A Few Basic Recipes for Green Cleaning

For sealed wood floor cleaning – damp mopping:

1/8 Castile soap
½ cup vinegar
2 gallons warm water

Optional addition: if cleaning a spill that may have bacteria in it, add 10-20 drops of lavender, rosemary, tea tree, or eucalyptus oil to mixture.

Carpet Deodorizer - Liberally sprinkle baking soda on carpet or rug and leave on overnight.

Leather Cleaner ½ cup Jojoba oil
1/8 distilled white vinegar

Rub into leather with a soft clean cloth for cleaning and conditioning. Do not use on suede.

DIY Fabric softener – Add ¼ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften clothes and eliminate static.

Easy Laundry Soap

1/8 cup castile soap
½ cup washing soda (to cut grease)
½ cup borax (to remove stains)
¼ cup white vinegar (optional for softness and static control)
Combine all items. If clothes do not feel clean enough, increase the castile soap until you’re satisfied with the results.

Make use of the most natural air cleaner available!

Common households plants are a simple, attractive, and effective way to clean the air in your home. Three cleansing plants per 100 feet of space in your home or office can improve you indoor air quality and add to the natural look and feel to your home.

Aloe: One of the most effective plants for the removal of low-level concentration formaldehyde

Peace Lilies: help remove formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air. They also remove “bioeffluent,” which are the gases, including ethyl alcohol, and acetone, as well as odors, bacteria, and viruses that we exhale.

Philodendrons: One of the best plants for removing formaldehyde from air at high concentrations. Both vines and large floor plants are effective. It’s a good idea to put one anywhere you have particle board or pressed wood furniture, cabinets, or other formaldehyde sources.

Here is a list of other known air cleansing plants:
Areca or dwarf date palm, Boston fern, ficus, Florist’s mums, Gerbera daisy, Dracaenas, and English ivy.

Both the areca and dwarf date palm help remove neurotoxic VOC’s , toluene and xylene from the air. Place these plants anywhere you have ceiling tiles, computer screens, heavy adhesives (like new carpeting), paints, photocopiers, or upholstery.

Room air Purifiers

Most portable air purifiers clean the air in small spaces. For best results place the purifier near an appliance or window that brings in pollution. It is important to clean or replace the filters according to you manuals instructions. At least once a month wipe down the purifier, including the slatted vents with a damp, soapy cloth, (microfiber holds the dust more effectively). Wipe a second time with just water.