by Pamela Kay

Created on: May 14, 2008   Last Updated: August 27, 2008

Green house cleaning reduces waste sent to landfills, contamination of our air and toxins that go down our drains. Using green, earth friendly cleaning products, helps leave a better world for our children. Here are some tips and a guide to green house-cleaning aids, which are safe, natural and usually found in your kitchen cupboard.

1-TIPS FOR GREEN HOUSE CLEANING

*Learn what is harmful to not only your health, but to that of the earth. Buy only biodegradable products, free of chlorine, ammonia and phosphates. Refuse to use aerosol sprays, and store cleaning liquids in glass instead of plastic, which will never break down in a landfill.

*Buy reusable dust cloths, mop heads and cleaning cloths. If you must use paper towels, use one made from recycled materials.

*Only run the dishwasher when it is full and only wash full loads of laundry, using shorter wash cycles and biodegradable laundry products. Line dry some of your laundry.

2-GUIDE TO GREEN HOUSE CLEANING PRODUCTS

BAKING SODA
One of the best green cleaning aids, baking soda is also versatile. Use it to clean drains, garbage disposals and trashcans of odors and clogs. It is also mildly abrasive and cleans grill racks, ovens and ring around the tub and sink. It can be used as a freshener for carpet or to soak up grease and oil spills.

BORAX
Mix one-fourth cup with a quart of water to clean tiles and walls. Borax is also a safe disinfectant for nurseries, but it's tough enough to clean outdoor grills. Sprinkle it in your cupboards to repel roaches.

VINEGAR
Vinegar is one hard working cleaning aid. It cleans hardwood floors and glass as well as removing lime build up, mildew and watermarks in the toilet and stains from suede, teapots and coffee makers. Allow vinegar and water to simmer for ten minutes to get rid of cooking odors and add one-fourth cup to the rinse cycle to soften fabrics.

PEROXIDE
One half cup peroxide mixed with one-teaspoon ammonia will remove bloodstains. Mix two cups of three percent peroxide to a gallon of water and use in humidifiers. Use three percent peroxide to disinfect kitchen and bathroom counters. Use one half cup in laundry to remove dinginess from white clothes.

LEMON JUICE
Remove underarm sweat stains by spraying with lemon juice, and then washing. Scrub copper pots and cutting boards to clean and boil a few peels to freshen the air in your home.

SALT
Salt will absorb red wine stains and grease from clothing. It will remove starch buildup from irons and is great for scrubbing burned on foods

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