Green Cleaning Products You Already Own

One of the easiest ways to damage the environment is through cleaning products. After all, you probably clean at least one surface in your house every day. A lot of the time, we’re irresponsible with the products we buy, and many of them contain chemicals that damage the environment or are very toxic. You definitely wouldn’t want to ingest them! And why in the world would you allow chemicals that you wouldn’t dare eat to be on the surfaces that you, children, and other people touch and live around? Add to the fact that they’re potentially harmful, and none of it makes any sense.

You can surely see why it’s easier to make your own products than to purchase them. It’s cheaper, often more efficient, and doesn’t harm the environment half as much. I’m not saying that some of these combos are tasty, but they certainly won’t kill you if you accidentally ingest them. The same can’t be said for bleach, polishing products, or ammonia.

Citrus

I’ve decided to group these options as a category because citrus fruit can do so many different cleaning projects.

1. Lemons – You can simply rub half of a lemon on faucets, porcelain, and other bathroom surfaces to remove lime scale, soap scum, and generally polish up and clean everything. Plus, it makes the room smell wonderful. Bonus points if you’ve already used the lemon half for lemonade (two uses, double the karma).
2. You can polish copper by using a towel or rag soaked in lemon juice and buffing it dry.
3. Need a stain remover? For a mild, non-toxic bleach, soak your clothing in a lemon juice and baking soda mixture for about thirty minutes.
4. Grind citrus through the garbage disposal to get rid of nasty odors.
5. Squeeze juice from half a lemon into the dishwasher for cleaner, better-smelling cutlery.
6. Have problematic kitty excrement? Discourage the behavior by mixing orange peels and coffee grounds. Put the mixture on their favorite spots. The smell will drive them away.

Salt is also a wonderful cleansing agent. Use a pinch of salt in your everyday dishwashing liquid to cut through tough food leftovers and stains or grease.

Sugar is a wonderfully mild exfoliate to use on hands. Mix a pinch in with your usual hand soap. It can also be used to clean spice grinders. Run the sugar through the grinder for two minutes and then rinse or remove any tiny leftovers.

Baking soda is a catchall cleaning product. Use it to scour pots, pans, and household surfaces. It also deodorizes, so keep some in your fridge to discourage bad food smells.

I hope you use some of these eco-friendly techniques for cleaning, and have a wonderful