Clean Green For Health and Replace Toxic Chemicals With Non-Toxic Ingredients

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside the typical home is on average 2-5 times more polluted than the air just outside—and in extreme cases 100 times more contaminated—largely because of household cleaners and pesticides. Most modern synthetic cleaning products are formulated with a cocktail of chemicals. Take a look under your kitchen counter, if you have more than 5 products that you generally use for cleaning then this should be of particular interest you to.

Going back to using naturally derived ingredients is a way to make cleaning products that are environmentally friendly, economical and safe for your family. The best part is that most of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen.

Remember, many of chemicals contained in household cleaning products are the same as those used in industrial settings. Scientists are now becoming concerned that long-term, low-level exposure to chemicals may be just as dangerous as short-term high-dose exposures. There is also a general consensus that we do not fully understand the impact of exposures over our lifetime. The average adult in the U.S. will test positive for well over 50 chemicals that reside in their system. For those of you who want not only a clean environment but also a healthy one I hope that you enjoy the recipes below.

Scouring Powder
1/2 cup baking soda
1 tablespoon salt
Lemon Essential Oil

Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1 tablespoon table salt and blend thoroughly. Next add 20 drops of lemon essential oil and mix all ingredients together. Use as usual and rinse.

Window Cleaner
3 tablespoons Grapefruit Essential Oil
Water
Spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The grapefruit essential oil in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.

All-purpose Cleaner
1 teaspoon Lavender Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Eucalyptus Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Lemon Essential Oil
Water

Combine the ingredients in a dedicated 24-32 ounce spray bottle. Shake well before using. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.

Furniture Polish
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice

Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

d-Limonene Deodorizer
1 tablespoon d-Limonene
Water

Keep a clean spray bottle filled with 10 percent d-Limonene to water in your kitchen and in your bathroom. I often spray d-limonene onto my dishes prior to washing to degrease and lift off food. To eliminate odors spray into your toilet bowl and shower stall.

Mold & Mildew Remediation
3 tablespoons Tea tree Essential Oil
Water
Spray bottle

Tea tree oil offers antifungal, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties and is an old-fashioned remedy for mold and mildew. I've used it successfully when I experienced a leak in my roof and had water damage in the walls. Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.