| While many people want to improve their cleansers' | | | | tolerable. |
| eco-friendliness, many don't realize that "green" | | | | Baking soda is the scourer of the lot. A paste made |
| cleaning isn't reaching for that bottle of "Eco-Kleen" | | | | from baking soda and water can scrape away |
| on the shelf. Environmentally friendly cleaners, while | | | | stubborn stains. The bubbling action that baking soda |
| better than some conventional solutions to household | | | | and water produce can help keep drains clear if one |
| grime, can be expensive and take quite as much | | | | pours a quarter-cup of soda down every week, |
| packaging as conventional cleansing products. The | | | | followed by a rinse of hot water. Baking soda is also |
| happy news is that there are several substances that | | | | famous for removing odors from just about anything. |
| can materially help you clean your home that don't | | | | Carpets can be sprinkled with it and vacuumed to |
| cost a lot and don't take a lot of packaging. | | | | remove lingering smells. It can also be tossed in the |
| Plain old water is often the best cleaner that can be | | | | wash for some extra cleaning action. Baking soda |
| used to address a spill, stain or dirt. Water soaking | | | | doesn't spoil, making bulk buying an economical choice. |
| can loosen dirt out of fabric and a damp rag is often | | | | Hydrogen peroxide is not just for cleaning wounds; it |
| all that is needed to make a counter, sink or bath | | | | can also remove mold and has mild antibacterial and |
| sparkle. Soaking a stain on a carpet and putting a | | | | antiviral properties. While many people are seduced |
| weighted towel or newspaper over it can draw the | | | | by the promise of 'anti-bacterial' cleaners, these don't |
| stain out. Water is also free, which makes it a very | | | | actually clean any better than regular cleaning |
| attractive first choice of cleaner. | | | | products, including the ones that are the simplest. |
| Lemon juice and vinegar do many of the same | | | | Regular cleaning will do more for household hygiene |
| things, which is to say that they can be used to bring | | | | than anything that can kill "99% of all bacteria on |
| brass, copper and pewter to a shine, get rid of soap | | | | your counter!" However, hydrogen peroxide is a |
| scum and hard water stains, and be used to sweeten | | | | great green way of adding some bacteria-killing |
| up drains and remove gummy residue from smooth | | | | power to your cleaning if you feel it's important. |
| surfaces. Vinegar is also known for its prime | | | | Green cleaning can require more work than |
| window-cleaning qualities, with a spray of vinegar and | | | | conventional cleaners, but the less chemical residue |
| yesterdays newspaper leaving behind a streak-free | | | | left around your home and going down the drain is |
| pane. Lemon juice leaves behind a pleasant citrus | | | | worth it. However, natural products are not to be |
| scent which is a nice touch in a clean room. When | | | | sniffed at. Try the above substances and see how |
| paired with vinegar, lemon juice can tone down | | | | well they can work! |
| vinegar's nose-piercing smell to something more | | | | |