by Louanne Cox

Created on: July 23, 2008   Last Updated: November 28, 2011

Green house-cleaning isn't just good for the environment it is also good for your family's health and for your financial well-being. Three staples in my cleaning cupboard are white vinegar, baking soda and micro-fiber cloths, all of these are far cheaper to use than the "non-green" alternatives and are also non toxic.

So to all you Kermits out there I want to show you that it IS easy to be green!

"Green" Formulas

For an all purpose spray and wipe solution I use a mixture of two thirds white vinegar to one third water. This is kept in a spray bottle.

I also make a homemade "Shake'n'Vac", this is where I take a small packet of baking soda and add 10 drops of lavender oil, leave for a week before using. I keep this in a large shaker.

Then there is the homemade alternative to a French Polish. Take a regular cleaning cloth and place it in a microwave safe bowl. Now add 1 drop of lavender oil, 1 drop of lemon oil and 1 tablespoon beeswax to the top of the cloth. Put it in the microwave and heat it on high for 10 seconds, check and then another 10 seconds until the wax melts.

Stubborn Marks

Use baking soda, made into a little paste with white vinegar to tackle stubborn marks in the bathroom and kitchen. Wipe the paste off with the spray and wipe solution.

For marks on your walls try an eraser first, next step is the spray and wipe, but use this sparingly spraying it onto the cloth and using the cloth to wipe the mark off first.

Glass

Use a micro-fiber cloth to clean all of the mirrors in your house, they will look great and you haven't used any harmful chemical.

For windows 1 cup of vinegar added to a bucket of hot water will do the trick. I use a squidgee to clean the windows on both the inside and out, they are left sparkling and streak-free.

Televisions & Computers

I use a micro-fiber cloth to clean the screens and it works really well without damaging them. Make sure that you have the right cloth for your screen. I also have a miniature duster for cleaning my keyboard.

Fireplace

If you are lucky enough to have an operational fireplace then it is important to give it a wipe down after every use. If there is smoke or soot staining try cleaning with vinegar and an old pair of pantyhose first. If that doesn't work, collect some of the ash from the fireplace, mix this with water to make a slurry, then wipe the slurry over the area. Allow it to dry before rubbing off with an old pair of pantyhose.

Oven

Clean the oven using what Shannon Lush (co-author of Speed Cleaning)

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