Zone 7 Home

Common products such as paint, paint thinners, detergents, cleaning solvents, fuel, motor oil, car products, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, all contain hazardous chemicals. Improper use and disposal of these products can lead to contamination of our groundwater. Surprisingly, we can clean our homes, fertilize our gardens, and rid them both of pests without the use of these dangerous chemicals. Unfortunately, years of advertisements and promises of superior performance by household products containing harmful chemicals cloud the environmental side effects of their use. In addition, the consumer products industry has convinced us that we need a specialized cleaner for every room in the house!  This simply is not true.  Effective organic options are available.   Natural cleaners using vinegar or citric acid (lemon juice) can clean and deodorize as well as store-bought commercial cleaners. A little soaking and some elbow grease can safely substitute for powerful and dangerous chemicals!

CLEAN WISELY

Safe Cleaning Methods:
All purpose cleaner:

• Mix a small amount of liquid soap with water in a spray bottle and clean with a wet sponge or cloth. This solution in a spray bottle or small bucket will effectively clean sinks, countertops, toilets, tubs and showers, and vinyl floors. Add vinegar to the solution for greasy surfaces.  For tough stains sprinkle baking soda or mix baking soda with water and scrub with a wet sponge. Dry with a cloth. 

• For stains on counters, squeeze fresh lemon juice, let sit for 45 minutes, sprinkle baking soda, and rub with sponge or soft cloth. Use a stiff toothbrush or nylon scrubber for grout areas. 

• Clean windows with ¼ cup of vinegar in a spray bottle. Polish dry with a piece of newspaper.

• To remove soap scum from glass shower doors, soak surfaces with diluted liquid soap and scrub with a white nylon scrubbing pad.  For serious soap scum, use very fine steel wool.

• For clogged drains, use a plunger or snake in lieu of chemical drain cleaners. Prevent future drain problems by using an enzyme based “build up" remover.  Never pour grease down a drain.  Instead, pour grease into an empty paper milk carton and discard in the trash.

• In lieu of polish, dust furniture with a damp cloth, buff with clean dry cloth.

• Metal cleaners:  To polish copper and brass, saturate a sponge or soft cloth with vinegar or lemon juice, sprinkle salt on sponge and rub.  Rinse thoroughly and dry, otherwise it will corrode rapidly.  To polish silver, rub gently with toothpaste. Rinse with water, then dry with a soft cloth. For chrome, wipe with vinegar, rinse with water, then dry.  Clean stainless steel with baking soda and water, rinse with vinegar and water, buff with a dry cloth.

Learn more about Natural Gardening:
(http://www.bbg.org/gardening/natural/)