In Part 1 of our green cleaning series, we looked at some reasons you should consider switching at least some of your cleaning techniques from chemical cocktails to common household ingredients. So if you’ve gathered your supplies from our list of green cleaners, let’s get started on some of those ordinary, every-day tasks.
General Cleaning
The first thing I want to share is the not-so-secret formula for a great general cleaner you can use on almost anything. You will mix this directly into a standard 32-oz. (1 quart) spray bottle such as you find at a hardware or home supply store.
- 1 teaspoon borax
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- Hot water (enough to dissolve the borax)—swirl until dissolved
- Drop or 2 of essential oil (lemon, eucalyptus, mint, etc.)
- 2 drops of dish detergent (optional)
- Fill with cold water
I decided to try it on a tough job first so took it out to my garage door into the house and it really did the job.I used this on countertops, painted trim molding, doors, bathroom sinks and tubs, stainless steel appliances, and I’m still going. It works like a charm—without hard scrubbing. And since I hate having to carry “stuff” up and down stairs, I’ve created spray bottles for both levels. No rinsing necessary.
Note: You don't want to use a strong mixture of vinegar or straight vinegar on marble or stone. As it's an acid, it will eat away at it.
Bathrooms
My most un-favorite cleaning chore so we’re getting it out of the way first! The general cleaner takes care of sinks and tubs, but for toilets pour in about 1/4 cup of straight white vinegar, use your toilet brush, and love the shine. I realize the smell of vinegar isn’t the best, but the good news is, when you flush it away, the smell goes with it! Even with regular cleaning, tile and vinyl just seem to hang onto stains, especially if you have guys in the house.
The solution: straight Borax with a little water, a stiff bristle brush, and some elbow-grease. I honestly didn’t think this would work, but it really got off old dirt stains in the tub and shined up the faucets. For tougher stains, you can leave it to work for about 10-15 minutes then rinse it off. For normal hard water residue and soap scum on shower doors or faucets use the general cleaner or straight lemon juice—bottled works just fine—apply with a cotton cloth.
Dusting Furniture
I have to say microfiber cloths used alone are great for dusting. They attract and hold dust well even for several rooms of furniture. If you want to avoid washing them too often, just take them outside and shake them out. If you’d rather use cotton cloths, you can very lightly mist one prior to dusting to help attract and hold the dust. Both options work on wood furniture, lamp shades, blinds, light fixtures, ceiling fans—almost anywhere dust collects. Note: You will need to wash the cotton cloths more frequently.
Polishing Wood Furniture
Good news! With regular dusting, you really only need to polish your wood furniture for added shine about twice a year. Personally, I’ve decided to do this when I spring clean and in late fall before the holidays. Use 1 part lemon juice to 2 parts oil (light olive, lemon, or other essential oil, or a combination) and a cotton cloth to clean any built-up dirt and create a beautiful shine. Very lightly dampen the cloth before applying the polish to it, and then use the cloth on your furniture. If you desire, you can buff with a dry cloth after cleaning.
The first time I did this it took two applications: one to remove old cleaner build-up (yuk!) and one to polish the wood. Initially I mixed 1 Tablespoon to 2 Tablespoons and that was enough to do 2 large dining tables plus 8 chairs, a sideboard, chest of drawers, 3 occasional tables and an armoire. They look absolutely beautiful and here’s a bonus…my hands felt wonderful and so did my furniture—clean, not oily or sticky!
Windows
The real key here is not the cleaner, but using our old friend, a cotton cloth, to clean them. Paper towels leave lint—not attractive. Use a simple mixture of 2-4 Tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice in a 1 qt. spray bottle and fill with water. Witch hazel and even rubbing alcohol also works well. You can add a drop of dish detergent if you want, just don’t add any oil. Use this with your cloth to clean the windows. Then spray with plain water and wipe with either a microfiber cloth or a chamois skin to keep those babies sparkling.
For outside cleaning, mix up a bucket of cleaner (1/3 - 1/2 cup to 1 gallon of water) and use a soft bristle brush for faster cleaning. Have your hose handy to spray each window right after cleaning before the cleaner has a chance to dry. If you can time your cleaning for a breezy day, windows will dry sparkling without spots.
Hard Floors
After all the other cleaning is done, it’s time to get after those floors. Vacuum or sweep first to remove debris and loose dirt. You can use a mop with a microfiber cleaning pad. This microfiber mop has an aluminum frame and extendable handle, with a really wide cleaning path for covering a lot of floor in a hurry. Or, you can also use a 100% cotton mop to clean your floors. Be sure to select one that's easy to wring out as you will need to rinse the mop head as you clean.
You can use your general cleaner to clean any hard flooring including sealed hardwood, with the exception of waxed or unfinished wood floors. Spray the cleaner on in 4 to 6 foot sections, then, using a lightly dampened mop wipe over floors. Rinse the mop head as needed, but be sure to ring it out well before continuing to clean.
The one thing you don’t want is any standing water, especially on wood floors. The really nice part is that you don’t need to rinse them. Not only did they shine up well, they feel incredible, not slick, just clean!
Unfinished Wood Floors
For a 32-oz. (1 quart) spray bottle, mix 3 Tablespoons of olive oil with 4 Tablespoons white vinegar. Fill with hot water and add 10 drops of lemon or other essential oil. Clean as above using a lightly damp mop or cloth. If the floor feels slick or oily, wipe over it with a clean dry cotton cloth or towel.
Bottom line: I was undeniably impressed with how well these natural cleaners worked, not to mention low cost and less effort than more expensive chemical cleaners. So, let’s get to work shining up our homes with earth-friendly, effective natural cleaners. Next post will address those tough jobs and cleaning chores that you only have to deal with occasionally. Pop in for tips on polishing metals, cleaning ovens, grills, brick and other mean cleaning tasks.
