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) calls the 2 sponge technique. I am so grateful I heard of this technique. Wring one sponge out in water and then dip it in a tray of baking soda. Wring another sponge in white vinegar. Place the baking soda sponge on the surface to be cleaned, then put the vinegar sponge over the back of it and use your hand to push the two sponges together. This is an ingenious way to create the "cleaning fizz."
Clean the oven and the oven glass using this technique. For really stubborn stains, scrub with a small nylon dishwashing brush after applying the two sponges, then rinse with water
To clean a dirty stovetop just sprinkle baking soda over the top and then spray with vinegar, wipe with a cloth, then rinse with a cloth wrung out in water. If the stovetop is not very dirty then I would just use the spray'n'wipe.
Microwave/dishwasher
If old food is caked on, mix cup white vinegar, 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a large microwave bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave without a lid and cook on high for approximately 1 minute. The idea is to allow the mixture to boil, but not boil over. While the microwave is warm and steamy wipe the interior with a cloth.
Drains
If there's a smell in the sink drain put cup baking soda down the drain, followed immediately by cup vinegar leave for half an hour. If it's still smelly do it again.
So there we are, hopefully you are now convinced that it is easy being green!