A Gentler Spring Cleaning

Cleaning products made of synthetic chemicals were once touted as a spray-and-wipe miracle. Now we know that these cleaners can actually pollute our indoor air and, once rinsed down the drain, the environment. Compounding the problem, "The average home may have [up to] 150 different cleaning products," says Wayne Tusa, president of Environmental Risk and Loss Control in New York City.

One woman has led the way back to simplicity. "There are safer, natural alternatives, based on ingredients our forebears used, that have stood the test of time," says Annie Berthold-Bond, author of Clean and Green (Ceres Press, 1994). Annie started making and testing homemade cleaners after becoming chemically-sensitive in 1980. "I needed to find simple, safe solutions -- not only for myself but also for friends and family, so that I could visit them without having symptoms," Annie says.

Here are some cleaner recipes from Annie's most recent book, Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, 1999). These homemade cleaners won't make stains disappear instantly, but letting them soak in improves performance.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

An all-purpose cleaner is all you need for most walls, countertops, baseboards, fixtures, appliances and bathrooms.

Alkaline All-Purpose Cleaner

1/2 tsp. washing soda
2 tsp. borax (see "Basic Cleaning Tools")
1/2 tsp. liquid soap or detergent
2 cups hot water

Combine the washing soda, borax and soap in a spray bottle. Pour in hot water, screw on lid, and shake well before each use.

CLEANING FLOORS

Damp mop floors before cleaning to pick up dust. To clean slightly dirty floors, use a spray of equal parts of white vinegar and water (add some lemon or mint oil for a pleasant scent). For heavy-duty cleaning, you'll need:

Basic Floor Cleaner

1/4 cup liquid soap
Up to 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar or lemon juice
2 gallons warm water

Mix in bucket and use with a mop or sponge. Rinse with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 gallons of warm water to remove soap residue.

TOILET BOWL CLEANERS

Conventional extra-strength toilet bowl cleaners usually contain strong acids. But if you regularly clean, you don't need them. Use instead:

Annie's Toilet Bowl Sizzler

Add 1/2 cup each white vinegar and baking soda to the toilet bowl; let sizzle. Scrub with brush.

Safety Tips

+ Avoid putting homemade cleaners in used commercial cleaner bottles, as your ingredients might interact with chemical residues. New spray and squirt bottles are sold at hardware and drug stores. Washed food bottles, like those from ketchup and mustard, also work well.

+ Label homemade cleaners with ingredients and date.

+ Store where children can't reach.

Resources:

For those who would rather purchase prepared cleaners, see The Green Guide's Product Report on household cleaning supplies for recommended brands.

Washington Toxics Coalition has fact sheets on cleaners, 800/844-SAFE, www.watoxics.org.