Good Food & How-To’s
April 2nd, 2008
By Sage Dahlen
For the first installation of our How-To column, here are a few recipes for non-toxic cleaning supplies that will make your home look pretty - and are good for the environment.
Window cleaner
¼ cup white vinegar
½ teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
2 cups water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to blend.
Carpet spot remover
Blot the stain immediately. Sprinkle with baking soda, cornstarch or borax and let dry. Wash with club soda and vacuum.
Bathroom Cleaner (tile, bathtub, sink)
½ cup baking soda
Enough liquid dish soap or detergent to make the mixture a frosting-like consistency
5 to 10 drops essential oil (lemon, lavender or peppermint work well)
Place baking soda in a bowl and slowly pour in the liquid soap, stirring continually. Add essential oil. Use a sponge to apply, and rinse clean with water.
All-purpose cleaner
¼ cup white vinegar
2 teaspoons borax
3½ cups hot water
20 drops essential oil (go for lavender or peppermint)
¼ cup liquid dish soap
In a 32oz spray bottle, mix the vinegar, borax and water thoroughly. Add essential oil. Add dish soap last.
DOs and DON’Ts:
DO label all products with name, intended use, ingredients and date made.
DO control pests by putting food away
DON’T use bleach or ammonia if possible. Never mix the two, with each other or with other products
For storing your new cleaning products, try to use plastics labeled with numbers one and two. These tend to be safer and are the only types of plastics that are always recyclable in the metro area.
What about disposing of leftover product?
For more information on healthy use of plastics you can visit www.iatp.org.
For more recipes please visit www.care2.com or www.thegreenguide.com.
