April 11, 2014
Top Ten Home-made Green Cleaners
Spring is well underway, and with the season, homeowners all over the country are getting out their microfiber clothes, buckets, and mops to clean up their homes. When it comes to cleaners, however, we know there are a variety of green choices on the market. In fact, there are so many it can be hard to choose which ones to purchase. At Greenapple House Cleaning, we think that simple is sometimes better, so we’ve compiled of list of DIY mixtures that will work just as well as the products you’ll find on store shelves- without the harmful chemicals and fumes.
Our Top Ten DIY Cleaners
- Surface Cleaner- If you want your cutting boards and worktops to be as clean as possible, dip a cut lemon in some baking soda. Rub the surface down and then wipe clean with a wet sponge.
- Drain Cleaner- Clogs in your drain can be a headache. Break them up with ½ cup of baking soda and a ½ cup of vinegar. Let these two sit in the drain and work for about 15 minutes, then flush the drain with four boiling cups of water.
- Window Cleaner- Have an empty spray bottle laying around? Fill it with one TB cornstarch, ¼ cup of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water. Shake well.
- Grout and Stainless Steel- Combine water and baking soda into a paste, then use a toothbrush to gently apply the paste to the grout or stainless steel and scrub. For tougher stains, add a little bit of vinegar as you clean. Make sure to test a small area first to ensure no reactions occur.
- Toilets- In a spray bottle mix together two cups of water and two TB of tea-tree oil. Shake well, then spray the combination along the toilet bowl rim. Let this mixture sit for thirty minutes, then scrub and flush it down.
- Garbage Disposals- Freshen up your garbage disposal every week by cutting lemons into slices and running them through the disposal.
- Soap Scum- Tired of seeing that soap scum in your bath or shower? Heat one cup of vinegar and mix it with one cup of mild dish soap. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the soap scum. After one minute, wipe down the area.
- Disinfectant- You don’t have to use those chemical-ridden disinfectants to keep your home sanitized. Instead, combine three TB of dish soap, 20 drops of tea-tree oil, and two cups of water. Use this mixture to wipe down baby toys, door knobs, and even your worktops after cleaning to help keep them free of germs.
- Grease Stains- Love making your mother’s fried chicken, but hate the grease stains that you’re left with? Clean them up with some cornstarch. Just sprinkle it onto the grease spot, let it sit for thirty minutes, and wipe clean.
- Tile Cleaner- In a large spray bottle mix together ½ cup of ammonia, ¼ cup of white vinegar, 7 cups of water, and ½ cup of baking soda. Spray tile with this combination and wipe with a damp cloth. For stubborn stains on tile, use a scrub brush. Be sure to keep this mixture away from any bleach product, as ammonia and bleach can create a noxious gas when mixed together.
When it comes to your home cleaning needs, Greenapple House Cleaning knows that simple is sometimes better. Many of the ingredients found in these DIY mixtures are probably already in your cupboard. Use them to create green cleaning supplies that will keep your home clean and free of chemicals.
