Green Cleaning: Cheap and Effective

The Healthy Schools Campaign has released the fourth edition of their Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools. Anyone who has walked down a corridor that has been freshly wiped down with ammonia can appreciate the effort. Read more about it here: http://bit.ly/RKNtKB

But it got me thinking about what happens when the child comes home. How to keep up the green cleaning?

Below are some cheap and effective cleaning recipes that will minimize the collected spray bottles under your sink but still scrub your bathroom tub sparkling clean:

Surface Cleaner:
White Vinegar. Use it in a spray bottle and you have a powerful cleaning tool that kills bacteria and cuts grease but doesn't hurt you. A mix of 50% vinegar and 50% water will clean kitchen counters, floor tiles and anything else you can think of. Many are turned off by the smell, but it fades in 5 minutes and it absorbs odors while it is doing it. I have found this works great on hard water stains and makes my shower walls shine.

Scrub:
Mix 50% baking soda and 50% Borax. Add a little water until you get a consistency like frosting. Use as a scrub in bathroom or kitchen. Also works on toilets.

Scrub#2:
On less dirty surfaces, you can sprinkle baking soda and spray lightly with vinegar. The reaction forces air into all those nooks and crannies and shoves the grime out. Rinse away with water.

Laundry Detergent:
I didn't think it would work, but it does. Doesn't really bubble, don't worry about that.

1/2 cups Borax (in the laundry detergent aisle)
1/2 cups Washing Soda (Arm N Hammer makes it, check the laundry detergent aisle)
1/3 of a bar Fels Naptha (laundry detergent aisle)
Water
Sturdy 5 Gallon Bucket

Boil 4c water in a large pot on medium at a light boil
Grate the 1/3 bar of soap. Stir into boiling water. Stir briskly until melted. A wisk is nice here.
(watch for boiling over. If it does, turn down heat, stir)
Once soap is melted, add borax and washing soda.
Stir. Stir. Stir. 3 minutes or until everything looks dissolved.
Remove from burner and allow to cool a moment.

Place bucket in sink
Add 6 cups cold water from the tap
Add boiled mixture
Add enough water to fill bucket.
Stir.
Allow mixture to cool overnight outside. Tomorrow it will be ready to use.
Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry. That bucket will last 4+ weeks and

Dish Soap
2 cups laundry detergent mixure above
1/4 cup vinegar (for grease)
Two shakes of essential oil for fragrance.
Combine all. Vinegar might cause a little bubbling, but will subside.

Enjoy!