When it comes to green cleaning products you obviously want a  non toxic cleaner for your home.  Some of the green cleaners are easy to make with ingredients you probably already have on hand.  Just a few basic items are all you need to clean safely and completely.  You can even make flea powder for your pets in a natural way.

Vinegar is a neutralizer.  If you want to maintain the color of your clothing, add some vinegar to the wash water to set the dye.  With the addition of some lemon juice you have a powerful acid to dissolve hard water stains, tarnish, grimey build up and dull surfaces on wood.

Washing soda is an old fashioned product found in hardware stores.  It is similar to baking soda but with a higher pH factor.  Washing soda is sodium carbonate and offers no fumes with use.  You should wear rubber gloves when handling this product which does a great job on cutting grease stains like lipstick, petroleum products, softened candle wax and kitchen grease.

Washing soda should not be used on aluminum or fiberglass and should only be used on waxed floors if it is your intention to remove the wax.

Baking soda is like a cousin to washing soda.  It is made from soda ash and it neutralizes odors in refrigerators, water and air.  You can use baking soda to remove green scum from a flower vase.  If you sprinkle baking soda on a sponge it is an effective abrasive cleaner for bathtubs, kitchen counters, ovens and boats and fenders made of fiberglass.

Add ½ cup baking soda to the washing machine and you will find it neutralizes underarm odors in the clothing.  Sprinkle some on your carpets before vacuuming to freshen both the carpet and the vacuum cleaner bag.

Liquid detergent and other soaps are another non toxic cleaner, especially for grease.  Fat and lye are the ingredients in soap.  Liquid soap purchased in a health food store is adequate if you have soft water in your area.  If you have hard water, detergent is a better bet.

Detergent is made from synthetic chemicals and was uncommon before the 19th century.  They’re beneficial for not reacting with hard water to create soap scum.

Soap is a good disinfectant.  To add fragrance to the air while you clean, add 20 drops of essential oil to one quart of warm water.  Tee tree oil works well on mildew and mold and is a natural fungicide.  Tee tree oil can be irritating to the eyes so be sure to avoid contact with the face as you mix your natural disinfectant and mildicide.

To clean your family pet and repel fleas at the same time, combine 1 teaspoon dried fennel, 1 teaspoon pennyroyal and 1 teaspoon dried eucalyptus with one cup cornstarch.  Grind all ingredients and place in a jar.  Sprinkle on your pet and comb into fur.  It takes about 15 minutes for the mixture to permeate the skin.  The remaining product can be stored in the jar indefinitely however it will lose its potency in one month.

Essential oils make an excellent tick repellent.  Rose geranium, bay, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, lavender, rosemary and lemon balm all work to keep ticks at bay.  If you are pregnant, take care not to come into contact with pennyroyal.

Bug repellents cause much concern, especially for parents who don’t want to harm their children.  Try eating more garlic, leeks, onions and chives.  These get processed through the skin and have an unpleasant taste for mosquitoes and other flying pests.

Avoid using lavender soap when you go outdoors.  The floral nature of this non toxic cleaner will attract bees.  We invite your comments if you have some favorite green cleaning products that you would like to share with our readers, we would love to hear from you via the comments tab.

Lawsuit plans have been announced by environmental and health activists who say that companies need to come clean about the chemical ingredients in their cleaning products.  They feel that consumers have a right to know what’s in the products they use everyday to clean their homes, for the sake of themselves and their families.  If these companies refuse to disclose their ingredients, it’s just one more reason for us to turn to green cleaning products.

Now that more people know the harmful effects of certain chemicals, shouldn’t they know whether or not these chemicals are in products they use on a regular basis?  Of course, but then it wouldn’t be a secret and companies like Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive would lose money.  What a shame.

The chemicals in household cleaning products are linked to asthma, chemical sensitivities, and other health issues.  Even more reason to label cleaning products appropriately with the entire ingredients list and also remove chemicals that have been deemed harmful.

The lawsuit will be filed in New York on behalf of a number of states, as well as environmental and health groups.  The Sierra Club is amongst those involved as well as the American Lung Association.

