Talking About Green

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Cleaning Process More Eco-Friendly

Green is the new gold, and everyone wants a piece of it. People are realizing how important the simple things we do every day are to help sustain our planet, environment, and our ways of living. It is more important than ever to be eco-friendly in all we do from eating, working, playing and traveling to cleaning our homes.

Here are some tips, tricks, ideas and advice to help make your cleaning more eco-friendly.

1. Make your own eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning materials
2. Use baking soda to clean and deodorize. Baking soda can also be used to soften water, to increase the soap suds and power of soap, or for scouring powder.
3. Or use borax to clean and deodorize. Borax can also be used for disinfecting things and to soften water.
4. Washing soda can also be used to cut grease, remove stains, disinfect and soften water. It can be found under the name “sodium carbonate”.
5. Use white vinegar or Lemon juice to cut grease
6. Use peanut butter to get gum out of hair or carpet instead of a chemical alternative.
7. Use vinegar to deter ants instead of bug killing spray or poisonous ant traps.
8. Use soap that biodegrades completely can be found as liquid, flakes, powder or bars.
9. Don’t get any of the soaps that have added scents, colors or other additional materials or ingredients that are unnatural and unnecessary.
10. Remove toxic products
11. Replace toxic products with non-toxic, biodegradable versions
12. Learn organic and kitchen-cupboard ways to clean things
13. Use old clothing and towels as rags instead of buying new ones
14. Use cloth towels not paper towels
15. Get a low-water washing machine
16. If you can’t get a low-water use washing machine, do the dishes by hand by filling the sink (not by leaving the water running
17. Keep plants in the house to keep the air clean instead of using other electronic means
18. Compost your garbage instead of throwing it in the bin or down the disposal
19. Grind up lemons in the disposal to freshen the air instead of using a spray
20. Use candles instead of an air freshener
21. Visit www.ecoycle.org/hazwaste/recipes.cfm for eco-friendly recipes for the following: household cleaner, window cleaner, disinfectant, oven cleaner, drain cleaner, toilet bowls, air fresheners, ceramic tile cleaner, basin, tub and tile cleaner, garbage disposal freshener, mildew remover, rug and upholstery cleaner, carpet cleaning foam, floors cleaner, furniture polish for wood surfaces, silver polish, copper cleaner, chrome cleaner, brass cleaner, laundry soap, pre-soak, fabric softener, spray starch, dry cleaning, and removers for heavy soils, fruit and wine, ink, coffee, lipstick, mildew, soiled diapers, grease, blood, chewing gum, rust and scorches.
22. Recycle your unwanted items instead of just throwing them away. Sort out all the things you no longer want and have an eco-friendly junk removal company assist you in both hauling your stuff away to be recycled as well as eco-friendly disposal through their professional waste removal.

Bio: Diane Ferraro is a green living advocate and is a believer that anyone can go green if they try.  In addition to blogging, she is also a freelance writer for an eco-friendly junk removal company.  In her free time she likes to hike with her two dogs.