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| Vintage Window on Etsy: Find it at VintageWindowPanes |
Living a greener lifestyle often means trying to find viable solutions and alternatives to harsh chemicals and cleaning agents. There is a greater need for consumers to uncover just what has been placed in their regular household cleaning products - in fact even I was originally shocked to find out that in regular old window cleaner can exist many harsh chemicals and detergents.
After doing a little research, many blogs and websites now give advice and recipes on making DIY friendly cleaning agents or explain where to purchase eco friendly and sustainable products and I will share some of my favorites with you below.
Go Eco When Hiring Maid Service or Commercial Cleaning
Taking it a step further, I am pleased to see how this need has impacted the commercial cleaning industry. if you have the luxury of hiring an Eco cleaning service to clean your commercial offices or clean your home ; you should find one that knows the importance of eco friendly cleaning and dangers of using harsh chemicals.
For instance, the company Natural Cleaners says that by using natural cleaning agents and microfiber rags, they provide the customers with the cleanest and healthiest indoor environment. They also use HEPA vacuums which will capture 99.9% of all dust, dirt, and dander. By using natural chemicals, they say, you already have a defense against germs and ailments. This proves to be true: read below!
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Window, Mirror, & Surface Cleaner : Quick and Natural Recipe
Let's take regular old Windex or surface cleaner. I for one was shocked to read how much hidden harmful chemicals may be hiding in that spray bottle. If you or someone you know buys those dollar store spray cleaner in an effort to save money, tell them to stop. Making your own Windex can be as little as .35-.50 per bottle and much safer!
Have you ever done your windows and seen them streaky? No doubt detergents used in window washing fluids are built up on your windows. Not to mention, it contains ammonia and other items that are no good for you to be breathing. Many places online will show you how to make your own Windex, and essentially they are instructing you to use Ammonia. Look for the eco friendly recipes like the one below! Doing your own windows at home with green cleaner is easy!
I use equal parts vinegar to water for my cleaner . Example:
2 cups water
to
2 cups vinegar
This is the strongest mix yet is pretty pungent yet to me, I have pets and a husband with a low immune system. It's important for me to make sure I'm killing the max amount of germs. You you could actually use less vinegar and it will still work. The smallest ratio I've seen (via Wellness Mama) is :
2 cups water
to
2 tablespoons vinegar
- Non Toxic
- Biodegradable
- Kills germs
Vintage Laundry Board from CynthiasAttic on Etsy
Natural Laundry Detergent & Softener
Back in the day of your great , great , grandparents circa 1800's soap shavings used to be added to heated water to clean clothes. The lye in the soap such as the later popular Octagon soap would be used to whiten clothes. Unfortunately lye is still present in many items today...
Quick Green Laundry Softener
First let's talk softener, that's a bit easier. I use 1/2 cup WHITE distilled vinegar or 1 cup of baking soda in cycle. It's quick, and easy and both work well.
Making Your Own Detergent
Many people suggest using Borax, and here is the official Borax list of ingredients. You should read this article first by Crunchy Betty to see if that's the way you wish to go. I can't tell you yeah or nay. My father is a die-hard Borax user and he's got high allergies, so he swears by it.
Some quick and easy recipes using equal parts Castille Soap and equal parts Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (different than baking soda) have proved favorable and other reviews have been epic fails. Many say to use Fels Naptha soap but other blogs say this contains harmful ingredients.
The truth is making your own detergent sometimes is a long process, but it can be worth it not only financially but for the safety of avoiding the harsh chemicals and additives. There are plenty of recipes online. I found this recipe by Cleaning out the Clutter seems to work which includes use of:
-Baking Soda
-Borax
-Epsom Salt
-Castile soap or Tea Tree Oil Soap
To read the actual recipe or find more go here.
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