By Michael, on August 2nd, 2012 
It sounds a little like a contradiction, cleaning up the household cleaners you use to clean your house, however many store bought household cleaners contain toxic chemicals that act as a deterrent to the green movement. Instead of spending money on household cleaners that are harmful to the environment, swap these five store bought versions with their safer homemade counterparts:
1. Furniture Polish: Many people have opted to switch out regular furniture cleaning by just dusting it instead in an effort to go green, however clean furniture doesn’t have to fall by the wayside simply because you don’t want to coat it in chemicals. Instead use a mixture of two cups olive oil and one freshly squeezed lemon to give your furniture a beautiful shine that still has that signature lemony smell. Just be sure to allow the furniture to dry before touching it or placing things on it.
2. Kitchen Cleaner: For an easy-to-make homemade kitchen cleaner simply combine one teaspoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of vinegar, and half a teaspoon of dish soap into a spray bottle. Combine the mixture and let it sit for a few minutes, then fill the rest of the bottle with warm water. The result will be a sparkling kitchen free of unwanted chemicals.
3. Laundry Detergent: Green laundry detergent can be made quite easily, and you’ll end up spending pennies to wash each load of clothes. Simply combine one bar of grated soap, one cup of Borax, one cup of washing soap, and ¼ cup OxyClean. The mixture won’t be lump free like regular store bought detergents, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be effective; your clothes will come out clean every time! You’ll only need to use one or two tablespoons of the mixture per load of laundry, depending on the size of the load.
4. Stainless Steel Cleaner: Stainless steel has become a staple for many home appliances, ranging from the refrigerator to the washer and dryer, and while it’s sleek exterior looks nice it also attracts smudges nearly as quickly as black fabric attracts pet hair. A damp cloth and olive oil will take smudges and fingerprints right off, leaving you with the shiny surface you love.
5. Toilet Bowl Cleaner: You may need something strong to clean off the scum that collects in toilet bowls, but that doesn’t have to mean using abrasive chemicals that wreak havoc on the environment. Instead use a mixture of one tablespoon olive oil, two tablespoons baking soda, and a teaspoon of lemon or lavender oil (depending on your scent preference) to coat the toilet. Let it sit for a few minutes just like you would a regular toilet bowl cleaner and then scrub off.
Ditch toxic store bought cleaners in favor of homemade remedies. These environmentally friendly cleaners will get the job done just as effectively and most can be made at a much cheaper cost than what you’d buy at the store.
Author Byline:
Monta the mother of three children serves as an Expert Advisor on multiple household help issues to many Organizations and groups, and is a mentor for other “Mom-preneurs” seeking guidance. She is a regular contributor of “find nannies”. You can get in touch with her at montafleming6Atgmail dotcom.
