Why the Interest in Green Cleaning and How is it Beneficial?

My interest in green cleaning (cleaning using environmentally sustainable materials) grew out of my earlier interest in environmentalism. When I lived in Australia in the late 1990s, I completed a research paper about the voluntary simplicity movement. I interviewed some VS’ers around Perth. Many of our conversations turned toward how they kept house. Many mentioned how they forgo store-bought cleaners in lieu of homemade cleaners.

I have always been interested in frugality and making what I need out of what I already have. During this same time in the late ‘90s, I cleaned houses for a living in Perth. Many of my clients used standard chemical cleaners, such as bleaches and other harsh items. I was startled when I noticed that the clothing I wore when I cleaned seemed to wear out rather quickly. In fact, the fabric would become thin! I believe this is because of the constant contact with harsh chemicals. Moreover, over time I became sensitive to chemical cleaner fumes. I now believe that I developed a chemical sensitivity as a result of my exposure. Bleach used to be the only cleaner that would leave me with a bad headache within hours. Now, even Lysol floor cleaner does the same. The last time I used a shower mildew removed, I became very queasy and had an awful headache.

My housemate in Australia, Cliff, gave me a book on green cleaning. I began using some of the products in Australia. I made my own furniture polish out of olive oil and lemon juice, used baking soda on the shower, cleaned the toilet with vinegar, and tried organic hair soap. I used these methods as much as for their cheapness (I was extremely tight on money!!) as for my interest in alternative ways of cleaning. In addition, one of my housecleaning clients used all green cleaning methods and I learned a lot of tips from her.

When I moved to Indiana for six years in 1999, I slowly made my way back to standard chemical cleaners. My apartment was quite dirty from the nearby traffic fumes and I used caustic cleaners to try and maintain some order. After I got married and moved into our house in Michigan, I started thinking more and more about returning to green cleaning.

After we had been in the house a year, I decided to take the plunge and try to remove most chemical cleaners from our home. With a little more income than what I had in Australia or Bloomington, I purchased some new books on green cleaning with recipes I hadn’t tried before.

My Research on Chemical Cleaning Products

I also did some research into chemical cleaning products and found out that many were carcinogenic. Even more disturbingly, I discovered that the current cultural emphasis on having a spotless, germfree house is actually a marketing tool. Although food co-ops and natural foods stores tout environmental cleaning products as the new thing, green cleaning was practiced for hundreds of years prior to World War II. Our grandparents scrubbed their sinks with baking soda; used washing soda and borax in their laundry; used castile soap and vinegar to scrub their floors; wiped their windows with vinegar and water; and used herbs and apple cider vinegar as a disinfectant.

Following World War II, companies such as Dow used knowledge about chemicals gained during the war to create new chemical cleaners for the home. Advertisements began to emphasize the importance of killing germs at home; magazines displayed spotless white kitchens; and as many women entered the workforce, the cleaner companies’ message of “use these cleaners and save time!” was appealing.

Common Myths about "Green" Cleaners: Not a New Fad

True, commercial chemical cleaners often work more quickly. My shower mildrew remover would clean off the tiles with almost more scrubbing. When I use baking soda instead, it does take more elbow grease. What was struck me from my research, though, is that in most cases homemade cleaners are sufficient for most home cleaning jobs. They are milder, less caustic, and many of them are natural disinfectants. Even more importantly, they aren’t new or just part of the organic foods movement: our ancestors probably used many of these methods.

Multi-Benefits of Green Cleaners

Cost: When I took the plunge and dumped most of our chemical cleaners, I went on a shopping trip and bought empty spray bottles, white vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, borax, apple cider vinegar, two kinds of organic castille soaps, and lemon essential oil (I already had other essential oils at home). The total cost came to about $50. Admittedly, the materials were quite cheap except for the castile soap and essential oil, which I found in the organic section of a supermarket and a natural health food store, respectively. Considering the total cost, and the fact that you can make most of the recipes for many needs out of these base products, green cleaning is much cheaper than buying so many specialty conventional cleaners such as toilet cleaner, shower spray, daily shower spray, floor cleaner, wood floor cleaner, window cleaner, soft scrub, scouring powder, surface spray, etc. etc.

Health: Green cleaners are very mild compared to conventional cleaners. They are less harsh to your home and don’t irritate your skin, eyes, and nose like the fumes from chemical cleaners. Also, they are biodegradable and are natural products themselves.

Quality of Life: I want to emphasize that green cleaning is fun! Very fun, in fact! It is so fun to make up different recipes and empowering to know that you’ve made them yourself. When using essential oils such as lavender and lemon to scent different cleaners, the aroma while you clean is just wonderful!

How to Get Started and Basic Recipes

Here are basic materials that you will need:
--get 10 or so spray bottles (usually from cleaning section of your supermarket; they usually aren’t that expensive and it’s great to have extra bottles on hand)

--measuring spoons and cups

--a funnel (makes it a lot easier to pour contents into bottles and jars)

--some big jars with screw lids (for detergents, etc.)

--some shaker containers (such as parmesean cheese containers or big sugar dispensers)

Here are recipes that I have tried and had great success with. Happy Cleaning! Also, if you run across tips of your own, e-mail them to me and I’ll add them to the list!

Basic Cleaner:
**I love this stuff! I got rid of my antibacterial spray and use the Basic Cleaner on my countertops and any surface. Also great for general bathroom surface cleaning

Scouring Powder:
**I use this for sinks, bathtub, and to scrub down my cutting boards. You can use any kind of essential oil that you like. The aroma is really wonderful while you clean.

Basic Floor Cleaner:
**I ended up with a near migraine the last time I used Lysol to mop the basement floor, which gets a lot of traffic from laundry errands and the cats, who live down there. When I used this green cleaner, the room felt just as clean and didn’t have horrible fumes, just the pleasant smell of Dr. Bonner’s Eucalyptus Organic Cstille Soap!

Toilet Cleaner:
**I tossed the bleach cleaner, which gave me bad headaches, and now use this natural disenfectant.

Window Cleaner:
**After doing some research, I ditched my Windex with ammonia and just used vinegar and water. It did just as good on my mirrors and windows. Note: don’t use newspapers to dry off windows and mirrors because you are exposing yourself to ink fumes and run-off.

Dishwashing Detergent:
**I use this stuff and it does work. I would suggest putting white vinegar in your Jet-Dry container to prevent possible soap film. If you find that you have soap film, increase the amount of soda.