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Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Tips

8/16/2011

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Submitted by: Kimberly Cozart
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With the economic downturn, it seems like everyone is trying to
judicially save money, so why not adopt cleaning solutions that are both environmentally friendly and easy on the wallet. You can use everyday household items to clean the nooks and crannies around your home. You’ll save money on cleaning supplies and keep the chemicals away from your loved ones.



1) Lemons
Nothing helps beat the summer heat like a cool glass of lemonade, but don’t relegate those lemons to summer refreshment s; use them to maintain a clean yet chemical-free home. Make your favorite lemonade, and then grind the left-over skins in your garbage disposal. If the lemons alone can’t clean the disposal blades, add one cup of ice; the combination of acid and abrasion will help break down all the accumulated "gunk" in the disposal and leave your drain with a clean, lemony fragrance.

2) Salt
Salt offers an inexpensive abrasive cleaner for sturdier surfaces like stovetops and grout lines. I like to use coarse kosher salt, but plain table salt will work as well. Pour ¼ cup of salt onto your surface and scrub with a damp towel or sponge; add more salt as needed. The salt is a mild abrasive, but it can also be combined with traditional soap to help clean your surfaces. Just be careful not to use it on delicate materials that easily scratch.

3) Vinegar
Simple apple cider vinegar can also help with a plethora of cleaning jobs, but it's especially good on glass surfaces. My grandmother would clean her windows with vinegar and newspaper (instead of paper towels). I like to pour vinegar into the bottom of my glass French press, but you can also clean the bottom of vases or oddly shaped bottles without the aid of a long-handed brush. Just swish ½ cup of vinegar around the bottom of the vessel, let the vinegar sit for 20-30 minutes (or keep it overnight), and rinse.

I hope these ideas inspire you to use more creative cleaning solutions around your house. Let SEEDlings know your favorite environmentally friendly cleaning tip at info@seedlingscorp.org.


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    Mary Ensch

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