda and vinegar, she also talks about essential oils (and how to extract them from plants at home), health food store alternatives to commercial cleaning products and the best places to find the ingredients you’ll need to make any type of cleaner that you would need.

Although I foud it difficult to obtain some of the supplies for her mixtures and found some of the solutions to be more complicated than necessary, I found much of the information useful and interesting. Not only does Ms. Berthold-Bond say not to use toxic chemicals, she talks about why  and what may happen if you do. It’s also nice to know that no matter what I may ever need to clean, I have a recipe for a all-natural way to clean it.