It used to be that there were two schools of cleaning: bleach or ammonia. And I was a bleach kind of girl. I loved that dizzying, antiseptic aroma wafting throughout my house to assure me that yes, I had indeed triumphed against all the dirt, germs and invisible spores that may have been hiding out on my floors and countertops. If I wasn’t slightly close to passing out from fumes (which then forced open all windows and doors, yet another health hazard in Colorado in January,) I didn’t think it was clean enough. This all changed the moment I became pregnant. My Molotov cocktail of cleaning products turned out to be just that, and they went in the trash along with the soft cheeses, deli meats and (*sniff*) wine. Of course we wouldn’t take chances with that precious little life… and that led me down a path of discovery about wellness, and being green. And as it turns out, cleaning green happens to leave a lot more green in your wallet! Who would say no to that? Today, if you open the cupboard underneath my sink, along with dish detergent and any number of sponges, you will find a cost-co sized bottle of vinegar, and the biggest bag of baking soda that you have ever seen. And that’s it. That’s basically all you need to replace all of the many sprays, scrubs and powders that you are currently using. Let me explain.

First and foremost, baking soda is non-toxic. So finding your toddler sitting in the kitchen throwing handfuls up in the air will be an annoyance, or an excuse to scrub your floors, but not a rush to the hospital. (In fact, my midwife had me drink baking soda and water when I was pregnant to help with heartburn. Much cheaper than Zantac!! )

Second, baking soda really is a good cleaner. It of course deodorizes fridges and garbage cans, but it also removes stains, cuts grease, sanitizes and can be used as a polisher. And yes, we are still just talking about the box of baking soda that you find in the baking aisle. Mixed three to one with water, it is a great scrub anywhere you would usually use a “soft scrub product.” Think stains on countertops or tables, in the microwave and cleaning your sinks or tubs. You can even just sprinkle on the powder, then scrub with a clean cloth soaked in warm water. Try sprinkling it on food-caked pots and pans, and then pouring hot water on top. Let it sit overnight (and really, do we need any more encouragement just to walk away??) and the food will “dissolve” making it much easier to clean the next morning. I’ve even used it in the dishwasher with a tablespoon of detergent in a pinch. It worked perfectly!

The next product in my green clean arsenal is vinegar.  The disinfectant properties of vinegar have been verified by numerous studies. A straight 5% solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of viruses, however in the USA, Heinz can’t claim on their packaging that vinegar is a disinfectant since the company has not registered it as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency. However, it seems to be common knowledge in the industry that vinegar is powerfully antibacterial.

So much for bleach!! I spray straight vinegar or a mixture of vinegar and water for just about everything. Sinks, toilets, countertops; vinegar can clean it. Even tough soap scum and hard water mineral build-ups can be conquered with vinegar. It’s even safe enough to let little ones in on the fun. Give them their own little spray bottle and get them going on the windows. It’s never too early to learn! Don’t be alarmed by the smell of vinegar!  The odor dissipates quickly, and will not kill brain cells in the meantime!

And for even stronger cleaning power, try combining the baking soda with the vinegar. Fill your disposal with baking soda, then rinse through with vinegar to clean both the disposal and the pipes. To clean carpet, try sprinkling it with baking soda, spray with vinegar, work gently into the carpet, and then let dry before vacuuming. Voila!

There are so many more ways to use either baking soda, vinegar or a combination of the two. They are free from noxious chemicals to poison our water supply, much less the air we breathe. And besides the more obvious reasons to avoid harsh chemical cleaners, did you know that whatever touches your skin is absorbed into your body within 26 seconds? (the skincare expert speaks!) Try remembering that the next time you are reading a long list of barely pronounceable ingredients.

Finally, a three to six month supply of the two will run you under $10, leaving much more green in your wallet for things a whole lot more fun than cleaning your house!

Please check out the following links for more info…..

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/a/Clean_BakingSod.htm

http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/bakingsoda

http://www.vinegartips.com/scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=7

http://www.natural-healthy-home-cleaning-tips.com/vinegar_baking_soda_cleaning_recipes.htm

http://www.diylife.com/spring-cleaning/cleaning-with-vinegar/

http://ehrinmcdonald.myarbonne.com/