Healthy World Healthy Child - CHEC Creating Healthy Environments For Children

Articles

Make Your Own Household Cleaners

SustainLane
Monday, November 12, 2007

Vinegar? Check. Baking soda? Check. Lime, cornstarch, salt? Check, check, and check.

You don’t need Windex, Lysol, or Drano when everyday items can substitute for conventional cleaners, which often contain toxins that damage your health, as well as the environment. For example, sodium hydrochlorite (commonly known as bleach) is found in Drano, yet the chemical is an unclassifiable carcinogen, at least according to the World Health Organization. So if you use Drano and then flush it down the pipes, its toxins eventually end up in our waterways, the very ones that feed our faucets.

To avoid repeating the cycle, turn to your cupboards or refrigerator. By using their contents, you can create your own household cleaners and know exactly what’s in the spray bottle you’re spritzing to remove carpet stains. Plus, making your own cleaners means you buy fewer packaged products that end up crowding our already bulging landfills.

Here are just a few cleaners to try making on your own:

Household Cleaner Instructions
All-Purpose Cleaner
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/2 gallon water
Mix ingredients above to store and keep.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 cup vinegar
Mix ingredients above. Pour into basin and allow to set for three minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse.
Rust Remover
  • 1 lime
  • Salt
Sprinkle a little salt on the rust. Squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Let the mixture set for two to three hours. Use the leftover rind to scrub the residue.
Glass Cleaner
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 quart warm water
Mix ingredients above. Pour into a spray bottle or apply with a sponge. For lint-free results, wipe dry with crumpled newspaper instead of paper towels. Buff to a shine.
Furniture Polish
  •  1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon water
Extract the juice from the lemon. Mix with oil and water. Apply a thin coat to the wood surface and let set for five minutes. Use a soft cloth to buff to a deep shine.

 
Learn More

Grandmothers and kindly neighbors may have good ideas about homemade cleaners, but so do city and regional governments. The City of Boulder, Colorado and Metro, a regional governmental body in Oregon, are excellent sources of information on this topic.

Naturally, the naturopathic doctors at Naturodoc.com don’t endorse toxic cleaners and post an article about what else might work.

 

SustainLane.com is the nation’s largest community-powered directory of green products and businesses. SustainLane allows people to easily find and share reviews on anything from organic baby food and fair trade chocolate to eco-friendly clothing  and environmentally friendly diapers. The more people share and participate in SustainLane’s community, the easier it becomes for you and your family to live green.

Back to Articles »

Print this page | Email a friend

Get Our New Book!

Leading medical & health experts team up with celebrity parents to help you create a cleaner, greener, safer home and lifestyle.

Learn more »

New DVD

Creating Healthy Environments for Children: Easy Steps for Homes, Child Care Centers and Schools.