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Cleaning
Vinegar
Vinegar kills bacteria & can neutralise grease and soap residue.
The smell dissipates quickly. Fill a spray bottle with straight
white vinegar to replace your current spray cleaner. Use cider vinegar
to promote blood circulation & regulate the pH of the skin.
See more at http://www.care2.com/.
Standard white vinegar from your supermarket doesn't have GST ('cleaning'
vinegar does) and is around $1.25 for 2Litres.
Bicarbonate of Soda
Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is a deodoriser which neutralizes
odours. Use it powdered or mixed with water. Keep bicarb in a plastic
jar with holes in the lid. Use it on your body or in the laundry.
Sprinkle on a damp cloth as a nonabrasive cleanser. See much more
at http://www.armandhammer.com.
Buy Bicarb near the flour in the supermarket for around $1.30 for
500g - OR - visit a pool shop and buy pool buffer which is the same
product.
Essential oils (lavender, tea tree & eucalyptus)
Eucalyptus oil will remove grease, gum & stubborn stains on
clothes. Use tea tree or lavender for anti-bacterial & healing
uses on the body or in cleaning. Mix lavender in a carrier lotion
or oil as an insect repellent. Oils should not be swallowed &
may be dangerous if pregnant. See more at http://www.itssonatural.com/.
These three oils are usually near the band-aids in the supermarket.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice is a mild bleach, a deodorant & a cleaning &
polishing agent that will soften stains & repel insects. Roll
the lemon before you cut it to maximise the juice.
Salt
Salt can be used for scouring clean & disinfecting food preparation
areas & utensils. To clean & disinfect a drain, use a handful
of salt followed by a jug of boiling water. Salt helps prevent colours
running in the wash & removes stains.
Borax
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral salt. It cleans, deodorises,
bleaches and disinfects and is useful in the laundry as a soap booster.
Borax is also used to control pests such as ants and cockroaches.
Borax is poisonous if swallowed. In the supermarket, Borax is near
the 'Draino' and costs around $2.80 for 500g
Washing soda
Washing soda (sodium carbonate) cuts grease and removes stains.
It can be used as a soap booster, to remove tarnish, soften water,
as a drain cleaner or bath salts. Available in the supermarket near
washing powders, washing soda is around $1.70 for 750g
Pumps, sprays & shakers
Save pump bottles & sprays from used products to put your non
toxic products in. Contact your local council to find the best way
to dispose of any unwanted chemical products (including cleaning
products). Labelling is important as for safety as well as getting
others in your household to use products!
Cleaning equipment
A micro fibre cloth will hold the dirt (not spread it) and can be
washed with your general laundry (Enjo or Oates are two common brands).
Old tooth brushes, paint scrapers, rubber gloves, a good scrubbing
brush, old socks (as a cleaning mit), and old towels or tea towels
to wipe dry and polish surfaces.
Products to avoid
- Petroleum based detergents - slow to biodegrade
- Phosphates - stimulate algae growth in waterways
- Bleaches, disinfectants and detergents have toxic vapours that
irritate eyes, nose and lungs as well as creating poor indoor
air quality
- Synthetic perfumes and colours - usually petroleum based and
often irritating
- Optical brighteners - slow to biodegrade
- Formaldehyde (a preservative) - highly toxic and carcinogenic
- Excessive use of anti-bacterial solutions are said to encourage
new strains of bacteria
- Do not use poisonous chemicals on food surfaces
Assess cleaning jobs
Before you start, take a look at the cleaning job.
- What result are you looking for?
- What's important to you? Shine, smell, hygiene?
- Be guided by your common sense rather than guilt or advertising
'greenwash'
- Sensible standards of cleanliness and ventilation are important
for good health
- Keeping surfaces clean and dry reduces the need for disinfectants
Tips
- A bucket of hot water with ½ cup of vinegar can be used
for general household cleaning. Add a cap of tea tree or eucalyptus
oil to improve the anti fungal properties
- For stains, try a paste of bicarb with water. Allow to dry
and wipe or vacuum
- Heavier stains may need a paste of borax with water
- Wipe with a dry cloth after all cleaning to give shine and decrease
the chance of bacteria benefiting from moisture
- Frost and sunshine both kill bacteria
- Clean kitchen surfaces with a vinegar spray. If you can allow
the vinegar to dry on the surface it has an improved anti-bacterial
impact
- Clean chopping boards with soap and water then wipe or spray
with vinegar and allow to dry
- Wash all vegetables and fruit to remove traces of pesticides
- especially non-organic purchases. Put a little vinegar in water
and soak for a few minutes
- Add 1 cup of vinegar to half a bucket of very hot water to clean
glass. If very dirty, use hot soapy water before the vinegar rinse
- Clean the oven using bicarb soda and vinegar
- To whiten clothes add a half a cup of borax to a normal wash
cycle then hang clothes in the sun to dry
- Vinegar acts as a fabric softener or use less soap in your normal
wash and make up the difference with Bicarb
- Eucalyptus oil or spray can be used to remove biro, chewing
gum, grass, grease, gum, glue, lipstick and nicotine. Place absorbent
paper under the fabric and dab or spray eucalyptus. Work towards
the centre of the stain, then wash as normal
- Soak stained garments in dissolved washing soda then wash as
normal
- Mop wooden floors with water with ½ cup of vinegar added.
In summer, add citronella oil to reduce flies and mosquitos
- Leave a box of matches on top of the toilet and light one to
neutralise odour
- If possible, tip waste water from your cleaning onto grass rather
than down the drain and remember the dust from the vacuum cleaner
bag can go into your compost heap
- When other things won't work, ammonia is a natural product that
will cut heavy grease and grime. Ammonia can be highly irritating
however, never mix ammonia and bleach - dangerous toxic fumes
are formed
Use the following links to help with your research:
Buying natural products on line:
www.healthyhabitat.com.au
http://www.goodhealthdirect.com.au/index.php
http://www.ecologicalhomes.com.au/Cleaning_Products.html
Easyguides
http://www.resource.nsw.gov.au/easyguides.htm
Greenpeace cleaning guide
http://www.greenpeace.org.au/
Healthy living tips
http://www.care2.com/healthyliving/
http://www.itssonatural.com/home.htm
ALL about bicarbonate of soda
http://www.armandhammer.com/myhome/tour.asp
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