Green Cleaning Products

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Common household cleaners have VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) which evaporate and contaminate the air inside the house. They have many reported negative health effects.

Anti-bacterial products are not more effective at killing germs and can contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria population growth among other negative effects.
Non-toxic home-made cleaners (complete list):
  • Baking soda: good for scrubbing, kills odors
  • White vinegar: disinfects
  • Hydrogen peroxide: disinfects and bleaches
  • Lemons: cut grease
  • Olive oil: polishes wood and picks up dirt
  • Water and lemon juice or white vinegar: clean glass
  • Half cup white vinegar and 2 drops of olive oil: polishes wood furniture
  • Soap and Detergent
  • Get fragrance free laundry detergent which has fewer chemicals
  • Make your own laundry detergent out of castile soap, washing soda and borax.
  • Instead of bleach, mix in half cup baking soda or washing soda. (wear gloves)
  • To avoid static cling, dry cotton and synthetics separately or add a quarter of a  cup white vinegar to the wash cycle
Air Fresheners
  • Don't use aerosol which makes inhaling chemicals unavoidable, instead ventilate the house or leave out baking soda or white vinegar.
  • Avoid incense which have particulate matter in their smoke and may be carcinogenic
  • Use beeswax or soy instead of paraffin candles, which release toxins into the air when burned
  • Paper towels
  • Over a 1/3 of Americas 251 million tons of municipal waste was paper in 2006
  • Use a rag instead of paper towels when cleaning
  • Buy recycled products with the highest percentage of PCW (post consumer waste)