Tips for Green Spring Cleaning

It's spring again and that means opening up your house, rolling up your sleeves and getting down to some serious cleaning. If you want to kick off the season in a more non-toxic way, there are many natural ingredients that also double as great cleaners.

"Natural" doesn't mean "good" in every case, but there are some natural cleaning products that have long proven their worth in removing grease and grime. Baking soda is naturally abrasive and slightly alkaline, so it combats acids. White vinegar works in the opposite way - it is acidic and counteracts coffee stains, scale and soap scum. Lemon juice is helpful on grease and olive oil (mixed with vinegar) can be used as a furniture polish. Here are some recipes for useful natural cleaners.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup white vinegar

Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl and add vinegar. Let sit for a couple of minutes before cleaning with a toilet brush.

Drain Cleaner
- 125 ml baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar
- Boiling water

Pour baking soda down the drain and follow with vinegar. Cover the drain. A few minutes later, pour boiling water down the drain to clear.

Glass Cleaner
- 75 ml white vinegar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1L warm water

Combine all ingredients and clean glass with a sponge. Wipe dry.

Wood Furniture Polish
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle, spray on furniture and wipe dry.

Though these products are all-natural, please take care to properly label them and keep them out of the reach of children.

Sources:
Care2 - Green Living
CBC
CTV

Image:
stock.xchng

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Tips for Green Spring Cleaning

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