Are You a Green Cleaner?

You can deodorize your dishwasher by simply sprinkling ½ cup of baking soda on the bottom of your dishwasher before running a cycle. For moldy shower curtains throw a mildew/mold stained shower curtain into the washing machine with a couple of bath towels. Add 1 cup of baking soda to the detergent and add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. For grill gunk, mix equal parts baking soda and water and get scrubbing. Baking soda is however not known to kill fleas.

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Lambswool is a great reusable material for cleaning dust and you can find lambswool dusters at any home store. These dusters contain natural lanolin which is great on wood. To clean a lambswool duster, simply rinse it in mildly soapy water. If you want something to polish your wood with, why not olive oil? Remove the dust with lambswool and polish the wood with olive oil. There is no need for those harsh abrasive chemicals in your home and no need to buy disposable dusters.

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The antibacterial nature of a soap or cleaner has little to do with its moisture maintaining qualities. However, the antibacterial and antimicrobial 'cleaners' that many people think are necessary, especially during cold season, don't clean hands better than soap and water, and also add to the risk of breeding "super germs," bacteria that survive the chemical onslaught and have resistant offspring. The FDA has found that antibacterial soaps and hand cleansers do not work better than regular soap and water.

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No matter how green your sprays and scrubs may be, if you use an entire roll of paper towels to scrub your bathroom it's not exactly eco-friendly cleaning. Skip the paper towels for reusable microfiber cloths or sponges, and ditch the Swiffer sweeper for a broom.

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You don't need price tags on all your items. Instead, put similar items like cds and books in boxes and mark with one price tag. Even if you have very cute pets, some customers will be afraid or allergic so keep them away from your yard sale. But background music is a great way to make the mood a bit less awkward.

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It's not a disinfectant and it doesn't prevent stains, but it can remove baked-on food. First dampen the pan and sprinkle salt all over. The salt will break down and help you lift off the baked on food.

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Toiletries, shampoo, and shower gel bottles that are constantly in contact with water are the perfect breeding ground for mold. The more of them that are in the bathroom, the longer it takes for the shower or bathroom to dry. Get rid of items that you don't use that often or put them where they will not collect water. The faster your bathroom drys the less chance that mold with form. Leave windows and doors open when possible as well.

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Vinegar and lime juice are not known to remove stains, but a sunny day does a marvelous job. Just put up a clothesline and let the sun do the work for you. Simply rinse the stain with water and hang it out to dry for a few days. Cornstarch works as well. This is said to work best on oil-based stains, particularly on silk and wool fabrics. Rub the starch on the dry stain and let it sit for a half an hour before rubbing the powder off with a dry cloth or soft brush. Repeat this a few times.

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Making your own jewelry cleaner can be way cheaper and easier on the planet than conventional cleaners. With organic toothpaste and eco-friendly window cleaner you can make it at home. Make sure your cleaner comes from all plant and mineral based cleaning products to ensure that your cleaner is eco-friendly and use an old toothbrush to scrub your jewels clean.

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While it's always critical to recycle ALL your cans and bottles and t-shirts should be donated to Goodwill, electronic equipment is often filled to the brim with poisonous substances that can seep into our eco-system and water supply.

These include TV's, stereos, speakers, and mobile phones. Check Earth 911 to find out where they can be recycled. Mobile phones can often be taken back by your cell phone dealer.

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