Green Cleaning Safety

Time and again you hear on the radio of a tragic death that occurred due to caustic materials that are found in cleaning agents. Children get into cleaning cabinets regardless of child locks and supervision. Just one look the wrong way and a child could feasibly ingest an item that could harm if not fatally wound him/her.

A product that is organically created for cleaning does not come with that drawback. When I was little, “Mr. Yuck” stickers were all the rage. I believe the schools gave the stickers to our parents in a campaign to stop accidental ingestion of toxic chemicals. In fact, I vaguely remember learning to associate toxic, which meant life threatening, to the “Mr. Yuck” sticker. As far as I know, they no longer do that. However, that does not mean that accidental ingestion doesn’t happen. It still does and can be avoided if those chemicals are no longer in the house.

If a household replaces all the caustic cleaners with organic or “green” cleaning agents, a huge part of this problem gets taken out of the equation. This does not mean giving up the benefits of a truly clean home. It was once believed that everything should be cleaned with bleach since it will kill everything harmful. The problem is, it will kill everything that’s not harmful, also. An organically created product has just as much cleaning power, if not more, than its chemically treated counterparts.

Pets are also a concern when it comes to cleaning products. They spend the majority of their time close to the floor. They often lick things from the floor. In fact, I remember hearing a rumor (this is not confirmed so don’t quote me) that the agents in the convenient upright mops that come with several pads and cleaning agent attached are harmful to animals that walk over them when the floor is still wet. If this does end up being the truth, what effect might it have on an infant that crawls on that same floor? Some people view their pets as their children. Is it really worth it to risk children to an unknown?

It is best, as much as you have control over, to be sure that the products that you will use to clean your home will be safe. A surface appearance of clean is not enough. If you want your home to appear clean, it should be equally important to you that your home is actually clean. In doing so, you want to be sure that the products you’re using to achieve this clean are healthy for you and everyone around you. Since there are products on the market that are healthy, safe, and effective, it is a wise decision to invest in these products.

Bruce Gors

Owner/Operator

BG's Carpet Care

Green Cleaning Products http://www.cleaning-green.com

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6 Spring Cleaning Safety Tips for a Healthy Family

Playdate Kids need to live in safe and healthy homes. Spring is the best time to make sure you do the best you can to keep your home safe and clean. Here are some spring cleaning chores that you can do to keep your family safe and improve their health:

1. Change the batteries in your smoke detector and make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector if you haven’t already.

2. Dust your home thoroughly and always remember to clean or replace your air conditioning filters. This will decrease your family’s exposure to pollens among other dander and allergens. Also, remember to vacuum regularly.

3. Check your garage and other storage areas for paint, thinners and other forms of “toxic” products that are dangerous to have around your home. Find a waste drop-off center near your home. Do not throw these toxic materials in your trash can.

4. Organize your medicine cabinets. Throw away any expired medications (some say you can be safe as long as they are not over 3 months old) and old prescription medications that are no longer needed. This will lessen the chances of you or your children taking something they shouldn’t and you will also gain more space for new products and medications.

5. Clean all mold and mildew with non-toxic cleaning products. Mold and mildew are very harmful to your health.

6. Assess the products under your sinks and cabinets for expired or toxic cleaning products. They are harmful and dangerous-- dispose of anything that is unsafe for your children and family.

Playdate Kids Publishing offers young children, families, teachers and doctors entertainment-driven tools to help communicate effectively about life's issues. Please visit: http://www.theplaydatekids.com

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Get Rid of Those Chemicals!

There are many natural and organic cleaning products available in stores now. I have been using some of them for a few months and have been very pleased. Most natural products contain ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, plant derived surfactants and essential oils such as lavender or tea tree oil.

There are many benefits to using these newer non-toxic cleaning products. Number one, of course, they are NON TOXIC! Great for households with small children and pets. There are many ingredients in conventional cleaning products that are extremely hazardous to ones health. For example, certain toilet bowl cleaners use an ingredient called Acid Blue 9, which can be carginogenic.

Natural cleaning products are not only better for humans and animals, but better for the environment as well. Ingredients from conventional cleaning products can get into the environment in a few ways. Toilet bowl cleaners and sink cleaners are flushed down toilets and rinsed down sinks. Many products are thrown in the trash where they make their way to landfills, soaking into the ground, contaminating groundwater and the soil.

