Washing your hands with antibacterial soaps and cleaning the house with disinfectant wipes -- seems like a no-brainer, right? Actually, the substances that make soap and other products antibacterial and allow them to "disinfect" are herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that help eliminate odor-causing bacteria and microbes. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies 275 of the antibacterial elements in cleansers as pesticides because they kill microbes. Some, such as triclosan, trigger production of a probable carcinogenic chloroform.
In fact, some of the "active ingredients" in antibacterial products have been linked to a variety of serious health problems including liver, kidney, and digestive damage; behavioral problems in children; damage to the nervous system; and brain development and reproductive defects. Even more, overuse of these products can impair the body's ability to fight off common infections and viruses.
Instead of antibacterial soaps and wipes, opt for natural germ-fighters such as vinegar, baking soda, and lavender oil in either a solution, suspended in an inert oil such as mineral or apricot oil, or by direct application.
Commercial spot removers for carpets and rugs usually contain caustic substances, not to mention chlorine and/or petroleum-based solvents. Although more and more spot removers are becoming available that claim to be easy on both the environment and your health, there's really no need for you to buy them. Luckily, you can tackle many of the common carpet and rug stains you may encounter with a vinegar and water solution, and sometimes with just undiluted vinegar alone! To get that coveted foaming action that many products feature, place the vinegar solution into a well-rinsed foaming soap bottle. Now, let's look at five specific situations where green cleaning can be applied to the carpet.
1. Crayons & Glue
With kids in the house, you might find chewing gum or crayon stains mysteriously appearing in your rug or carpet (try finding a kid to own up to them!). For each of these, you need to use undiluted vinegar. To remove crayon stains, tackle the spot directly by dipping an old toothbrush in vinegar and scrubbing the stained area.
If you find a dried blob of white school glue on your carpet, try treating it with a vinegar and water solution sponged in and blotted. However, if the spot is stubborn, warm up the vinegar a little bit on the stove or in your microwave and sponge it in undiluted. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrape it away. Clean up any residue using the vinegar and water solution.
2. Greasy Spills
Here's an excellent way to pick up a greasy spill on your carpet: Sprinkle it with a little cornmeal and allow it to sit for five minutes. Next, sponge the area with vinegar and water.
3. The Four Cs: Catsup, Chocolate, Coffee, and Cola
When your rug or carpet is stained with any one of the Four Cs, a vinegar and water solution is called for. Remember, though, that each culprit requires an individual application guideline. For each, first mix 1 cup vinegar with 2 cups water (or a 1:2 ratio of any kind, depending upon the quantity you need).
For catsup, liberally sponge the mixture into the carpet until the stain disappears, rinsing and repeatedly wringing out your sponge.
Chocolate stains should be treated in the same way, but it's important to blot with a clean cloth, rather than rub, to avoid spreading the stain further. Again, rinse and wring out your sponge repeatedly until the water runs clear.
A coffee or tea spill on the rug should come up easily if you catch it right away. Just sponge it with clean water. If the stain is set, however, use the vinegar and water solution; sponge it in, then rinse and wring until all brown color is gone. You can treat dark cola stains in the same way.
4. Mildew
It's certainly not unusual for a rug or carpet to suffer some kind of accidental saturation -- from a leaky roof, an overfilled bathtub, an actual flood, or perhaps simply a spilled glass of juice. Whatever the liquid, your only defense is to get it dried out as quickly as possible. Still, it's probably safe to assume you're going to have a mildew problem anyway; after all, mildew loves the damp, and rugs love to retain dampness.
You can kill any mildew hiding in your rug fibers by sponging in a mixture of half vinegar and half water. But you must take measures to ensure the rug dries thoroughly. If you can't set the rug or carpet out in the sun for a long time, you may want to use a hair dryer, set at a very low setting, and/or aim some electric fans at it. The goal, after all, is to defeat dampness!
