by B. Leslie Baird

Created on: April 10, 2009   Last Updated: October 19, 2009

Cleaning your home without harming the environment is not only easy but cost effective as well. It is also less harmful to you and your skin. Spring is a great time to give green cleaning a try so throw open your windows, take a deep breath, and begin!

Gather your green cleaning items: baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and a liquid based vegetable oil soap like Murphy's or Castile are excellent to have on hand. Skip the paper towels and even the sponges by using wash cloths or rags made from old clothing. Baking soda, or salt, is a mild abrasive that also offers natural deodorizing. Vinegar or lemon juice have mild acidic properties so keep this in mind in deciding what surfaces you will be cleaning. If in doubt, test a small area before you jump right in.

To make a "soft" scrubbing compound start with 1/8th to 1/4 cup of baking soda and add enough liquid soap to form a paste. Scrub with warm water and your cleaning rag. Be sure to rinse well to not leave streak marks. Unused scrub can simply be flushed down the sink and will deodorize it as well.

Soap scum, coffee, tea or rust stains? Distilled white vinegar works wonderfully here. Use undiluted for stubborn problems or mix half and half with water for general window or appliance cleaning. You can also make use of old newspaper by drying your windows and mirrors with it for an even better shine.

Lemon juice is a great bleach alternative and cuts through grease. It can also be used to remove perspiration and other stains on clothing. Again test in an unnoticeable area first if you are in doubt.

Toilet cleaning and deodorizing is easy with baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of baking soda in the bowl and spray lightly with full strength vinegar. Let sit for a few minutes and scrub. For oven cleaning a 1/2 cup of baking soda and a light spray of water can get rid of even the nastiest messes. Let the solution sit overnight for best results.

Want to freshen the air inside your home? One of the best known methods is a pot of boiling water with lemon or orange rind or a stick of cinnamon. You can also place 1/2 to one cup of vinegar in a bowl and let it sit. It will do its job. Have unscented kitty litter on hand? Again place some in a bowl and it will absorb odors.

For slow drains take a half cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Follow this with one cup of white vinegar. Allow this mixture to sit and bubble and then flush with one gallon of boiling water. For double duty here you can have the water boiling with lemon or orange rinds for deodorizing, remove the rinds and use this water to flush your drain. Using boiling water on a regular basis can keep drains from becoming backed up in the first place.

As you go through your home cleaning keep the reduce, re-use, recycle motto in mind. Good older clothing can be donated, and if it is too worn out try using it for cleaning rags!

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