Category Archives: Green Cleaning

How to save energy when doing laundry

1 Reply

481258_money_launderingOne of the biggest energy eaters at home is the washing machine and although it is not possible to live without it, there are ways to put it on “energy diet”.

90% of the washing machine’s power consumption comes from heating the water so the cooler temperature you set it on to, the more you save. There are special detergents that work wonders with cold washes. Look out for those ones.

The temperature of rinse water does not affect cleaning so set your washing machine for cold water rinse cycle. If your clothes are heavily soiled then you can pre-soak them before washing to maximize the effect.

The simplest way to avoid excessive energy use is to hang your clothes on a drying rack or outside when possible. Use the dryer only when there is no alternative option.

Dry full loads but don’t overload. Load similar types of clothes together and try to dry few loads one after another, this way you will be able to use the heat from previous loads. Take clothes out while they are still slightly damp to reduce the need for ironing.

If you have one, take full advantage of dryer’s moisture sensor. This automatically shuts itself off when the clothes are dry. Switch to the cool-down cycle halfway through the drying process. There is always plenty of heat left in the dryer to finish the process.

Clean the dryer filter often. A clogged filter will reduce efficiency.

Finally, don’t leave washing machine on standby.

Alternative to bleach

Leave a reply

1024966_-environment_concept-There are various greener and safer alternatives to bleach: vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, borax, washing soda, sodium hydrosulfite (salt & water) to name a few.

Hydrogen peroxide is a very popular choice. It is that gentle that is even safe to use as mouthwash! (Please be aware though and do not purchase stronger than 3% for these experiments). To use as a household green cleaner, always choose 3% label. Put it in a spray bottle and use as all-purpose spray or bleach alternative in the bathroom. It will fight off mold and mildew just as well. You can also use it as disinfectant. Apply a small amount to a cotton cloth and wipe away surfaces.

Want to go even greener than that? Replace bleach with lemon juice. Add a cup of lemon juice to your laundry cycle for an extra whitening boost. Pour lemon juice over stains to use as stain remover then, rub with salt and leave to dry in the sun for several hours. If you want to remove stain from hard surfaces, apply mixture of lemon juice and baking soda and allow it to sit for several hours. If necessary, re-apply. You can also use lemon or its juice to sanitize. Do not use lemon for cleaning marble though as this can lead to etching.

Vinegar is very effective alternative to bleach in damp an mold infected areas as it also disinfects and prevents re-appearances.

Even if you are a strong believer of ready made cleaning products and not the ones that you have to mix, peel or would rather use in baking cakes, you can always buy bleach/chlorine free alternatives and protect yourselves and your environment.

Cleaning your bathroom

1 Reply

1209273_bathroomWe use our bathrooms everyday, therefore it is one of the most favourite places for bacteria to spread. Cleaning your bathroom should not be a hard work if done properly and regularly and you do not even need to invest in expensive products. You can do wonders by using the contents of your kitchen cupboard.

Bathtub. Give attention to your bathtub as you use it every day and so the right amount of time must be spent on cleaning it. Firstly give it a good rinse. If you have a shower curtain, remove it and wash it separately. Then sprinkle baking soda over the wet surface of the tub. The moisture from the rinse helps the baking soda stick to the tub. Use a stiff scrub brush to scrub the tub. The baking soda will form a paste with the water and act as an abrasive to remove mildew and stains. Scrub it off. Then dip a sponge with a green scrubby attached into some vinegar and continue scrubbing the tub. The vinegar is a disinfectant, and it will activate the baking soda to help remove stains even more. Rinse the baking soda and vinegar off the tub.

Cleaning a Bathroom Sink. It is important to clean sinks regularly to avoid spread of harmful bacteria.
Vinegar works wonders. Fill a small bucket half way with vinegar, and soak toothbrush holders, razors and razor holders, and anything else you keep on your bathroom sink that’s been covered with toothpaste, soap, and water spots. Vinegar descales and dissolves water spots and soap residues almost instantly. Soak the entire surface of the sink with vinegar using a sponge and leave for a little while, maybe 5 minutes. Scrub the entire surface of the sink from the top, down. There is no reason to rinse the vinegar off. Simply wipe everything dry. Scrub the items you’ve been soaking and dry them off without rinsing them in water as well.

Bathroom Tiles. Different tiles will need different products so always be aware and careful. For cleaning ceramic, porcelain, or glass bathroom tiles you’ll need soft sponge, vinegar in a spray bottle, salt, baking soda, lemon juice and warm water. Spray vinegar on the tiles and scrub with a damp sponge. There’s no need to rinse the vinegar away; it will evaporate and leave no residue or smell. If the tiles are still dirty, mix water, baking soda, and salt in equal parts. Rub this paste onto the tile with the sponge. When done, rinse out the sponge and use it to remove the paste residue from the tile. Then dip rinsed sponge in lemon juice and coat the tile. This will remove traces of soap and oils and make the tile look shiny. This also does not need to be rinsed off.

If you are cleaning tiled floors, simply mop the floor with soapy water and let it air dry.

HOW TO GREEN-CLEAN YOUR HOME

Leave a reply

1250865_green_earthThinking about new ways in which you can live a more eco friendly life? Using eco-friendly products around the home can have a great positive impact on the environment. Many non-eco cleaning products contain enzymes, bleaches, brighteners and perfumes.

Here are some tips for you to green clean your home (White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity):

– Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.

– To shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.

– Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

– Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

– Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar.

– Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.

– Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.

– Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the water and letting it sit overnight. If more drastic action is needed, boil full-strength white distilled vinegar in the kettle a few minutes, let cool and rinse with plain water.

– For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with white distilled vinegar.

– Spray shower doors with full-strength white distilled vinegar after you’ve squeegeed the glass, or before you step in and turn on the water. It will help release the hard water deposits so they don’t remain on the glass.

– Mix up an inexpensive tile cleaner by adding 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup ammonia to a gallon of warm water.

– To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled vinegar into a sandwich bag and tie it around the showerhead. Let this set for an hour after the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and then turn on the water.

– To make the toilet bowl sparkle, pour in a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar and let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.

– For an economical and environmentally friendly floor cleaner, mix a solution of 3 drops dishwashing liquid to 1/3 part white distilled vinegar, 1/3 part alcohol, and 1/3 part water. Spray sparingly and mop for a fast clean-up.