Green Cleaning

SOMETHING SMELLS!

Negros Daily Bulletin

By Marilyn M. Soliven

Here we are in 2009. Foremost on my wish list is to initiate changes in my home, like clearing out cupboards, painting walls, checking drainages and pipes and all the cleaning needed to be done from top to bottom, inside and out. I have begun with minor sorting out starting with my closet, giving away things I do not need or use. 

There is a greener way to clean your home. You can use everyday items you probably already have in your cupboards to clean almost everything- from the stove to the floors, wooden furniture to glass windows, and more. Take stock of the cleaning supplies you have and resolve to replace each one with a greener version the next time it needs replacing. There are alternatives that work well, will save you money and are less toxic to the environment. So, to do green cleaning, try to remember some basic rules like saving those old toothbrushes for scrubbing dirt and stains out of small, difficult-to-reach areas. Also, clean up as you go along so that dirt and grime does not get too dried out or encrusted to be removed by natural cleaners. Use a dustpan and brush instead of the vacuum cleaner for small cleaning operations. Instead of aerosol sprays, opt for the plastic spray pumps. Aerosol spray cans are filled under pressure, so when you press the button, the product is carried farther - which carries the chemical into the air. The sprays can trigger allergic reactions in some people and bring on asthmatic attacks as well as polluting the atmosphere. Here are a few examples of some natural cleaners which you may already have in your home and how to use them. 

Borax is a natural mineral that’s a disinfectant. It’s great in the laundry and as a kitchen cleaner. Add it to your laundry powder to whiten and soften discolored towels and other whites. You can buy it at local drugstores for about Ph 60.00/kilo. 

Baking Soda is a mild abrasive and a good all-purpose cleaner. A 454gm. box costs around Ph 47.00 nowadays at grocery stores. Use it as you would an abrasive cleaning powder. Here are some suggestions: 

* Brighten up taps and other chrome fittings with water mixed with a little baking soda. 

* Clean worktops, appliances, and other surfaces with a small amount of baking soda on a damp cloth. 

* Clean the inside of your oven by moistening the walls with a damp cloth, sprinkling baking soda on the surfaces, and leaving it for an hour before wiping it off with a cloth. (If oven stains are too stubborn, try an oven cleaner that contains as few chemicals as possible). 

* Soak dirty pots and pans in a basin of hot water with 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda for about an hour. Then scrub them clean with an abrasive scrubber. 

* For red wine or coffee stains, pour soda water on the stain; if that doesn’t work, rub it in, and then brush it off. 

* Use baking soda on mildew in the shower and on shower curtains. Add just enough water to the baking soda to turn it into a thick paste. Use an old toothbrush for cleaning the grout between tiles. 

* Pour = cup baking soda down your kitchen or bathroom drain followed by = cup vinegar and then some boiling water. This combination breaks down fatty acids that block drains and helps to keep drains smelling fresh. 

Vinegar clears away grease and deodorizes. Use regular distilled white vinegar to 

* Clean lime scale off bathtubs, sinks, and shower heads. Soak the shower head in vinegar and then some boiling water. This combination breaks down fatty acids that block drains and helps to keep drains smelling fresh. 

* Wash your windows. Spray a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water on the windows and wipe them with old, crumpled - up newspaper to shine them up. (If the print comes off the newspaper onto your hands, it’s not yet old enough, so don’t use it for cleaning just yet.) 

* Brush around the toilet bowl. For stubborn marks, sprinkle the toilet bowl with baking soda and follow up by pouring some vinegar on top of it. Be prepared for the bubbling froth that results. Use a toilet brush to scour the bowl clean. 

Calamansi juice works on lime scale on bathroom fixtures. If the stains are stubborn, leave some juice on the mark for a few minutes, or soak a tissue with the juice and set it on the problem area. Calamansi is available all year round and costs Ph 25.00/ kilo. 

Olive oil takes finger marks off stainless steel, and when mixed with a little vinegar (about one part vinegar to three parts oil), it makes a good floor polish (or salad dressing!). A 250 ml. bottle costs about Ph.150.00 to Ph 200.00. 

Use a mixture of calamansi juice, water and olive oil instead of furniture polish. The proportions you use depend on the wood and how dirty it is; try a spoonful of each to start. Use it like you would any other polish: Wipe it on and then wipe it off with a dry cloth. Soda Water helps remove carpet stains. Simply dribble some on and dab the stains away. 

Experiment with the proportions and combinations of these natural cleaners until you find the ideal mix for cleaning every item in your house. When you find a mixture that works for you, make up a batch, put it into an empty jar or bottle, label it, and keep it for future use. 

Remember, using natural products and creating your own cleaning products may require a bit more effort on your part because they’re less abrasive and may be slow acting than chemical-laden alternatives. If you find that you still need to purchase other cleaning products in the supermarkets, be on the lookout for eco-friendly brands less harsh to the environment. Being conscious of what you use in your home is the first step to green cleaning.*