Switching to natural cleaning products is beneficial to many. Sometimes, they can even be less expensive if you make your own. Mineral oil can be used for a polish on wood furniture. Lemon juice is excellent for removing set in stains, even rush or mildew! Squeeze a few lemon onto the stain and let it soak. Even better, let it soak in the sun. A mixture of apple cider vinegar and water is an excellent bathroom and kitchen cleaner. Use it to clean counters, appliances, toilets and sinks. For cleaning toilets, use a half cup of baking soda and then a cup of vinegar and swish around with a toilet brush. Tea Tree oil has antiseptic qualities and is very concentrated. Purchase a small bottle (around $6) and just a few drops of the oil in a spray bottle of water will clean for weeks. It also has a deodorizing effect, so it is great for cleaning bathrooms.

Even if you do not chose to make your own cleaners, you can use commercially made natural cleaners. Seventh Generation vegetable based cleaners are wonderful and are free and clear of added fragrances. Some of their products are also hypo-allergenic plus they do not have phosphates, acids, caustics, dyes and are not tested on animals.

Mrs. Meyers is another brand of cleaners that I use frequently. All of their cleaning products are made with essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free, and they are not tested on animals. My favorite is their lavender scented counter spray. It makes the entire room you are cleaning smell fabulous. It is hard to believe a cleaner can smell so nice! This cleaner can be used on just about every non-porous surface, like finished wood and tile floors, countertops, walls, porcelain, bathroom fixtures, sealed stone, and more.

Do your family and the environment a favor and switch to natural products!

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Five Ways to Create a Healthy Home

Have you ever thought of your home as being healthy or unhealthy? While the concept of a healthy home may be new to some of us, it is steadily gaining popularity with homeowners. A healthy home can include a number of elements from building materials used to construct your home to using non-toxic cleaning products. Below is a list of five ways to assist you in creating a healthy home environment.

1. Clean Air and Circulation:

Here are some little known facts from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) about the air inside many of today’s homes:

• Indoor air pollutant levels may be two to five times higher than the pollutant levels outdoors.

• Indoor air pollutant is one of the top environmental concerns today.

• Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors.

• Indoor air pollutants such as tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust, and animal dander have the ability to create asthmatic and allergic reactions.

Listed below are a few ways to improve the quality of your indoor air:

• Consider an Indoor Air Purifier. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has put forth industry standards for indoor air purifiers. To view results of their standards and testing or to find a certified indoor air purifier, you can visit their website at cadr.org.

• For better air circulation, leave doors between rooms open most of the time and open windows when possible to allow for a good supply of fresh outdoor air. You can also install exhaust fans in bathrooms to help remove moisture and chemicals from your home.

• Upgrade the air filters on your furnace with the pleated filters that capture smaller particles. Change the filters regularly as recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions.

• You can also use indoor houseplants to aid in purifying your home’s air. For example, Boston Ferns cleanse formaldehyde from the air. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm (parts in a million parts of air), it may cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and allergic reactions. Formaldehyde can be found in insulation, particleboard, paper products and many cleaning products.

2. Dust-proof Your Home:

• Dust your rooms and knickknacks regularly with a damp cloth.

• Dust your hardwood, tile, linoleum, and laminate flooring regularly with a dust mop or a vacuum made for hard flooring.

• Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture regularly. Consider buying a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. A HEPA filter is capable of removing a minimum of 99.97% of all particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. In addition, consider using a bag-less vacuum to avoid the exposure of dust when you change a bag.

• Encase pillows, mattresses, and box springs in an airtight, dust-proof cover.

• Dust/clean ceiling fans regularly to make sure they are not releasing dust in the air every time you run them.

• Replace dust-collecting blinds and long drapes with window shades or washable curtains.

3. Use Natural and Non-Toxic Cleaning Products:

One way to assure that the fragrances in your home are clean and fresh is to avoid using harsh cleaning products, which can create fumes that may linger for days. Try using natural ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, club soda, and lemon juice.

For example, to make a natural glass cleaner, combine:

• 2 teaspoons white vinegar

• one quart of warm water

• Mix ingredients together and pour into spray bottle. Spray on surface and wipe dry.

