Now, there are more practical ways to clean most of our things, thanks to more organic products that are made from natural resources. Most everyone is now involved in green cleaning – the use of non-toxic and natural products instead of cleaning products made from harsh chemicals. These green cleaning products are good for the environment, good for health and safety; they are cost effective and able to do good cleaning with superior results.

Green safe cleaning products reduce the harmful effects of chemicals and toxins in the environment and in your home. These are common examples of green safe products which you may find available in your homes:

• Baking soda which cleans and deodorizes almost anything. It absorbs smells and different odors. It is good for cleaning and polishing aluminum, chrome, jewelry, porcelain, silver, plastic and tin. It can be a deodorizer inside the refrigerator, carpets, upholstery and vinyl. It is also a good underarm deodorant and toothpaste.

• Cornstarch which absorbs oil and grease. It can be used to clean windows, clean carpets and rugs, used in polishing furniture and used to starch clothes or laundry.

• Lemon juice which removes perspiration and similar stains, removes certain odors, removes grease, can be used as bleach alternative and gets rid of household germs and bacteria. Also, it can be used as deodorizer and disinfectant.

• Salt used for cleaning, disinfecting and can be combined with other green products for more effective cleaning.

• White vinegar removes grease, stains, odors and smells, removes mildew and molds, as a water softener, used for general disinfecting purposes.

• Essential oils which add fragrance and help disinfect surroundings. The calming effects of oils are healthy benefits for the body.

There are other green safe products available commercially. You can purchase Isopropyl alcohol which is used as disinfectant; good to clean the hands and skin. Try to use more olive oil based soaps because they are the gentlest soap for the skin. You can also look for vegetable oil based soaps because these have natural ingredients and nutrients in them.

You can also make your own green products by combining or mixing any of the green products to come out with more effective cleaning solutions. Make an air freshener by mixing 3 tsp of baking soda in 2 cups of water and add lemon juice. Put in spray bottle to sprinkle natural and fresh fragrance. Clean your bathroom tiles by making a mixture of ¼ cup white vinegar and a gallon of water. You can place this in a spray bottle, spray into tiles to get rid of dirt and mildew. Sprinkle some baking soda and some drops of vinegar into the bowls, set for a few seconds, then clean, scrub and flash to clean. Clean your oven or stove by sprinkling a few amounts of baking soda, leave it overnight, then wipe clean with a damp rag or sponge and rinse well with water. For coffee pot stains, put a tsp of salt inside the coffee pot and gently scrub with a wet sponge to blot stains. Then use warm water to rinse.

Jonathan Pitts

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