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Community Corner

Home-Made Cleaners – Do They Work?

Recipes to clean your home without the toxic mess.

Cleaning without harsh chemicals is easier than you think.

Wanting to avoid the commercial ones that can literally take your breath away can be avoided without sacrificing a clean home.  Most off-the-shelf cleaners are a volatile cocktail of ingredients. Leading the list are chemicals like ammonia, (eye irritant, wheezing, chest pains, skin burns); 2-butoxyethanol, (inhaled and absorbed through the skin, long-term exposure can cause problems with your liver); Methylene Chloride, (commonly found in paint strippers); Bleach, (when mixed with acids like toilet bowl cleaners, it reacts to form a chlorine gas).

According to some experts, bleach may be necessary for disease control but is not necessary on a regular basis when home cleaning. Studies show washing counters with soap and water remove bacterial as effectively.

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According to the Environmental Protection Agency's website, some ready to use cleaning products contain chemicals that you don't want to inhale or get on your skin. Those chemicals include fragrances, dyes and air pollutants referred to as VOC's (volatile organic compounds) The website states, “ VOC's may escape to the atmosphere and react to form smog...and shown to cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat lungs and to cause asthma attacks.”

The toxicity of cleaning products is not a new subject and most are aware of the possible dangers but without knowing what to use as an alternative, the old standbys of commercial ready-to-use cleaners can hesitantly triumph.

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It is possible to clean, deodorize and kill bacteria all without harsh chemicals. It's also a lot cheaper. So it's not only good for the environment and your health, your pocketbook will thank you.

Okay, so out goes that Lysol and in comes Vinegar.

Both white distilled vinegar and apple cider vinegar will amaze the Mr. Clean in you.

Here are a few simple home cleaning recipes using only Vinegar;

  • Coffee Maker Cleaner (automatic) White distilled vinegar dissolves mineral deposits that collect from hard water. Fill the water reservoir with white distilled vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when cycle is complete.

  • Disinfect and clean wood cutting boards – Just wipe with full strength white distilled vinegar.

  • Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Spray stains with white distilled vinegar and brush vigorously. Further deodorize by adding 3 cups of vinegar and let it remain for 30 minutes, then flush.( For stubborn stains, leave vinegar in the toilet overnight then flush in the morning)

  • Unclog Shower Head – Take a cloth soaked in vinegar, wrap it around the shower head or faucet overnight.

  • Pet Urine – Fill a spray bottle with Apple Cider Vinegar or White Distilled Vinegar and after soaking up the urine with a paper towel, spray the area with vinegar and let it dry. Odor will be gone. (the vinegar odor only lasts a short time)

  • Odors on Clothes – Pour ½ cup of Apple Cider Vinegar in with your clothes when washing.

  • Remove mold, mildew and cut grease with white distilled vinegar.  

  • Vinegar is effective in soothing a sore throat, relieving itchy skin, getting rid of heartburn and even toenail fungus

    For more about vinegar's cleaning and healing properties (for you and your pet) see: www.versatilevinegar.org

    Lemons are effective against most household bacteria. Baking soda cleans and deodorizes and Borax, in addition to cleaning and deodorizing, also disinfects, softens water and cleans floors.

    Here are a few simple cleaning recipes;

    • All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix ½ cup vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda into ½ gallon of water. Store and keep handy. Good for removing water deposit stains on shower walls, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows and mirrors.

    • Bathroom Mold – Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain and let sit for a few minutes – then clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

    • Carpet and Other Stains – Spray apple cider vinegar directly on carpet or on clothes before washing and wipe.

    • Mold can be eliminated by using white vinegar or lemon juice full strength – wipe with sponge.

  • Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.  And always label and keep any cleaning products out of the reach of children.

    For more information and recipes see: www.eartheasy.com

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