By Elisa
Sparkman, Education & Outreach Specialist
If I had the
time, I would clean my entire house from top to bottom every week. Sadly, I do
not have the authority to add an 8th day to the week; only The
Beatles could do that! Now that spring is here with more daylight hours, it almost feels as if there is
more time. This has helped me get ramped up and ready
to do some spring cleaning. Yay!
As an Environmental
Health Educator, I try my best to walk my talk, and use green cleaning at home.
The great thing about green cleaning is that it’s simple, effective, and best
of all, inexpensive. If you are not interested in making your own cleaners, to find the
least toxic cleaning products check out the Environmental Working Group’s Guide
to Healthy Cleaners.
Did you know
that most accidental poisonings occur when the intended product is in use? If you have
children and pets, green cleaning can lower the risk of accidental poisoning in
your home.
Get started on your green
cleaning adventure!
First and Foremost! When using green cleaning
ingredients, it is still important to use protective gear. Even though the
ingredients are not considered toxic, they hurt if they get in your eyes and some
have the potential to irritate skin.
Essential Oils: If you use essential oils,
remember that they are extremely
concentrated. Each essential oil is different and contains different health and
safety concerns. Research the oils you select – some should not have direct
contact with skin, some are toxic to pets, and they should always be kept out of
reach of children.
Baking Soda & Vinegar: This basic combination has major
cleaning power to scrub away dirt and grime on just about any hard surface.
Baking soda and water alone form a cleaning paste that works great on a
glass-top stove. For soap scum and grit covered showers and tubs, scrub a large
amount of baking soda with water to make a paste and then pour some vinegar
over the paste and watch it foam for a few seconds and then scrub some more.
Wipe or rinse away the paste with water and a sponge or cloth. To add extra
cleaning power, add in a squirt or two of liquid Castile soap (available in many health stores and “natural” sections of larger grocery
chains).
Scrub Brushes: There are many shapes and sizes
of scrub brushes to help clean more efficiently and effectively. Scrub brushes
can help you get the most out of your green cleaning ingredients.
Mopping floors: To mop hard floors, a mixture of
one half cup of white vinegar for each gallon of warm water works great. The most difficult part is waiting until the floor is dry before walking on it.
Oven: Not for
self-cleaning ovens. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda
with 2 tablespoons salt and add just enough
hot water to make a paste. Scrub away
charred spills with a non-metallic bristle brush before applying the paste.
Apply paste to oven surfaces, and let stand a few minutes or overnight. Scrub
off with non-metallic scouring pad and water. Keep paste off of oven wires and
heating elements. You can line the oven bottom with aluminum foil to prevent
future stains. Oven cleaners labeled with the signal words “Danger” or “Poison”
mean the product is ranked at the highest hazard level. These are common in most
stores. To find less hazardous oven cleaners, look for products that say,
“Caution” or “Warning” instead.
Windows: An easy way to clean windows
effectively and safely is to put club soda in a spray bottle and use as window
cleaner. Wipe with a lint-free cloth or use a squeegee. This works for mirrors
too!
All-purpose Surface Spray: For a simple countertop spray,
fill a spray bottle about one quarter full of white vinegar, add the juice of
one lemon (strain it so the seeds and pulp don’t clog the sprayer), and fill
the rest with water. Close the spray bottle and shake. One option is to add a couple
of drops of an essential oil of your choice. Some work well for cleaning and
they can help mask some of the vinegar smell. Remember that essential oils are
very strong; you only need one or two drops.
Mold: When it comes to cleaning mold,
all you need is detergent (laundry or dish) and a scrub brush to scrub the mold
away. Mold grows when moisture is present. It is common to get a little mold in
your shower or inside of windows. If you have a continuous mold problem, find
the source of moisture, such as a leak, and fix it. A large amount of moisture
can cause structural damage, leading to a large repair or replacement. To
discourage mold from growing, use kitchen and bathroom fans during, and for at least one half hour after, cooking and
bathing.
Other quick tips!
- Simmer
cinnamon sticks and cloves in water on the stove for about 15 minutes for a
safer air freshener. Many air-freshener products release chemicals that pollute
indoor
air.
- Microfiber
cloths are great for dusting. Just dampen them with water and dust away! Check
out our previous post to learn what
is in dust and why it’s an environmental health concern.
- For slow
drains, pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, then a ½ cup of vinegar. Let it
fizz for a few minutes and then pour a tea kettle full of boiling water down.
Repeat if needed. This loosens minor clogs and helps prevent future clogs. If it doesn’t work, use a mechanical snake or
a plunger.
- Learn how to
tell if a product is hazardous, tips for safe use, and proper storage from last
year’s post called, Yuk!
Some people are hesitant to try green cleaning because they like
the way the products they are used to smell or don’t appreciate the smell of vinegar. Advertising
has told us for decades what clean should smell like – “Pine Tree Forest,”
“Lemon Breezes” and so on. These strong smells can actually be an irritant for
many and trigger asthma attacks for some. We may want to rethink what clean
smells like. When used in the correct amounts, the smell of vinegar fades
quickly and many green cleaning recipes don’t contain it at all. Choose green
when you clean!
If a
container holding hazardous materials is damaged or leaking, find out how to
safely handle the material before moving the container. Depending on the type
of material, you may be able to transfer the contents of the leaking container
into another container. Leaking containers should not be taken to HazoHouse.
For further guidance on what to do with leaking containers, contact the
Hazardous and Solid Waste Hotline at (360) 867-2664.
