Clean and Green
from http://lorettawallace.net/clean_green (modified)
"When choosing and using commercial household cleaners, many of us forget that whatever we pour down our drains ends up in our water supply, reservoirs, oceans, rivers and groundwater where the chemicals released pose serious threats to marine and wildlife. In addition to our outdoor environment, the toxins in typical commercial cleaners also pollute our indoor air and in fact, our own bodies. It is an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality we have adopted in which we think whatever we wash down our drains or throw away is "gone". The truth of the matter is, whatever is washed away or thrown away never really GOES anywhere, it is simply moved from one place (our homes) to another place on our planet (our waterways or landfills). . .
So here it is, my original collection of favorite environmentally friendly natural cleaning formulas, concoctions and witches brews. Most are safe and nontoxic, with a few exceptions which are clearly noted. Use the ingredients listed below when making your own alternative cleaners, most are inexpensive and you probably already have many of them in your kitchen cupboards. All can be found at your local supermarket, natural food store or drugstore. Used individually or combined, these cleaners are safe, effective and cost-efficient.These cleaners are safe for the environment and for our bodies.
Main Ingredients:
BAKING SODA (sodium bicarbonate): An all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner.
Cleans, deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics.
Baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, helps regulate pH—keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, it’s natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering. This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent’s power). It’s a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.
BORAX (sodium borate): A natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria. An alternative to bleach, it deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap. Please note safety precautions at the bottom of this page.
CASTILE and VEGETABLE OIL BASED SOAPS Safe, gentle, effective non-petroleum based cleaner, all-purpose
OLIVE OIL - picks up dirt & polishes wood
CORNSTARCH Starches clothes, absorbs oil and grease
HERBS and ESSENTIAL OILS: For disinfecting and fragrance. Add your favorite essential oils or herbs to any of these formulas for fragrance .
LEMON JUICE Cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing. A chlorine bleach alternative.
SALT (sodium chloride): An abrasive
TOOTHPASTE A mild abrasive
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE - disinfects and bleaches
WHITE VINEGAR (acetic acid): Vinegar’s magic ingredient is acetic acid, which comprises about 5 percent of the finished product. Cuts grease, removes stains and is an excellent water softener.
WASHING SODA (sodium carbonate): Cleans clothes, softens water, cuts grease and disinfects. Increases the cleaning power of soap. Unclogs pipes. Care in using because caustic.