4. Fill Your Home with Natural and Earth-Friendly Products. Below is a small list of eco-friendly products available on the market today:

• Organic cotton towels, linens, clothing

• Mattresses, bedding, pillows

• Cork flooring, wool carpet

• Sofas, chairs, ottomans

• Toys and games for all ages

• Pet products

• Soap and laundry detergents

• Organic candles, home décor accessories

• Personal accessories

5. Use Safe, Non-Toxic Interior Paints that have:

• very low VOC (volatile organic compounds) content

• no formaldehyde

• low odor

Try using any of the above suggestions to create a healthy home environment. Although the concept of a healthy home is relatively new to many, there are numerous resources available including books, articles, and websites, where you can find additional information.

Lesley Dietschy is a writer, jewelry designer, and the founder of a network of popular websites including http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com and http://www.HomeGardenExchange.com Both of these websites feature valuable information and resources to assist you in decorating your home and garden.

For beautiful beaded bracelets, please visit: http://www.BeadedBraceletBoutique.com

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10 Tips for Choosing Green Cleaning Chemicals

Many cleaning companies are making the switch to green cleaning chemicals. But with so many products on the market these days, how do you know which ones are truly "green"? Here are some recommendations on what to look for when choosing green cleaners:

1. Is the product certified by Green Seal®? Green Seal® is highly regarded in the industry and provides science-based environmental certification standards for green cleaning products.

2. Is the product non-toxic? Look for products that are non-toxic to humans and aquatic life.

3. Is the product biodegradable? Biodegradable means that it can be broken down by microbial action. The longer it takes to break down, the more harmful it is to the environment. Check the label to see if it says it's biodegradable.

4. Is the product concentrated or ready-to-use? Ready-to-use cleaners are composed of 90% water, which means extra energy and packaging went into making this product. And extra packaging means extra solid waste ending up in our landfills. Concentrated product however, uses very little water and less packaging, which is much more environmentally friendly. It also cuts down on weight, which means less cost associated with the fuel needed to transport product to its final destination.

5. Does the product work in cold water? Using cold water saves energy, whereas the need for using hot water with the chemical uses more energy.

6. Does the product contain chlorine bleach? The wastewater after using a product containing chlorine bleach can react with other chemicals, which can be toxic.

7. Is the product derived from petroleum? Petroleum-based solvents are made from non-renewable resources, they are flammable, and can be toxic when inhaled. It's better to use solvents derived from pine oil or citrus because they're considered renewable resources.

8. Is the product an aerosol? Aerosol bottles can be dangerous if punctured, as they may produce an uncontrolled spray, which can put you at risk of exposure.

9. Is the product neutral in pH? Neutral pH products are safer for the environment and end user. Acidic or alkaline products can burn if accidentally spilled on your skin. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral.

10. Is the packaging made from recycled products? Many containers and cardboard boxes are made from "postconsumer" materials.

Once you've decided to make the switch to green cleaning products, use this list as your guide for making the right choices.

Copyright (c) 2007 The Janitorial Store

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community that offers weekly tips, articles, downloads, discussion forums, and more for anyone who would like to learn how to start a cleaning business. Visit The Janitorial Store's blog and get inspired by reading cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies.

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Kitchen Cleaning Tips: Cleaning Butcher Block Countertops

Natural hardwoods set off kitchen fixtures and floorings beautifully, which is why they are so popular. If your kitchen features wood surfaces, don’t forget it’s important to completely butcher block countertops in the kitchen after each use, since wood is naturally porous and absorbs bacteria and food odors. The more open-grained the wood, the more porous it is. Oak is on the open grained end of the scale, while maple is on the tighter grained end.

Mild soaps such as liquid dish detergent mixed with water work well for cleaning butcher block. You also can use a solution of bleach and water to help prevent bacteria. Just combine 1 tablespoon bleach with 1 gallon of water. This works really great if you keep the solution in a spray bottle; just spray and wipe the wood after each use. One thing you should never use on wood countertops is a scouring cleanser like Comet.

Wood countertops intended for use as cutting surfaces are finished with penetrating oil, usually mineral oil of some type. In order to maintain this finish and keep the wood stain-resistant, you should periodically apply non-toxic oil, once every few months. USP-grade mineral oil is the best; it is the cheapest food-grade oil and it is available at your local drug store. Vegetable or olive oil should not be used; it will turn rancid. Warm the oil up a little prior to applying with a soft cloth, wiping along the grain direction. Let the oil to soak in for four to six hours then wipe off any excess oil that didn’t soak in.