5. Red Wine
When you have a brand-new red wine spill on a light-colored carpet, sprinkle the spill with salt and let it sit for 15 minutes. The salt will absorb the spill and will turn pink. After brushing or vacuuming the salt away, clean the area with a mixture of 1/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup water.
1. Sink Drains
First, a lesson in what not to use. One of the more caustic products you may have in your home is a commercial drain cleaner designed to unclog sinks. If you've ever had a clogged sink, you've probably used one of these incredibly corrosive cleaners. The typical acidic drain cleaner essentially burns the gunk in your pipes, clearing it away. Some drain cleaners are now designed to use enzyme action, which may sound better than acid, but enzymes can gradually eat away at your pipes. Injecting air or carbon dioxide into the drain is less harmful, so you might look for those products instead. Another approach is to use high-pressure water treatments. Still, quite often pouring a lot of boiling water down the drain will do the trick. Try that process first before moving on to the more advanced methods.
Once you've cleared a nasty clog, commit yourself to practicing preventative maintenance in your kitchen sink. For starters, make sure that nothing solid goes down the drain, especially if you do not have a garbage disposal. Keep a small compost bin or bucket next to the faucet to remind you to scrape those plates clean before putting them in the sink or dishwasher. Once a week, dump 1/4 cup baking soda down each of your kitchen drains, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar. Let this mixture sit in the drain for 20 minutes or more without any other liquids going down. While this is sitting, boil some water on the stove. Finally, flush the drains with the boiling water.
You might need to give the process some added oomph if a lot of greasy plates have been rinsed recently. If that's the case, mix 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup baking soda together, pour down the drain, and then flush with hot tap water.
2. Ovens
Left the cookies in the oven too long?
Covering a cookie sheet in baking soda and hot water and allowing it to soak can remove burned-on stains. After the soak, scrub with baking soda applied directly on a sponge, rag, or scrubber. Other aluminum pans can take on a rather grungy look after years of use as well. Remove stains by boiling the soiled pans on a stovetop inside other pans large enough to hold them. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar to enough water to cover, then just let them boil.
Again, another household cleaning product no-no is the aerosol oven cleaner. It's so strong that the product's instructions practically scream, "Open all windows and doors, spray the stuff into your oven, grab the children, and run for your lives!"
Let's take that as a clue that perhaps you should use something different.
Self-cleaning ovens are a miracle of modern science -- if you have the technology, good for you. However, if you don't have an oven equipped with that feature (or yours has just given up), try not to reach for the can of spray-on oven cleaner.
To clean an oven manually, sprinkle about a 1/4-inch layer of baking soda over the entire bottom of the oven. Use a clean spray bottle to wet the baking soda with water. Over the next few hours, spray the baking soda every so often to keep it moist. Then let the baking soda mixture sit overnight. In the morning, scrape and scoop the dried baking soda and grime out of the oven with a damp sponge. Rinse the residue off.
As with your kitchen sink, the best way to tackle interior oven cleaning is with preventative maintenance. Keeping up with the grease and grime a little bit at a time will mean you don't have to do a big cleaning event very often. After you've done a major cleaning, finish the job by using a sponge to wipe down the entire surface with a mixture of half vinegar and half water. This will help prevent grease buildup. Be sure to give the entire interior a wipe once each week with a sponge soaked in pure vinegar.
Another preventative trick is to cover the bottom of your oven with aluminum foil when you're baking something that may overflow -- a blueberry pie, say, or perhaps an overstuffed lasagna. If something does accidentally spill inside and onto the unprotected bottom of the oven, as soon as it is safely possible (make sure the oven isn't hot!), cover the mess with salt and let it stand. It should become hard and crisp enough for you to lift off the surface of the cold oven with a plastic spatula or some other item that won't scratch the interior.
If you have vents above your oven, you should be checking them about every six months for grease buildup. To clean, wipe the vents with a sponge soaked in pure vinegar. Use an old toothbrush dipped in vinegar to get at the grime that may have built up in small crevices or other hard-to-reach places. If the filter is metal and removable, give it a soak in a vinegar solution.