Until companies are forced to list all the ingredients in their products, we as consumers are in the dark.  Instead of waiting around for this to happen, it seems like a good time to switch to more green cleaning products.  That and who wants to support companies that feel the need to hide things from their customers?

There are a number of benefits when you choose green cleaning products. By switching to cleaning products that contain less (or none at all) chemicals and toxins, you can better your health and the environment.  Check out the benefits of green cleaning products!

Safety First:
First and foremost, you won’t have anything dangerous around for children, pets, or adults to get into.  These days we feel the need to put locks on every cupboard to keep products that we buy out of the hands of our children because they can be very harmful.  So why not get rid of that stress and switch to green cleaning products?

Cleaner Air:
Getting rid of air fresheners and other products with heavy perfume scents can make a world of difference.  These fragrances that are used in cleaning products can trigger asthma and headaches.  Why should we buy products that leave us with a headache after cleaning?

Reduce Cost:
The cost of cleaning green is way less.  If you choose to make your own cleaning supplies, the money you spend on simple ingredients like baking soda and vinegar will be considerably less than if you buy commercial cleaning products.  Why spend more if we don’t have to?

Clean Home:
Finally, by using green cleaning products, you will find yourself living in a truly clean home.  Conventional cleaners help you to wash away dirt and grime with toxic chemicals.  And air fresheners cover up smells with other smells that are harmful to your respiratory system.  With green cleaning products, you can clean your home with ingredients you can trust and know are safe for you and your family.

Looking for information on green cleaning products? Well look no farther. One company in particular manufactures a variety of cleaning products and personal care products. This article will provide you with information about Seventh Generation, a company whose mission is to provide quality green cleaning products.

Seventh Generation has been a part of the Burlington, Vermont community for over 20 years. They created their name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations”. After using their products you can confidently say you are helping to save natural resources, keep toxic chemicals out of the environment, and reduce pollution.

There are a few different types of laundry detergent and fabric softener, including one that contains to dyes or perfumes. The household cleaning products that are available include an all purpose cleaner, carpet cleaner, shower cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, and a glass and surface cleaner.

Seventh Generation also offers recycled paper products such as bathroom tissue, napkins, and paper towels. Their garbage bags are even recycled. Whether you wash your dishes by hand or in a dishwasher, they have you covered. They offer dishwasher gel or powder and a hypo-allergenic and non-toxic dish soap. When it comes to green cleaning products, Seventh Generation is on top.

We are still asking for input from you readers. It amazes me to see many hundreds of you using this site for information and the Cat must have your fingers.

C’mon people get involved.

Cato

There are a number of common household items that are great to use for cleaning around your home. Here are some examples of How to Go Green with Cleaning Products.

Peroxide: It does more than bleach your hair! This can be used instead of bleach when doing laundry. It’s also great for cleaning out humidifiers and disinfecting toothbrushes.

Baking soda: Not just for baking! Baking soda helps eliminate odors. Use it in the bathroom for scrubbing the tub or sink. Try sprinkling it in your oven, then spray it with water until damp, leave it overnight, and then wipe your oven clean in the morning.

White vinegar: Great for killing bacteria, cutting grease or wax buildup, removing mildew and it even works great for cleaning out teapots or coffee pots. Just add about half a cup to a few cups of water, boil, and rinse well. (For the coffee pot, run the water and vinegar through twice, then run plain water through and rinse.)

Lemon juice: Squeeze half a lemon in your garbage can for a natural deodorizer. It also cuts grease and removes stains.

Olive oil: Put some olive oil on a clean cloth and use for polishing wood furniture.

Club soda: Not just for removing stains! It also polishes and if put in a spray bottle is a great all purpose cleaner. It works very well on windows.

Castile soap: A vegetable-based soap that cuts grease, disinfects, and works well as an all purpose cleaner. Castile soap comes in a variety of scents from almond to peppermint or unscented.

Cornstarch: This is great for picking up spills from juice, coffee, or even wine.

What do you have to say? Do you have additional tips on How to Go Green with Cleaning Products? Please leave a comment and share your ideas, or to ask any questions.

Thanks for reading.