Cheap and Green Cleaning Tips
Countertops, sinks, stovetop and other surfaces: fill a spray bottle with white vinegar, spray and wipe. Vinegar has anti-bacterial properties and also fights mold, mildew and bad odours.
For especially greasy or dirty sinks, stoves and countertops: sprinkle a little baking soda and scrub with a scouring pad. Then rinse for a shine. Baking soda is safe on granite countertops.
To wash tile floors: 1/2 cup of white vinegar to 2 litres of water (no rinsing required!)
For shower floors or other areas that need scrubbing: Mix 1 2/3 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup of castile soap or any liquid soap you have, 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. This formula works on any stubborn dirt, including mildew.
Areas that need disinfecting (toilet seats, areas where you handle meat, etc.): Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide, either from the pharmacy aisle or "green" oxygen bleach. Spray, wait 10 minutes, and then spray with vinegar and wipe with a clean cloth. Hydrogen peroxide packs a powerful disinfectant punch, and it works even better when followed by vinegar.
To remove lime buildup: Scrub with a paste of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon vinegar. To remove lime buildup in a kettle or humidifier, pour in a 1/2 cup of vinegar and let sit overnight. If your kettle needs extra de-liming, boil full strength vinegar in the kettle and then let it cool before rinsing with water.
Only run the dishwasher or washing machine with full loads.
If you do wash dishes by hand, save water by filling the sink or a bowl with soapy hot water for washing and then filling the sink (or bowl) with clean water for rinsing. Don't run the tap constantly while washing or rinsing.
Use vinegar as a rinse agent in the dishwasher but ONLY IF YOU USE NON-CHLORINE-BASED DETERGENT. The vinegar will help soften the water and your dishes will be cleaner.
Add baking soda to the dishwasher to help soften water and kill odours.
Use baking soda when hand-washing dishes to cut grease and scrub surfaces without scratching. It's great for non-stick pans or burnt-on dirt.
In general, skip the chlorine or bleach-based cleaners. Their fumes include DBP, disinfection by-products, that can cause health problems.
Avoid dry cleaning or find a service that uses nontoxic methods (specifically ask whether they avoid the use of perchloroethylene). When in doubt, hang all dry cleaning outdoors (or in a well-ventilated location) for at least two hours before storing indoors.
Washing soda, baking soda, or borax are all green ways to soften your water and boost your detergent. (Don't use borax too often, as it is toxic in large amounts, even though it's natural).
Need a little more stain fighting power in the wash? Environmentally safe "oxygen bleach" will help lift out stains without hurting the environment.
Use a bar of laundry soap or a drop of laundry detergent to pre-treat stains. Simply rubbing the wet soap on the stain and then throwing the garment in the wash takes care of most stains. (You can find bars of laundry soap in the bulk section of your supermarket or with the laundry detergents. Regular hand soap works too.)
Use dishwashing soap or shampoo on oil-based stains. Be sure to use a very tiny amount if you have a high-efficiency washer. Both shampoo and dishwashing soap are specially formulated to absorb more grease than standard laundry detergent.
Don't let stains sit for too long. If you can't wash it right away, use laundry soap or even regular soap to treat the stain and rinse it out. (Do not do this with dry clean-only fabrics).
Wash with cold to help fabrics last longer. Heat degrades fabrics, fades colours and makes elastics and stretchy fabrics less resilient. Cold water is also best for organic stains like wine, food, blood, or grass. Heat can "cook" the stain right into the fabric.
Line or air dry. Your clothes will last longer, and why pay for electricity when clothes will dry themselves naturally? If you need to fluff them out or fight wrinkles, put them in the dryer for 5 minutes and then hang it to dry.
Dispose of dryer lint carefully, and don't compost it or use it for crafts.
Wood floors: Mix 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup white vinegar. Spray and polish. This also works on wood furniture.
Glass surfaces or windows: In a spray bottle, mix 1 litre of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Spray and use a newspaper to wipe off. You can also use undiluted vinegar.
Skip the paper towel. Use rags to clean: they're free, they absorb more, they polish better, and then you can just wash and reuse them. You don't need special anti-bacterial cleaning cloths either-just cut up unusable clothes. Cotton and microfiber work best.
Dust can contain toxics. Don't allow pregnant women or children to change vacuum bags.
