Cleaning can introduce toxic and synthetic chemicals into your home. Only thirty percent of the over sixteen thousand petrochemicals used in the home have been tested with regards to human exposure and health. In the average home there are sixty-three synthetic chemical products. Chemicals from these products plus the fact that homes are more air tight and insulated than before are the reasons why the air inside your home is many times more polluted than the air outside. To help protect your home environment, you should consider switching to green cleaning supplies and methods.
Cleaning wood floors and vinyl floors is the easiest and these materials should be chosen over carpet whenever possible during home furnishing. Although you can vacuum and wash carpets, tiny particles will remain trapped in the fibers not matter how thorough a job you do.
There are green solutions for hardwood floor cleaning. For unvarnished wood floor cleaning, you can simply use a mop with water and vegetable oil cleaning solution. For cleaning hardwood floors that are varnished, use a mop and a solution of ten parts water and a single part of vinegar. For both floor types, make sure you dry well.
Green solutions for vinyl floor cleaning are just as easy. To clean a vinyl floor you will need a solution made up of one gallon of hot water mixed with either a quarter cup of borax or a half a cup of distilled vinegar.
There is even a green solution to carpet cleaning. To make your own green carpet cleaner, combine one teaspoon of liquid soap, a half teaspoon of vinegar or lemon, one teaspoon of borax, and one quart of hot water. To create your own all natural carpet deodorizer, mix two parts of cornmeal with one part of borax and sprinkle the powder on the carpet as needed. Let the powder sit on the carpet for one hour, then vacuum it up well.
In addition to home made solutions, there are an increasing number of green home cleaning supplies available. From solely environmentally friendly product offering companies like Seventh Generation to major corporations including Johnson and Johnson now provide consumers with an environmentally friendly cleaning products for the home.
Almost all homes contain cleaning products that contain harmful synthetic chemicals. As we learn more about the environmental and health effects of these chemicals, consumers have demanded more healthy green alternatives from companies. Although green cleaning supplies are becoming more widely available, there are also many home made cleaning solutions that can work just as well. Common house hold supplies including baking soda and vinegar can be used to make an all-purpose cleaner able to clean most surfaces in the home.
