Cleaning an office or home is not something that many people enjoy, but it is something that needs to be done. There are various cleaning chores that should be dealt with on a daily, weekly or monthly basis in order to keep your home sparkling and sanitary. And if you keep up with these chores, you will probably go through a lot of cleaning materials.
The problem with cleaning products, however, is that many of them contain harsh chemicals that can have undesirable effects on both the environment and the human body. But there are some cleaners that can be made with common, natural ingredients that have proven to be just as effective as those made with chemicals. Especially if you have pets or children, you may want to give them a shot.
The ingredients that natural cleaning recipes call for the most are water, vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon juice. Various combinations of these substances, along with some other minor ones, can allow you to effectively clean almost any surface of your office or home in a safe, inexpensive, green way.
For glass surfaces, a good solution is made of half a gallon of water and 4 or 5 tablespoons of lemon juice. You may have heard about using old newspapers to wipe them down, but this is simply a bad idea. It can leave a big, shredded, inky mess. An old-fashioned wash cloth or an old shirt is a much better option.
To restore the shine to your old, wooden furniture, you can create a polish from two units of olive oil mixed with a unit of lemon juice. While most store-bought furniture polish is odorous and full of hazardous ingredients, this homemade concoction is effective, pleasant-smelling and even completely edible.
If your furniture is made of vinyl, you can remove stains and get it shining using only a wash cloth dipped in lemon juice.
To a greater degree than wood polishes, metal polishes are made with harsh chemicals. If you need to remove the tarnish from copper, brass or another metal surface, try using this recipe before going for the store-bought stuff. Create a paste by mixing together equal units of flour, salt and vinegar. Rub the metal surface down with a soft cloth dabbed in the paste. You should notice results fairly quickly.
Vinegar has a bonus use of being able to absorb the odor of paint fumes. Try leaving an open container of it in a room while you are painting. You can leave it there, while the paint dries, but remember to swap it out for a fresh vessel regularly.
Working in a clean office can make you feel great. EcoCare is a Commercial Cleaning Company located in Austin and San Antonio that can provide all of your green cleaning needs. We pride ourselves on our knowledge of the most environmentally friendly products available on the market today.
