Green Cleaning Products that Protect the Environment and Your Bank Account

Share:

Green Cleaning Products that Protect the Environment and Your Bank Account

Staff Writer · Sep 14, 2009

Green cleaning products are earth-friendly alternatives to harsh chemical commercial cleansers that are not only easy to make, but inexpensive too. Plus, they’re often just as effective as commercial cleansers, without leaving behind dangerous fumes or eating away at pipes and fixtures. Save the environment and save cash by using these effective cleansers:

Distilled White Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most multi-purpose green cleaning products available. You can use 100% vinegar or a mixture of up to 50% vinegar and 50% warm water in a spray bottle or with a mop and bucket to clean countertops, linoleum and wooden floors, sinks and tubs. The acidic property of vinegar is a natural bacteria, mold and mildew killer. Vinegar may smell strong, but keep your apartment ventilated as you clean, and the vinegar should soon dry and stop giving off an odor.

You can use versatile vinegar to clean the microwave (just boil a mixture of vinegar and water in a microwave-safe bowl and use the mist to wipe the microwave down), remove mildew from the grout in your bathroom (just allow to soak and scrub away) and clean glass and windows (add 1 cup vinegar to 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia, 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 1 gallon of water).

Baking Soda

Consider green cleaning products like baking soda, which acts as a freshener and a gentle scouring powder. You can sprinkle bacteria on carpets, drapes, upholstery and other fabrics, and rub it in with a scrub brush. This removes odors and dirt. Then, you vacuum the remainder away. You can also use baking soda in sinks, tubs and on dishes with tough stains. Just add a little water so that it reaches a paste consistency. Using a sponge, this paste will act as a gentle scouring powder abrasive to get tough stains out. You save money because baking soda is cheap!

Baking soda can also be used in combination with equal parts vinegar to clear and clean clogged drains. Just dump some baking soda into a drain, and pour an equal amount of vinegar in after it. The mixture will foam. Allow the drain to soak in, and rinse with warm water. You should avoid chemical drain uncloggers, as they are extremely corrosive. Save the environment by using this natural mixture. If your drain still seems a bit slow, use a toilet plunger to force the clog through the drain.

Lemons and Lemon Juice

The acid in lemons acts as one of the most safe and natural green cleaning products to replace bleach. If you have a tough stain on a countertop or in a sink, soak the stain with pure lemon juice and then scrub it away. Lemon peels also make a great garbage disposal freshener and cleaner. Just drop the peels down the drain and run the disposal.

Green cleaning products are a smart idea for anyone who wants to save the environment and save money. Vinegar, baking soda and lemons are just a few of the most common natural household items with cleaning properties. Before you waste your hard-earned money on harmful chemical products, try making some environmentally-friendly and inexpensive cleaning products of your own!

You might also like:

Moving into a new apartment or rental property can be both exciting and stressful. From packing up your belongings to coordinating logistics, there’s a lot to manage. However, one aspect that is often overlooked is what to expect on move-in day regarding the condition of your new unit. Surprisingly, according to recent surveys, a significant […]

Jessica Lee

 · Mar 12, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and or living in the communities. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight apartment communities whose […]

Jessica Lee

 · Feb 28, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and/or living in them. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is truly like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight a major city across […]

Jessica Lee

 · Jan 31, 2024