Tips for cleaning greener at home

Do them all today or take it step by step — whatever works to get you cleaning greener!

• Less is more: Dilute your cleaning supplies according to instructions and use only what’s needed to get the job done.
• Open the window: Clean with windows and doors open so you don’t trap air pollution inside your home.
• Use gloves and other precautions: Cleaning chemicals may harm or penetrate skin and eyes — check warning labels.
• Keep kids away: Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. If they like to help, let them clean with soap and water, not toxic cleaners.
• Avoid “antibacterial”: If your family is generally healthy, there’s no need to use potentially toxic “antibacterial” products, according to the American Medical Association. Wash your hands with plain soap and water.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other acids: These combinations can produce deadly gases.
• Don’t be fooled by labels — buy certified green products: Label claims aren’t always true. Cleaning supplies certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo meet green standards.
• Try natural alternatives: Experiment with non-toxic options like vinegar (great for windows when diluted with a little water — wipe with old newspaper or rags) and baking soda (mix with water to form a paste for scrubbing). Of course mix with care; some ingredients are dangerous when combined.
• Take care with pine and citrus oil cleaners: Avoid using these cleaners especially on smoggy days, when the ingredients can react with ozone to produce cancer-causing formaldehyde.
• Skip the biggest hazards: Avoid air fresheners, use a baking soda and water paste to clean the oven and tackle toilet stains, and use a mechanical snake to unclog the drain.
• Dispose of your old toxics safely: If you choose to toss your old cleaners instead of using them up, drop them off at your local hazardous waste facility. Don’t pour cleaning supplies down the drain — some of the ingredients can harm wildlife as well as people.

In the Kitchen:

• Skip the biggest kitchen hazards, use safer alternatives: Replace oven cleaners with a baking soda and water paste and corrosive drain cleaners with baking soda and vinegar or a mechanical snake.
• Fight germs without nasty chemicals: Microwave your sponge — wet it and zap for two minutes to kill germs.
• More non-toxic ways to fight germs: Wash your hands often with regular soap and water — no need for “antibacterial” soap. Wash dishes and clean counters frequently so germs don’t collect and avoid “antibacterial” dish soap. Take out the garbage regularly to avoid germs, pests, and bad odors.

In the Bathroom:

• Skip the biggest bathroom hazards, use safer alternatives: Scrub toilets with baking soda and water instead of an acidic toilet-bowl cleaner. Use baking soda and vinegar or a mechanical snake instead of corrosive drain cleaners when you have a clogged drain (prevent clogs by using a drain cover).
• Fight germs without nasty chemicals: Focus on the toilet — keep germs isolated by tossing toilet cleaning rags into the wash right away and keeping the scrub brush in an out-of-the-way spot.
• More non-toxic ways to fight germs: Wash your hands often with regular soap and water — no need for “antibacterial” soap. Wipe down showers after each use to prevent mold and mildew.
• Forgo air fresheners: Air fresheners are unnecessary and potentially harmful. They only disguise odors, while pumping a bunch of potentially toxic chemicals into the air. Open a window, run a fan, and try to identify and clean up the real source of the smell. A box of baking soda is another safe way to eliminate odor.

Your Floors and Furniture:

• Sweep and vacuum frequently to remove dust, which often harbors household toxins.
• Mop with a dilute vinegar solution (e.g., ¼ cup vinegar in 1 quart of water).
• Try a microfiber mop to remove dust and dirt efficiently while using smaller amounts of both water and cleaning supplies.
• Dust with a soft or microfiber cloth and skip dusting sprays.
• Clean spills promptly so they are more easily removed with less toxic products.