Safe and Simple: Green Cleaning Tips

I'm not sure exactly when it started but sometime about a year a year ago I became hypersensitive to the smell of chemically cleaning products. I don't mean this in a snooty way, it's just that they literally made me sick. One whiff of bleach and my head would start hurting. We had also recently had our septic system redone and (I'm ashamed to say I didn't realize this sooner) it really hit me that whatever we were flushing or putting down the drain was pretty much just soaking into the ground around our home after it travelled through the system. I knew it was time to explore some alternative cleaning methods, especially for the bathroom. I found lots of great information online (like this article and this one) and slowly developed my own routine. I thought I'd share my two favorite go-to strategies.

Bathtub/Shower and Sink Cleaner: (For a light clean)

Grapefruit and Kosher Salt
-1 large grapefruit 
-A few tablespoons of kosher salt

Cut the grapefruit in half and sprinkle with salt. Rub down all surfaces including fixtures and rinse well. This smells delicious...

I still like to wear gloves because the salt (and the baking soda in the next "recipe") can still take it's toll on the skin. I have also used halved lemons for this method, any type of strong citrus does an amazing job of removing our hard water spots on fixtures.

Toilet Cleaner and Tub/Shower Scrub: (For a serious, deep clean)

Vinegar and Baking Soda (with a bit of lemon)
- 1 cup White vinegar
-1 to 2 cups Baking soda 
-Lemon (optional)

 Toilet Bowl: Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of  baking soda, pour in 1 cup vinegar. Swish around  and let sit at least one hour. Scrub (or don't) and flush

Tub/Shower: Using the same measurements, take a no-scratch scour sponge and work the Baking soda and vinegar mixture into a paste all over the surfaces scrubbing as you go. Sometimes I add more or less depending on my need.  Let sit a few minutes and rinse clean.

Vinegar is a great disinfectant, it is said to kill 82% of mold and 99% of bacteria. If you find that the odor  is too strong, fill a mason jar halfway with citrus peels and fill to the top with white vinegar. Store overnight in the fridge. Strain out the vinegar to use for cleaner. Sometimes I fill a spray bottle with the vinegar for easy application.

The wonders of baking soda never cease to amaze me. I apply these same methods in the kitchen as well, scrubbing out our sink and our pots and pans. The end result is super shiny cleanliness. The other huge bonus to making the switch was the amount of money I save. Instead of buying a plethora of expensive products, I buy bulk baking soda and gallon size vinegar which lasts me weeks. The citrus is the only thing that the price may fluctuate on, but it's nothing compared to the price tags of expensive products.

I hope you find this helpful. I can honestly say that these are tried and true techniques that I love.  I feel like, if we all made small changes around the house, the earth (and our bodies) will be a lot happier. But... no pressure, of course. :)

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