Eight Uses “Green” Household Tips
I try to be green, crunchy, eco-friendly…pick your term. I don’t always succeed, and there are some things on the so-called crunchy spectrum that matter more to me than others. One of the things that ranks fairly high on my list is household cleaning products. While I do believe that there are times that nothing is more effective than bleach (can we say poop in the bathtub?), I do honestly believe that are plenty of other times when baking soda and vinegar can be used to replace far more toxic cleaners and be just as effective.
The following two articles each list 50 uses for baking soda and vinegar. These products have so many uses in both household and beauty routines. Not to mention, household cleaners are expensive and baking soda and vinegar are super cheap and can be bought in bulk at warehouse stores. Combining these two products can be extremely effective at cleaning drains, toilets, ovens and other places where messes are particularly gross and stubborn.
Some of my favorite uses for these two household staples:
Baking Soda
You’ll often find baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda or bicarb) a frequent ingredient required in many recipes, but here are 50 ways you can use it to make the job easier and save time when cleaning and freshening around the home.
via 50 Household Uses For Baking Soda: {& More Quick Tips} : TipNut.com.
- Baking soda based deodorant: Equal parts baking soda, cornstarch and coconut oil. You can add an essential oil such as lavender to add scent. The baking soda can be a little harsh on your skin, so it may be a good idea to mix a small sample batch first; if you experience irritation, you can use less baking soda.
- Cleaning the range: I have a glass-topped electric range, and since the first time I’ve used it, I’ve had cooked-on food stains. Nothing cleans it as well as baking soda. I sprinkle the range top with baking soda, then wet it with hot water, let it sit for a while and then scrub. I’m certain that if I repeated this several times in a day without cooking anything else in between, I would have a brand-new looking stovetop.
- Cleaning the oven: Spray the inside of the oven with very hot water or vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda on all surfaces, let it sit for a while, then scrub. You’ll likely have to repeat this several times depending on how long you go between cleanings.
- Cleaning soft-skinned fruit: Soak soft-skinned fruit (like strawberries) in cold water with baking soda then rinse to thoroughly clean without damaging fruit.
Vinegar
- Lengthen the shelf-length of fruits: I saw this tip last summer; I tried it and it seemed to work. Add a couple tablespoons of vinegar to about 10 cups of water and soak berries for bit. Rinse with cold water. You’ll add several days to a week to the shelf-life of berries without worrying about toxic chemicals.
- Disinfect surfaces: We have a wooden cutting board that we use so frequently that it just stays on the counter. Spraying it with vinegar and rinsing it with warm water keeps it deodorized and clean.
- Deodorize Washing Machine: My washing machine gets a lot of use and sometimes what goes in it is fairly icky. About once a month or so, I run a hot cycle with a cup of vinegar to clean and deodorize it.
- Clean a coffee maker: Coffee makers tend to retain mineral deposits; running vinegar through a cycle can help remove these deposits. Run a vinegar cycle and then run two or three cycles with just water.
For more household uses for vinegar, check out BabyCenter’s list of 50 uses; check out the comments section for even more suggestions.
