Tile and countertop cleaner

To make a simple cleaner for your tiles and countertops, combine one part baking soda with two parts of white vinegar and four parts of water. Apply the cleaner to a sponge or cloth and wipe those surfaces clean!

Glass cleaner

Mix a quarter cup of vinegar with four cups of water inside a spray bottle to make a glass cleaner. Spray your window and mirrors and wipe down with a dry cloth.

Floor cleaner

Ready to clean the floors? Combine four cups of white, distilled vinegar with a gallon of hot water. You can add a few drops of lemon oil if you want that fresh, clean-floor smell!

Furniture polish

To make wood furniture polish, combine one part olive oil with one part lemon juice. This makes an excellent, fresh-smelling, green cleaner that is safe for your wood furniture. Dab a little on a cloth rag and wipe down surfaces with smooth, even strokes.

Toilet bowl cleaner

Sprinkle baking soda on your toilet brush. Scrub the toilet. It’s that simple! If you use Borax, it disinfects the toilet too.  To clean the outside of the toilet, apply straight vinegar to a cloth and wipe it down.

Make your cleaning routine green!

Eco-friendly cleaning products are only part of the job. Here are some tips for making your cleaning routine and daily lifestyle green.

Thoughtful decluttering

Decluttering your home can make it look better and is also good for your mental health! If you have extra stuff, you can sell it, donate it, and recycle it. Someone else might make good use of it, and you’ll reduce waste going into the landfill.

Avoid single-use cleaning products.

If you can’t reuse it, consider using something else! Paper towels, cleaning pads, sponges and other cleaning supplies go straight to the landfill after use. Instead, repurpose old towels or clothing by cutting them into cleaning rags and reusable paper towels.

Hang it to dry.

Consider hanging your clothes, towels and cleaning rags to dry after washing. In the summer, you can hang them outside and enjoy that fresh, clean-air smell. In the winter, hang them in your laundry room on a drying rack. You’ll reduce energy consumption by not using the dryer. Plus, hanging clothes to dry keeps them looking brighter and newer.

Update to energy-efficient appliances.

Our appliances make a significant impact on our energy use at home. If it’s time to upgrade an appliance, replace it with an ENERGY STAR®-certified model. Then, research how to recycle or donate your old appliance to keep it out of the landfill.

Green cleaning year-round

If you go green with your spring cleaning this year, consider adopting these habits year-round. Using eco-friendly cleaning products and a green cleaning routine minimizes your impact on the planet. Plus, it is less expensive, reduces energy use and will help you save money!