Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products for Healthier Living

People are more conscious than ever of the environment and living healthy and are looking for environmentally friendly cleaning products that are safe and do a great job.

It is an added bonus if these cleaning products are also economical and easy to make.

Many of the commercial cleaning products people use daily around their homes are unhealthy for the environment and themselves. Replacing store bought cleaning products with environmentally friendly cleaning products is a wise and healthy decision.

Furniture Polish - Here are two environmentally friendly cleaning products that will have your furniture clean and shining quickly.

To polish your wood tables, in one-quarter cup of white distilled vinegar add one-half teaspoons of olive oil, food grade linseed oil or other oils that have a long shelf life.

Linseed oils, purchased in hardware stores, do not work well because they contain synthetic chemicals, which dry out wood.

This mixture not only polishes the wood but the vinegar cleans it as well.

To use, simply wipe the furniture with a soft cloth dipped in the oil/vinegar mixture.

Keep this mixture in a covered glass jar to store. Another very good furniture polish is a half cup of lemon juice and a cup of olive oil mixed in a spray bottle.

Shake well and spray a small amount of the wood cleaner on a clean cloth to polish the wood and then dry with a soft cloth.

Window Cleaner - Mix two cups of water, three tablespoons of vinegar and a half-teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent in a spray bottle and shake gently to mix.

The soap cuts through any wax residue that a commercial brand might have left behind. Spray and use either paper towels or old newspaper to wipe and shine.

Sink and Bathtub Cleaner - This soft but slightly abrasive cleaner does a great job cleaning soap scum, dirt and grime from bathtubs, sinks, counter tops and shower stalls.

Pour a half cup of baking soda into a small bowl and slowly add liquid dishwashing soap, stirring constantly until it reaches the consistency of pudding.

Use this on a sponge to gently scrub dirty areas and then rinse off with warm water.

General cleaner - In a quart of warm water, add four tablespoons of baking soda. Use this as a cleaner on walls, floors, fixtures and other household items.

Using safer alternatives when possible helps people avoid exposure to unhealthy and sometimes hazardous materials. Environmentally friendly cleaning products are certainly a step in the right direction.