3. Stovetops
Spills on the stovetop can be easily cleaned if sprinkled with salt first. The salt acts as an absorbent, plus it has a mild abrasive quality that won't harm the surface. If you've spilled something into your burner pans on your electric stove, sprinkle the spill with salt and cinnamon, and wipe away. The cinnamon will mask the burned-on smell the next time you use the burner.
All stovetops, even ceramic glass ones, can be cleaned easily with a baking soda solution. Use a toothbrush dipped in baking soda to get into any tight corners. Then rinse everything very thoroughly to avoid leaving a white residue.
4. Microwaves
Now, some of us have a natural talent for exploding things in the microwave -- usually involving some kind of red sauce that stains. To easily get rid of this type of spatter or greasy buildup, add 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 cup water in a glass measuring cup. Boil the mixture for three minutes in the microwave. But don't open the door just yet -- let it stand in the microwave for about ten more minutes. Soon, everything should be loosened up nicely.
Wipe the entire inside of the microwave clean with a damp sponge or soft cloth. Wipe from top to bottom and collect anything that falls to the floor of the microwave, tossing it into your compost bin.
Lemons also may be used as a variation. Heat a bowl of water with lemon slices in your microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, then wipe out the oven. Stains will be easier to remove and old food odors will be neutralized.
Remember to use microwave-safe containers when nuking your food. Many plastics and even paper towels break down when microwaved, releasing toxins that leach into food.
5. Surface Cleaning
Wipe your kitchen countertops with undiluted vinegar once a day -- they'll shine and keep the kitchen smelling fresh. You can also cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with baking soda, and scrub the countertop to achieve the same thing. Mind you, this would take quite an investment in lemons if you were to do it daily, but this trick works on any kitchen surface that needs cleaning, whether it is a counter, dish, or stove.
Cleaning the stainless steel sink can be a satisfying task to undertake. By week's end, the sink can look a little grimy, so it's best to clear everything out and away before starting the job. Then just sprinkle baking soda onto a sponge and go to it. Around the faucets and knobs, use a toothbrush dipped in baking soda. As long as you remember to rinse thoroughly, everything will turn out shiny -- baking soda can leave behind a harmless white residue if you don't get it all off immediately. Any stainless steel surface in the kitchen will benefit from this treatment. Lemon juice is also good for any soap scum or hard water deposits around your sink.
If you have a white porcelain sink, a combination of baking soda and vinegar on a sponge does a great job on minor stains. Porcelain stains very easily, so it's best to tackle any problem spots immediately.
If you have tile and grout in your kitchen, treat them regularly with undiluted vinegar on a sponge to cut the inevitable greasy buildup. Scrub stains with vinegar and allow to dry. Afterward, rub the vinegar off with a dry rag. For added strength, try tackling the stains by scrubbing them with a toothbrush dipped in a paste of baking soda and water. Afterward, rinse off.
Every so often, laminate countertops can get stained with something that seems unremovable, such as blueberry juice, tomato sauce, or red wine. Diligently apply a baking soda paste to the spot and allow it to sit until dry. Then rub the paste off with a dry towel and the stain should disappear. Such stains can also often be removed by applying straight lemon juice. Scrub, then rinse clean.
6. Garbage Pails and Disposals
Keep your kitchen garbage pail smelling fresher by sprinkling a bit of baking soda in the bottom each time you empty it. Every now and then, wash and deodorize the can with a solution of baking soda in warm water.
It's also a good idea to give your garbage disposal the royal treatment every month or so. Pour 1/4 cup each salt, baking soda, and dishwasher detergent into the disposal, turn on the hot water, and run the disposal. Doing this should clean out the gunk and get rid of lingering odors. You can also drop the rind from a citrus fruit such as a lemon, lime, or grapefruit down the disposal. Grind away -- the rind helps to clean the disposal's "teeth" and gives a fresh scent to your kitchen.