Green House Cleaning

As promised to a lot of you ladies I wanted to share my "Green Cleaning" tips that I use on the daily and save soooo much money this way. 

 First, let me just tell you just a few reasons why you shouldn't use bleach or other common household cleaners.

•  Bleach vapors are especially caustic to the lungs  
• Exposure can cause chest pain, vomiting, coughing, difficulty breathing or excess fluid in lungs
•  Irritating to eyes, nose & throat as well as skin  
• Chronic or long-term effects such as cancer have been linked to ingredients found in household cleaners
•  Because the chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets, companies aren't required to list their ingredients but merely label them as containing "fragrance"-- these can be hazardous to respiratory systems & reproductive systems 

For a more extensive break down here is a really interesting website covering this vast topic (OrganicConsumers.org) 

The following are my favorite naturally occurring cleaning agents to use in my daily cleaning routine. But for the most part I clean with a mixture using three inexpensive ingredients:

• Food Based Hydrogen Peroxide
• Distilled White Vinegar
• Purified Water

I literally use this spray for everything since it's safe and effective and cleans naturally with the strength of bleach without the harmful chemicals and side-effects. 

For cleaning our wood-floors I'll make the same spray but add organic lemon juice & rubbing alcohol (you can also use cheap vodka which is basically the same thing..blech.)

Greening up my cleaning products has taken such a load of stress off my shoulders as these products do not pose any imminent harm to Hux---of course he shouldn't be guzzling the "Floor Cleaner" or eating beeswax or castile soap, but the health risks of common house cleaners are completely eliminated. 

Here's the list of my faves + all the good stuff they do...

Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) – Baking soda is a natural substance that maintains pH balance by neutralizing both acids and bases. It is a natural deodorizer and is great used as a mild abrasive. It adds to the surfactant power of water and can get things sparkly clean without scratching. It also rinses away easily without leaving any residue.

Washing Soda (sodium carbonate) – Washing soda is a highly alkaline chemical compound that removes stubborn stains easily. It is commonly referred to as soda ash. Washing soda should not be confused with washing powder or baking soda.

Castile Soap – Castile Soap is an all natural cleansing product made from vegetable and hemp oils.

Distilled Vinegar – Vinegar is a multi-purpose, biodegradable liquid that is a natural bi-product of vegetables, fruits, and grains. One of the key ingredients in vinegar is acetic acid. Vinegar has cleaning power because the acetic acid is able to break down grease and bacteria. It is great for disinfecting, restoring shine, removing wax build up, and is a deterrent to insects.

Hydrogen Peroxide – Hydrogen Peroxide is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. In low concentrations, such as the types found in many homes, it works as a disinfectant and antiseptic.

Borax (sodium borate) – Borax is a naturally occurring alkaline mineral. It is a disinfectant, herbicide, fungicide, and insect repellant. It is most used for cleaning, deodorizing, and as a whitener for laundry.

Beeswax – Beeswax is a substance secreted by worker honeybees from four pairs of glands on the underside of their abdomens, and it is used for the construction of the honeycomb. Beeswax is used to make candles that are beneficial to life and our environment. They last longer than other candles and as they burn, negative ions are emitted. Because negative ions are drawn to positive ions, the positive ions hold on to airborne things like dust, mold and odors and that causes the contaminated positive ions to fall to the ground resulting in cleaner, purer air. Beeswax is also used in cosmetics and natural homeopathy.

Sea Salt – Sea Salt is a naturally occurring substance that is used to give a mild abrasive to cleaners. Sea salt, obtained by the evaporation of seawater, is used in cooking, cleaning, and cosmetics.

Vodka – Vodka is a distilled liquid with a high alcohol content that can be produced from a number of different materials but is mostly derived from grain. Because of the high alcohol content, it is a potent insect killer, mold and mildew remover, and because it is fast drying, it aids in cleaning shiny materials such as glass and mirrors. Use the bottom shelf stuff...no need for a Kettle One clean mirror!

Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. In cleaning, it is used to remove grease and wax stains (not build up) and is also used to maintain the moisture in cleaning pastes. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and has properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial)

True Lemon & True Orange - True products are crystallized citrus. It is 100% natural with no artificial ingredients or sweeteners, preservatives,sodium or gluten.  This product allows you to have the benefit of lemons and oranges in a dry form. 

BPA Free Spray Bottles - Spray bottles are used for storing and distributing cleaning solutions. BPA free bottles are best. These can be purchased new or you can reuse other natural cleaning product bottles. 

Microfiber Cloths – Microfiber Cloths are a blend of microscopic polyester and polyamide (nylon) fibers that are split during manufacturing to create microscopic “hooks” which act as claws that scrape up and hold dust, dirt and grime. 

Essential Oils – An essential oil is a liquid that is distilled from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils contain many life giving properties depending on the natural plant they are derived from. They also give great scents. My favorites are lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus which all contain natural antiseptic properties.

Would love to hear your feedback on all of this and any of your tips & tricks too!

xo