According to The Nature Conservancy, a Harris Poll on green living found that more than 50 percent of people polled are taking steps to live in a way that's more environmentally friendly. However, many people are confused as to how to do it.
In fact, more than 30 percent of those surveyed say that haven’t made changes because they don’t know what to do. And nearly 50 percent of survey takers say they’re buying green household products.
One of the easiest ways to go green is to switch to all-natural cleaning products. Using simple items like vinegar and lemon can be an easy way to cut harmful chemicals out of your clean routine.
Check out these four great natural cleaning options and how to avoid “green washing.”
- Vinegar
Did you know that vinegar is a natural cleaning agent? In truth, vinegar can be used to clean lots of household items, beginning in the kitchen. According to Better Homes and Gardens, a half and half mix of vinegar and water makes for a great, non-toxic way to clean the refrigerator. And straight vinegar can be used to clean cutting boards.
Vinegar can even be used to clean a microwave by mixing a half cup of water with a half cup of vinegar and microwaving it to a boil, then wiping down the microwave as it cools. Stained plastic containers can be renewed by covering them in vinegar and then allowing the solution to penetrate the stain.
Vinegar also can be used to clean a bathroom. According to Better Homes and Gardens, toilet cleaning can be done by adding a cup of vinegar to the toilet water. Leave it there overnight, add baking soda the next day, scrub and flush, and your toilet will be as good as new.
Straight vinegar or a dilution can be used to clean the entire bathroom, and for the shower, use boiled vinegar to clean the walls and door of the shower. Scrub wet walls with baking soda and rinse.
Vinegar can even be used on glass and wood. To clean tables, mix vinegar and water and gently wipe down surfaces. And for wood, use a quarter cup of vinegar with a cup of olive oil. Better Homes and Gardens says you can even add a bit of lemon to spice up the scent. Wood floors can be washed by combining a half a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water.
- Baking Soda
According to The New Homemaker, baking soda is a versatile, non-toxic agent for cleaning.
The first of these is freshening up the fridge. Just place an open box of baking soda on the shelf, and nasty odors will diminish. This can also apply to freezers and cupboards.
Clean your fridge or countertops with baking soda by putting it on a damp cloth, wiping down the surfaces you choose, and then rinsing the surfaces with water.
Use baking soda for cleaning silver in preparation for the holidays. Just combine baking soda with water in a three-to-one ratio. Then carefully rub silver with the mixture and wash with warm water. And for burned pots, soak them in baking soda and hot water overnight.
Baking soda can be even be used on musty carpets. According to The New Homemaker, just sprinkle a little baking soda on top of the carpet, let it sit for about 15 minutes and then vacuum. And for stains, dab the stain, add baking soda and then vacuum. It can even be used in your beloved kitty’s litter box to prevent odors.
Use baking soda as a part of your laundering process. To do this, The New Homemaker says to decrease laundry detergent by half and add baking soda.
And for those of you who choose reusable diapers, consider using this agent to decrease stinky odors. Put baking soda on diapers in the pail to help to decrease odors before washing. And anyone can add baking soda to the laundry hamper to freshen it up.
- Club Soda
- Lemon Juice
Club soda is good for more than just a cocktail mixer. In fact, it’s great for cleaning.
According to Alternet, club soda can make a great window cleaner. Just grab an empty spray bottle, fill it with club soda, then spray and scrub away. And if you add lemon juice to club soda, it will help cut grease. It’s even good for watering plants and removing rust. Who knew, right?
Lemon juice is pretty handy for a lot of chores. According to DIY Network, lemon can be used to clean counters. Just cut the lemon in half and use it to scrub stains, then rinse with water. It is said that the citric acid found in lemon is a natural stain remover. And best of all, this concept applies to cutting boards.
DIY also says that you can use lemon to clean copper and brass. For copper, cut the lemon in two and coat it with salt. Then gently rub the lemon on the brass while squeezing out the juice. Keep adding salt when the effects cease. Then follow this process with a water rinse. Clean solid brass items the same way you would copper.
Just make sure to use lemon only on solid brass items, not brass-plated items.
Lemon juice also can be used as bleach on white items of clothing. To do this, DIY says to combine a half cup of lemon juice with a gallon of hot water. Then soak clothes in the mixture. This method is best used on cotton and polyester and should not be used on silk.
When it comes to purchasing natural products, there are also some concerns to take into consideration. Beware of purchasing cleaning products that claim to be “natural.”
According to the Organic Consumers Association, you can’t trust everything that you read on a label. A product may claim to be “natural” and “eco-friendly,” but that doesn’t mean that it is safe. In fact, experts say that a claim of being “non-toxic” shouldn’t be taken at face value. “Organic” doesn’t mean the same thing for cleaners and household uses that it would for foods.
If you plan on buying safer products that are more natural, do your research. See what consumer watch groups are saying about the products you plan to buy.