Common household cleaners usually contain toxic chemicals and substances that are harmful to your family and the environment. In addition, these cleaners are packaged in plastic bottles which also leads to plastic bottle pollution. Plastics are made with fossil fuels, which makes them environmentally hazardous, and they do not biodegrade. It can actually take up to 1,000 years for plastics to fully decompose and harsh chemicals can potentially leak into the earth and water systems. Thankfully, there are ways to use less plastic and recipes to create non-toxic alternatives to reduce your impact on the environment.

Ewing Green Team, a group dedicated to creating a sustainable environment for Ewing township, stated that the 10 worst household cleaning products include:

Drain cleaners
Toilet cleaners
Oven cleaners
Spot removers
Metal Polishes
Furniture Polishers
Cleaners and powdered cleaners
Window cleaners
Bleach
Liquid cleaners

These household items contain environmentally damaging chemicals that go right back into our water system. Check the labels for ingredient transparency as not every ingredient may be listed on a product, meaning that the product has something to hide.

You can help reduce plastic by recycling, using reusable stainless steel water bottles, and using products in eco-friendly bottles. You can also reduce your impact on the environment by using more eco-friendly products. Look for labels that indicate a product is readily biodegradable and phosphate-free and made from plant and vegetable-based ingredients.

DIY Green Cleaning Recipes

Natural Glass Cleaner

Ingredients and Materials:

1 c. vinegar
1 c. water
Spray bottle

Directions:

Wood Floor Polish

Ingredients and Materials:

1/4 c. oil (jojoba or olive)
1/3 c. white vinegar
12 drops of essential oil (lemon or orange)
5 c. hot water
A bowl or bucket
Cloth or mop

Directions:

Add your ingredients into a bowl or a bucket and polish your wood floors with your material of choice. Evenly spread a thin layer of the mixture onto the floor. Let the floor dry thoroughly.

Stove Top Cleaner

Ingredients and Materials:

1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 Tbsp water
A bowl (optional)

Directions:

Mix ingredients to create a paste. Apply the paste to your stovetop and use a gentle cloth to scrub.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients and Materials:

1/2 tsp washing soda
A pea-size amount of natural liquid soap like pure castile soap
2 c. hot water

Directions:

Add your ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to mix.

Surface Disinfectant

Ingredients and Materials:

1 tsp essential oil (clove or tea tree)
2 c. water
Or
20 drops of grapefruit seed extract
1 qt. water
spray bottle

Directions:

Add ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake well.

Fabric softener

Ingredients and Materials:

1/4 cup white vinegar

Directions:

Instead of your fabric softener, use vinegar in your rinse cycle. (Don’t worry! Your clothes won’t smell like vinegar.)

Laundry Detergent

Ingredients and Materials:

1 cup grated pure vegetable soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup baking soda
1-2 tsp oxygen bleach (optional for extra whitening power)
Cheese grator

Directions:

You can use a cheese grater to create flakes with your pure vegetable soap. Mix ingredients together and store in a glass jar or container. Use 1 heaping spoon per load.

Silver Polish

Ingredients and Materials:

1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. white vinegar
20-30 drops of essential oil (lemon or orange)
soft cloth

Directions:

Take a soft cloth to rub the toothpaste onto your silver, rinse with water, and let dry.

Drain Opener

Ingredients and Materials:

1/2 c. baking soda
1/2 c. vinegar

Directions:

First, pour baking soda into the drain, then the vinegar. Next, close the lid and let it sit for half an hour. Finally, flush it down with hot boiling water.