What about all those spills and marks seemingly branded into the wood? How do you get rid of stains on older butcher-block countertops? You could go ahead have the surface sanded and resealed. But before you do, give this a try: shake some salt over the marks, and then scrub the wood with the cut open side of a lemon half. Letting the wood sit overnight, rinse with water afterwards. For the darker stains, sponge on a solution of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and water.

If you do decide to sand and reseal, consider using one of the professional alternatives to mineral oils. You can find wood sealers designed for food surfaces at many woodworking supply outlets. Look for products called Salad Bowl Finish; these are approved as non-toxic for food contact on countertops and cutting boards and require less frequent maintenance. Enjoy your clean new countertops.

Visit http://www.onlinetips.org for tips on cleaning granite countertops and butcher block countertops.

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Five Natural Cleaning Products Everyone Should Have at Home

Save your money… and the environment.

In light of Earth Day, I have decided to remind you all that there are five great cleaning items which you may already have around your house, that are safe and effective for cleaning and removing most stains. If you don’t have them already, you should consider buying some the next time you go shopping, since they have a multitude of uses and go a long way to save you money.

Do you use Baking Soda? Just about everyone knows that keeping a small box in their refrigerator helps eliminate odors. Baking soda deodorizes not only your fridge, but your drains, carpeting and upholstery as well. It also cleans, scours, and polishes without scratching. And yes, it can also remove stains.

What other uses does White Vinegar have? Besides being a key ingredient in dying Easter eggs, white vinegar is a great spot remover when used undiluted. Combined with lemon juice, the solution will remove hard water scales, remove gummy buildup and remove dirt from wood surfaces. Grandma also always used straight vinegar as an antibacterial product to kill bacteria, mold and germs.

We always have lemons around the house. Why? Lemon Juice is an all natural bleach and disinfectant. Lemon juice and sunshine can remove many stains – be careful though, since it can have the same affect as bleach. Works like a charm on baby formula stains - use to pre-treat laundry just before washing.

Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) works for removing stains on white clothing. It is especially good for removing fresh blood stains. Combine a ½ cup with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle and spray on mold and mildew prone areas of your bathroom. A word of caution: In both cases, laundry and bathroom, make sure that you are using the peroxide on surfaces and materials that will tolerate its bleaching effect (you shouldn’t use it on brightly colored towels, for example).

Borax has such a wide range of uses around your home, that it deserves a page all its own! Borax has been used for ages, as a laundry booster. Keeping to the subject of stains, it will remove tea stains from cottons and linens by soaking the item in a solution of borax and water (1 tablespoon of borax per cup of warm water). For tougher stains, a paste of borax and warm water, worked into the stain before laundering may do the trick.

The items mentioned are just the basics. Keep in mind that when it comes to stains, there are too many variables to use just one solution successfully. Different fabrics or surfaces require different treatments, depending on the type of stain. You need to apply the right chemicals to get the reaction you want without any damaging effects.

For more information on cleaning and stain removal, visit LaundryGoddess.com, your resource for the latest laundry tips and valuable clothes-saving information.

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Home Repair and Cleaning Hints by Ken Morris

It is important to keep kitchen cabinets clean, but it is not easy, since they are located in the most dirt prone areas of the home. Kitchens are loaded with grease, food spills and splatters from cooking. Hands opening the cabinet doors frequently have food or other sticky substances on them. Children are notorious for adding to this problem.

If you clean your cabinets regularly, it will be easier in the long run to keep them clean. Small cleanups each time are faster and easier than trying to get rid of a buildup of dirt.

How you clean your cabinets will depend on what your cabinets are made of. If you have painted cabinet doors, or ones which are vinyl or metal, you clean them with detergent and warm water. Just make sure you rinse it well and then dry them. You can use a general all purpose cleaner on these types of surfaces. Just make sure you read the label to see if it is going to be safe on the material you are putting it on. Another good idea is to test the product on a hidden corner to see if it can be used safely. Always rinse and dry.

Many people are concerned about products which may harm the environment and therefore they do not want to use harsh household chemicals. There are many environmentally friendly products, and you don't have to even go shopping for them. White vinegar or lemon juice, mixed with water will remove grease from your cabinets. For stains, you can make a mixture of baking soda and water to remove them. Once again, rinse and dry thoroughly to avoid streaks.

