Green Kitchen Cleaning

Why Make Your Own Green Kitchen Cleaners?
In the US, manufacturers of home cleaning products are not required to list ingredients, or to test their safety. A label that says the product is "natural" or "environmentally friendly" doesn't have any legal meaning.

Most cleaning products on the shelves of local stores contain petrochemicals or other ingredients (chlorides, ammonia, lye/sodium hydroxide, phenols, phosphates, napthalene, butyl cellusolve, ethylene glycol - to name a few). Many of these chemicals are known carcinogens, cause breathing problems, harm skin, and/or irritate eyes. Using them improperly (without recommended safety precautions, like gloves and ventilation) can cause medical problems very quickly.

Fortunately, you can buy green products at most groceries and hardware - just look for certification by Green Seal or another reputatable group.

Better yet, you can inexpensively put together a basic kit of green cleaning supplies and start using your own recipes for cleaning, freshening, and disinfecting.

Green Kitchen Cleaning RECIPES

Oven Cleaner
1 quart warm water with 2 tsp Borax and 2 Tbsp liquid soap. Spray on. Wait 20 minutes. Scrub and wipe off.

Disposal Freshener
Grind a lemon rind, or sprinkle baking soda down drain before running the disposal.

Fridge Washer
Half cup Borax in one gallon hot water. Wipe shelves and walls until clean, then wipe dry.

Drain Opener
Use plunger, then 1/4 cup baking soda, then 2 oz vinegar. Cover and wait 15 min. Rinse with 2 quarts boiling water.

Scouring Powder
Sprinkle baking soda or salt on surface. Rub with damp cloth or sponge. Rinse. Repeat, if necessary.

Grout Cleaner
Mix 3 cups baking soda into 1 cup warm water. Scrub into grout. Rinse well.

Note:Try these recipes, as you would a food recipe. If you find one less effective than you'd like, you will find there are many variations to try.

More Green Cleaning Recipes:
General Non-toxic Cleaning Metal polishes, surface cleaners, glass cleaners, disinfectants, and an all-purpose cleaner.

Green Laundry Bleach, brighten, starch, and soften laundry without chemicals harmful to humans or aquatic life.

Green Floor Cleaning Recipes and techniques for wood or vinyl floors, as well as carpets and rugs.

Healthy Home Cleaners brochure. Recipes for kitchen and bath, laundry, floors, and more. A handy two-page reference.

Want more than green kitchen cleaning for this key room in your home? Find more ways to green your kitchen.