Cleaning Naturally –
Saving Green

In this age of so-called “green” cleaning products and tighter household budgets, how can you make sure the product you’re using is really safe for you and your family?  One way to streamline the cleaning supply budget is to make your own cleaning supplies.  It’s easy to do and requires only five ingredients to make a variety of common household cleaning products.  The great thing about making your own cleaners is that you know exactly what’s in them, and many people have these ingredients in their kitchen or laundry room already.  Here’s a list of all you need:

Some people add a few drops of essential oils to their cleaners to give them a pleasant fragrance, but for many chemically sensitive people, the option to forego fragrance is a welcome blessing.

How can you clean your whole house with just these five things?  Simple - go back to the way people used to clean before the era of specialized cleaners.  It’s all about getting back to basics.  For example, do you really need to buy an all-purpose kitchen cleaner that typically contains quaternary ammonium chlorides, a known cause of occupational asthma and considered a possible contributor in the rise of pediatric asthma?  (Journal of Health and Social Behavior, December 2008.)

A simple all-purpose cleaner can be made from one part white distilled vinegar and one part water.  Using warm water will help boost the cleaning power.

For tougher kitchen and bathroom grime, whip up your own creamy scrub cleanser without the toxic bleach.  Mix 2 c. baking soda with 1/2 c. castile soap and 4 tsp. vegetable glycerin (an optional preservative, available in hobby and

craft shops).  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and voilà!  You have all-purpose scrub that is safe enough to use on your stainless steel cookware and utensils.  For heavy-duty cleaning jobs, spray the area with vinegar first and wait a few minutes.  Follow with the scrub.

Have you ever used caustic drain openers?  These present a lethal poisoning hazard to children, ruin your metal pipes, and produce noxious fumes and potentially dangerous chemical byproducts if accidentally mixed with other household cleaners.  There is no need to bring these kinds of potent chemicals into your house.  A simple drain opener can be made with 1/2 c. baking soda and 1/2 c. vinegar.  First, pour the baking soda down the drain, followed by the vinegar.  Let it sit for 30 minutes, then flush with boiling water.

Tired of smelly furniture polishes that emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?  You can use 1/4c. olive oil, 1/4 c. white distilled vinegar, and 2 tsp. lemon juice (optional) to make your own furniture polish.  Be sure to shake well before using.  Dip a clean, dry cloth into the polish and massage with the wood grain.  For tougher jobs, like water spots, you can use a dab of non-gel toothpaste, rub well, and wipe away with a soft cloth.  To remove scratches, try 1 part lemon juice and 1 part olive oil.  Rub thoroughly.

Natural cleaning does require a bit more patience, ingenuity, and good old-fashioned elbow grease, but the reward of protecting your living space from unnecessary toxic chemicals is well worth the effort.  It’s better for the planet, better for your health and your family’s health, and better on your pocketbook.

Going green means so much more than simply reducing energy costs or recycling plastic bottles.  It’s about creating clean and healthy living spaces, reducing the toxic stress from our chemical-laden environment, and looking to nature as the ultimate guide to health and healing.

This information is in agreement with the Institute for Bau-Biologie® & Ecology (IBE), which promotes the holistic study of the man-made environment, human health and ecology.  IBE is a non-profit organization committed to raising awareness that buildings can and should function in harmony with nature.  To learn more, visit www.buildingbiology.net.

Melody Chan Graves is a literary writer who recovered from severe fibromyalgia with the help of Building Biology.  She is a certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant.
Find her at www.ecodynamicliving.com and
www.melodychangraves.com. For additional cleaning recipes, visit www.womenandenvironment.org and order a Green Cleaning Party kit.