some ingredients

Clean Green

Switching to all natural cleaning products goes a long way toward reducing your family's exposure to neurotoxic chemicals, improving the quality of indoor air and keeping our planet healthy. When we use cleansers we "discard" them by running them down a drain--which means any toxins in them end up in our raw sewage and ultimately in our water supply. Research demonstrates that plain soap and water are usually adequate to disinfect most surfaces and that antibacterial cleansers may contribute to antibiotic resistant germs. Chlorine bleach in cleansers breaks down into dioxins--the same compunds that made Agent Orange so dangerous. Dioxins are hormone disruptors (they affect reproduction and sexual development) and are suspected human carcinogens. Dioxins are of grave concern as an environmental contaminant as they are easily absorbed into fatty tissue, do not metabolize and climb the food chain readily.

Cleaning up your cleansers is simpler than you might think. Ready-to-use, natural, biodegradable cleaners are becoming more common on retailers shelves and while they are a convenient solution, they can be costly. Chances are you already have many of the ingredients needed to make your own simple, effective natural cleansers. If you have a few minutes and a few re-purposed containers, you can make your own earth friendly, natural cleaning recipes that will protect the earth and keep you breathing easy at home.

Earth Friendly Natural Cleaning Recipes

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

• 1/2 gallon HOT water
• 2 t baking soda (NEW--try Mountain Girl Botanics EcoSprinkle)
• 1 T liquid soap (watch for Mountain Girl Botanics new liquid soap line summer 2009)
• optional: a few drops of your favorite essential oil blend

Mix together in a bucket to use on floors or place in a spray bottle for spray on, wipe off convenience for surfaces. 2 teaspoons of borax can be added for additional grease cutting and disinfecting properties. If using in a spray bottle, shake well before each use. Discard if solution smells "off."

Glass Cleaner Recipe

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• optional: 1/2 t liq soap (to dissolve build up--watch for Mountain Girl Botanics liquid soap line coming summer 2009)
• optional:  a few drops essential oil (to help mask vinegar scent)

Mix and store in a spray bottle.  Wipe off with newspaper or lint free cloth (re-incarnated cloth prefold diapers are perfect for this use).

Disinfectant Spray Cleaner Recipe

• 1 c hot water
• 2 T hydrogen peroxide
• 1 T baking soda (NEW--try Mountain Girl Botanics EcoSprinkle)

Spray on, wait 10-15 minutes and wipe off if desired.

Liquid Scouring Scrub Recipe

Perfect for scouring sinks and even toilets without scratching--just like the major commercial brands but a 100% biodegrable natural cleaning recipe.
• 1 1/2 cups baking soda (NEW--try Mountain Girl Botanics EcoSprinkle)
• 1/2 cup liquid soap (coming summer 2009--Mountain Girl Botanics Liquid Soaps)>
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• optional, a few drops of your favorite essential oil

Stir together baking soda and soap. Add water, stir to a smooth consistency. Gently stir in vinegar and optional essential oil until creamy. Store in a large squeeze bottle (like a re-purposed ketchup or honey bottle). Shake before each use and discard if solution smells "off."

Dishwasher Powder Recipe

• 1/4 c citric acid powder
• 1 1/2 c borax powder
• 10-15 drops essential oil

Place all ingredients in a bucket container with lid and shake before each use. Use 1-2 T per load.

Drain & Garbage Disposal Cleaner Recipe

• 1/2 c baking soda (NEW--try Mountain Girl Botanics EcoSprinkle)
• 1/4 c HOT white vinegar
• optional: a few drops of an antimicrobial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree or sage oil

Pour into drain or disposal. Allow to sit 5-10 minutes. Run disposal or flush with clean water.