Cleaning -- Green and Thrifty

As far as the environmental war goes, I'm somewhere in the middle (think of me as Switzerland).  I'm not in a panic over global warming (or even convinced there IS global warming...  I can hear the anguished cries already), nor do I feel it right to be wasteful or polluting of the resources God has given us.  Raising a large family has meant putting thriftiness into action.  I've done this is countless ways over the years.  

I got this book a couple of years ago as a freebie with something else.  I didn't find it preachy at all, but a great resource for having a cleaner and healthier home and family.  When Ken lost his job earlier this year, expenses were cut to the bare minimum.  As any mom knows, you can spend a good deal of money on cleaning products for your home!  I immediately pulled this off the shelf.  It's got great tips for cleaning in general.  


What I like about it the most is that in the case of home care, green = cheaper.  Who doesn't like that?  If cheaper doesn't excite you, think about less toxic.  I have been using several of her formulas for a while with great results.  Then recently, I decided maybe our floors needed "real" cleaner.  So I got some.  I forgot how much regular cleaning products irritate me.  Literally.  Coughing.  Choking.  Unpleasant fumes up my nose.  How good can that be?  Have you read the warning labels on some of the commercial stuff?  If you have anyone at home with asthma, allergies, sensitive skin, etc....  give green a try.


Here's a list of inexpensive and readily available products that will be a great help.  

liquid soap...  I like Dr. Bronner's liquid Castile soap.  You can buy it at a local health food store, and some grocery stores carry it as well.  It even comes in some various scented varieties...   scented with essential oils, not perfumes.  

baking soda...  SO many uses.  Make a little paste with this and liquid soap and it's a great cleanser.

washing soda...  hadn't heard of this before.  It's more caustic than baking soda, and makes a good abrasive cleaner and laundry booster.

white vinegar...  it's a mild acid so it disinfects and is great on glass.






oxygen bleach... I haven't used this much but it's a great alternative to chlorine bleach and  
more environmentally friendly.  Find one without all the added colors and stuff though.

essential oils... I keep these on hand for soap making and medicinal purposes, and some make great disinfectants while others can make your cleaners small lovely without harsh perfumes.


I'll share a few "recipes" for cleaners that I've adapted from Green Up Your Clean Up.  


All purpose spray


16 oz hot water
1 Tbs borax powder
1/4 tsp liquid Castile soap


I use a lavendar Castile, so it's automatically scented.  Put this in a spray bottle and you're good to go. The borax adds some disinfecting properties.  I use this in kitchens and bathrooms.  


Large job cleaner


For washing floors, cars, or other large areas you can mix this in a 1 gallon bucket


1 Tbs baking soda
2 Tbs Castile or detergent
hot water


You can add 1 Tbs of washing soda for heavy grease, or 1 Tbs borax to disinfect.


Glass Cleaner


1 cup each water and white vinegar.  I like to add 1/2 tsp of Castile.  You can also add 3-10 drops of essential oils to help with the vinegar smell.  Peppermint and lavender work well.  


Tea tree and lavender oils have antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, so adding some to plain water and spraying on shower and bath surfaces is great and smells SO much better than regular bathroom cleaners.  


Buying that floor cleaner reminded me that this isn't just about saving money.  I find I've lost my tolerance for expensive and/or harsh cleaners.  These make me happier, and my house is just as clean.