Baking Soda – Not Just for Baking

We are all familiar with baking soda as a rising agent in baking.  Then of course there is the mandatory box in the back of the fridge.  Now that orange box is coming out of the cupboard and taking center stage as a green friendly cleaning product.

If you want to be earth friendly and save a few dollars consider using baking soda, (alias sodium bicarbonate), for these common household jobs:

 

• Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water to remove tough stains on counter tops or floors.
• Shine the stainless steel sink by placing baking soda on a damp sponge.  Just scrub, rinse, and dry.
• Apply as a mildly abrasive cleaner for glass or ceramic cook tops.
• Use in the bathroom sink, shower, and tub in place of soft scrub or comet. With a little water and elbow grease it will remove stains and soap scum.

• Sprinkle baking soda anywhere there is an offensive smell.  It works great to neutralize odors in trashcans, dishwashers, diaper pails, litter boxes, and garbage disposals.
• Dust over the carpet, let sit 15 minutes, and then vacuum as normal.
• Add one-half to one cup baking soda to the washing machine for cleaner clothes.  It can be used alone or to improve the performance of existing laundry detergent.  It makes sweaty gym clothes smell fresh again.
• Keep swimming pools sparkling clear and maintain water PH levels (Don’t add if pH is above 7.5 or alkalinity is 110 ppm or higher).

These are just a few ideas for a fresher and cleaner home with baking soda. In addition to cleaning and deodorizing it can be used for personal hygiene.  Some popular uses are teeth whitener, facial scrub, hair cleanser, and antacid treatment. Just watch the oral intake as it contains high amounts of sodium (1/8^th teaspoon of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda contains 150 mg of sodium or 6% of daily value).

With so many uses be sure to buy in bulk.  My last purchase was a 12-pound bag from a wholesale club (like Costco, Sam’s, B.J.’s etc) that ran about $12.00.  You can also buy sodium bicarbonate in non-cooking quality from feed stores or pool maintenance companies.

It is surprising how many toxic household chemicals you can avoid with a green living approach.  Just keep three simple items on hand (vinegar, baking soda, and the best green cleaning cloth) for a full arsenal of cleaning products. These environmental friendly cleaning products save money, remove toxic chemicals, and are kind to the earth.

Start living green one day at a time,

Tracy Z

 

Cleaning Without Toxic Chemicals

Did you know the average home contains 62 toxic chemicals?  In fact a recent EPA survey revealed that the air indoors was 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air.  Unfortunately, cleaning supplies are a primary source of indoor chemicals.

So how can we get the clean home we want without harsh chemicals?  In our home the answer is a bit of water and The Streak Free Pro Microfiber Cloth.

We simply Wet It, Wring It, and Wipe It for a green clean that is streak free, spot free, and lint free.

Not only is it friendly to your health and the environment it also saves hundreds in cleaning supplies and paper towels. 

Here are some of the ways we clean green on a daily basis using the Streak Free Pro cloth:

• Mirrors
• Stainless Steel
• Granite
• Windows
• Sinks
• Kitchen Appliances
• Cabinets
• Bathrooms
• Eyeglasses
• Computers
• Flat Screens
• Cars, Autos, RVs, Motorcycles
• And much more!

It works great on any hard surface. My favorite use is to the clean chrome and custom paint on my Fat Boy Harley Davidson motorcycle.  It even takes off the road grime and Florida love bugs.  In fact my husband and I first discovered this amazing cleaning cloth on a tri-state state motorcycle trip in 2005.  We’ve been hooked ever since.

When it gets dirty this green cleaning cloth can be washed hundreds of times for use over and over again.  Only one caution – DON’T use fabric softener.  It coats the fibers and interferes with effectiveness.  Besides that it is guaranteed for 3 years of use.

Please know this is no ordinary Microfiber cloth.  The fibers are specially designed to hold 7 times their weight in dirt, grime, and liquid.  While inferior cloths are only 80 grams per square meter (GSM) the Streak Free Pro boasts over double that at 170 GSM.

The patented and exclusive technology makes The Streak Free Pro Cloth the best green cleaning cloth in the industry today. Don’t be fooled by imposters. Click here to order the genuine made in the USA Streak Free Pro cloth with free shipping and prices as low as $4.00 per cloth!

Start living green one step at a time.

Tracy Z

 

 

Vinegar Cleans the Kitchen

The natural acidity of vinegar makes it a popular cleanser in the kitchen. Many harsh chemicals used in the kitchen can be replaced with a simple mixture of  white distilled vinegar and  water.   Not only is it friendly to the environment it is also easy on the budget.

Here are some green friendly ways to clean the kitchen with vinegar: 

• Wash tile, wood, or linoleum floors by adding about 1 cup of vinegar to a bucket of warm water.
• Use as an all purpose cleaner on counter tops and appliances by filling a spray bottle with 1 cup vinegar mixed with 3 cups water.
• Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring vinegar down the drain.
• Pour vinegar in the rinse dispenser of the dishwasher for spot free dishes instead of using Jet Dry type products.
• Clean the coffeepot and remove buildup by running 2 cups vinegar and the remainder water through the brew cycle (without any coffee).  Run two more cycles of water only to remove any vinegar taste before brewing a real cup of java.
• Make metal pans or chrome fixtures shine by using a paste of vinegar and salt.
• Remove grime, film, and grease by letting a paper towel soaked with just vinegar sit on the area until loosened (about 10 minutes) then just wipe away.

There are hundreds of uses for vinegar as a cleaning agent and Eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemicals.  So before reaching for that bottle of 409 first try using a mixture of vinegar and water.

Start living green one day at a time,

Tracy Z