There are special spray cleaners that have been formulated just for wood cabinets. Make sure you can use them on the surface of your cabinets. Always follow the directions closely on any of these kinds of products, and to be double safe, test it in a small spot first.

Wood cleaners can be flammable, and a warning will be on the label if they are. Be sure not to smoke when using them, and keep them away from any kind of flame or heat. If you have a gas stove, you have to be really careful, since the spray may ignite the pilot on the stove and cause a fire.

If you clean your cabinets a lot, you may end up with a dull finish. Restore the glow to your cabinets by using furniture polish. A good furniture wax is also ideal for this purpose. You may need to buff them after use, but if you want to keep you cabinets new looking, it is worth the effort.

The hardware on your cabinets can also get dirty, especially from the grease from cooking. Take all of the hardware off when you want to give your cabinets a thorough cleaning, and soak the hardware while you clean the cabinets. When you dry everything well and replace all of the hardware, your kitchen will glow.

You should use the proper type of cleaner for the hardware, just as you do for the cabinets. You may damage them if you use the wrong kind, so follow the cardinal rule and always read and follow the directions on the label.

About the Author

Being really interested in installing, Ken Morris was editing plenty of informative papers on this specific subject. Through his detailed publications such as http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com , the writer improved his depth of understanding on information associated to kitchen cabinets.

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Green Up Your Home Environment

It all seems a bit silly when you really think about it. We've been wiping chemical filled liquids over our homes and filling the air with chemically fumes. Only if it's a real chemical stench do we think - "oo that smells really clean".

We've been cleaning our baths with bleachy, chloriney, chemically nasties.. sloosh it out a bit.. then fill it up and sit in the chemical residue! We've been brainwashed into thinking we need to kill all bacteria, even though we really don't and never have done. There's good and bad bacteria. Anti bacterial doesn't check which it is before it zaps it. We've been plugging in to freshen the air and breathing it in, washing our dishes in gawd knows what then eating off them.

My point, and I do have one (!), is that it's really not good for us. We can all work out that it's not good for the environment to pour all that stuff down the drains and into our water ways for the fish and plantlife to deal with. But it's our own home environment we need to consider too. There's lots of stats available about the carcinogenic effect of household products, but I don't want overstay my welcome!

So when you need to replace a product in your cleaning armoury, think about whether there is a green alternative, or an old fashioned, traditional alternative. Or in the case of anti bacterials & air fresheners, think about whether you need it at all. I'm a converted bleachy fiend.. I'm now a mean-green-cleaning-machine!

Racheal Hughes gave up her IT career to become a green cleaner, starting Greenmop. Greenmop is a cleaning service in the Sussex area, and has an online shop selling eco friendly household products nationwide, making it easy for people to green up their home environment! http://www.greenmop.co.uk

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Natural Cleaning Products: A Simpler, Safer, (and Cheaper) Alternative

Natural cleaning has become a priority for us. Next time you go to the grocery store, take a slow stroll down the cleaning isle. And yes, it takes up a whole isle now. Pick up any of the products and read the ingredients.

Do you know what any of those ingredients are?

We know we don’t.

Our very basic rule for natural cleaning is that if we don’t know what an ingredient is, we don’t buy it and bring it into our home. This goes for food, cleaning products, anything. If it’s a word we can’t pronounce, chances are it’s a chemical and it probably isn’t good for us. Ever wonder how people in the 1920’s kept their homes clean? Did they do it with chemicals? Nope. They used homemade natural cleaning products, many of which are probably in your kitchen or pantry right now.

Naturally Cleaning Your Air

We don’t use canned or plug in air fresheners. These are chock full of chemicals. There are a myriad of natural options. Here are just a few.

Plants which reduce toxic materials are: Aloe Vera, English ivy, fig trees, chrysanthemum, spider plants, Chinese evergreen, bamboo palm, and lily. Decorate liberally with these plants and they’ll act as a natural air purifier.

Beth's favorite air freshener is vanilla, which by the way was voted the number one erotic scent by males. Place 1 tablespoon natural (not imitation) vanilla extract in a ceramic bowl and place in a room. If the room is large you may want to use more than one. As the vanilla evaporates, a light, refreshing vanilla scent will waft into the surrounding air. Replace every day.

