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For many parents, creating an eco-friendly home is a huge priority. An eco-friendly home is a kid-friendly home, but with the modern conveniences of household cleaning, those goals can quickly get washed away like raw chicken on a kitchen counter. Fortunately, there are many easy, cost-effective ways to increase the eco-friendliness of any home. Read on to discover ten household items you can use to clean everyday messes without exposing your children- and yourself- to harsh household chemicals.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is excellent to clean carpets and rugs. Sprinkle the cornstarch on the carpet as you would a typical carpet cleaner, leave for an hour, and vacuum it up.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice makes for a wonderful air freshener. Mix it with baking soda or vinegar, and place it in small dishes around the house for a great lemon fresh scent that will last.
- Vinegar: Vinegar is the perfect natural grease cutter. It is also wonderful for removing mildew in the bathroom.
- Baking Soda: Baking soda makes a wonderful household cleaner. It is also great for scouring. Use it in place of Comet and other powdered cleaners meant for deep scrubbing.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Mold can be a complicated household enemy. Mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide and spray on the mold found in your bathroom tile and grout. Wait one hour before rinsing the area.
- Orange Peels: Place ground orange peels in your in-sink garbage disposal to deodorize and freshen.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil and lemon juice create a foolproof furniture polish for unvarnished pieces.
- Newspapers: Your old newspapers make wonderful window washing wipes. Use white vinegar and water in the place of glass cleaner and wipe away with sheets of newspaper for clean, shining windows.
- Unscented Soap: Your bars of unscented soap are hidden gems in your quest for an eco-friendly home. Unscented soap can clean just about anything, and it is free of fragrance, making it ideal for homes that must be hypoallergenic.
- Vegetable Oil: Vegetable oil mixed with equal parts vinegar make a wonderful all-natural wood floor polish. Use in the place of chemical soaps.