Josh's favorite air freshener is eucalyptus, which leaves the whole house smelling fresh and springy. If you have a diffuser, you can put a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil in it and freshen the air for hours. We don't actually own a diffuser, so we simply use an old sauce pan, with a little water in the bottom on low heat. Works the same way.

We write a lot about vinegar on our site. Along with Borax, vinegar is our favorite cleaner and so versatile. Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet is gentle enough to use in a solution to clean hardwood flooring.

As far as freshening your air, white vinegar is a natural deodorizer. It absorbs odors instead of covering them up. We use it to get rid of pet odors, like our dog Barlow’s bed, which needs a good natural cleaning quite often.

Clean Your House

The following recipe is my favorite of all time, and it’s not for food. It is a recipe for an alkaline all-purpose natural cleaning agent. We use it everywhere: in the bathroom, the kitchen, to spot clean the carpets, and to get that black gunk off the walls. It neutralizes odors, dissolves grease, and removes stains.

- 1 teaspoon or 40 drops antiseptic essential oil (thyme, sweet orange, lemongrass, rose, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, birch, lavender, or tea tree)

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 2 teaspoons Borax

- 1 teaspoon liquid detergent

- 2 c hot water

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to blend before each use.

We’ve added up the cost of this natural cleaning solution. It costs 3 cents to make once you have all of the ingredients. A bottle of store-purchased, chemical-laden all-purpose cleaner costs around $4. We honestly think this works better than the store bought stuff too. Hmmm, tough choice here.

This is the best glass cleaner. Forget about what you buy in stores.

- 1 c rubbing alcohol

- 1 c water

- 1 tablespoons white vinegar

Mix in a spray bottle.

The Wonders of Borax

For those of you not versed in the magic that is borax, you need only take another stroll down your grocery store’s cleaning isle. In the laundry section you’ll find a medium sized cardboard box marked “Borax”. Also known as sodium borate, it is a complex mineral found in lakes and other evaporite deposits. It is a laundry booster, which has been around for over 100 years, but it works for so many other things as well.

If you have a flea problem, sprinkle it on your carpets, wait a day, then vacuum it up. The fleas eat the borax, it dehydrates them and they die.

We use borax most often as a carpet cleaner. Whenever we rent a wet carpet cleaner from the grocery store we use 1/2 cup borax to 1 gallon of hot water. Fill the machine up with this instead of the cleaner sold with the vacuum, which is full of chemicals. Borax deodorizes and disinfects. One half cup to 1 gallon of water satisfies a hospital’s germicidal requirements.

Stop Buying Drain Cleaner

Drain cleaners use incredibly powerful chemicals to eat away clogs in your pipes. These chemicals then find their way into our water systems. They are extremely expensive and we never use them. Try these recipes. If they don’t work, chances are a chemical drain cleaner won’t either. You’ll probably have to snake your drain or if all else fails, hire a plumber.

For natural cleaning of drains, pour 1 cup washing soda down them every week or so. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is a chemical relative of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). It is soda ash that is processed differently than baking soda. It is caustic so wear gloves when using. It is available in the laundry section of the grocery store.

For clogged sinks, pour 1 cup washing soda into the water surrounding the drain, as close to the drain as possible. Within a minute, the water should go down. If water hasn’t yet backed up, or you don’t have any washing soda, pour 1 cup baking soda down the drain followed by 3 cups boiling water. You can also try pouring in ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar. Leave in drainpipe for 1 minute then rinse with hot water.

If that still doesn’t work, pour ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide into the drain. Wait for a few minutes then plunge. Repeat if necessary.

As a last resort, Sells Actina produces a digestive organism that liquefies grease and waste solids and reduces or eliminates odors. It's safe for use in drains, pipes, and septic tanks. This product will usually work when nothing else has. Order from Medina Agricultural Products Company, P.O. Box 309, Hordo TX, 78861.

These are just a few of the natural cleaning solutions we have found. Check back in with us, we will post new recipes and ideas periodically. Also feel free to contact us with any questions or with any natural cleaning recipes and ideas that you have.

Joshua is a retirement coach, and Beth is a healer. They are also proud parents and are passionate about naturally caring for their own health and the health of their family. They have spent years finding the most effective methods to do so and love to share those methods with others! For more information, feel free to visit them at their family website!

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