Housecleaning the Non Toxic Way -reposted with permission

[Guest guest]

I am a professional house cleaner who tries to stay away from

chemicals and scents as much as possible.

I realize that different folks have different sensitivities but here

are the things that I use successfully in my business:

1. Countertops. In a clean spray bottle I mix 1 tablespoon of

Borax, 1 tablespoon of Washing Soda, and 1 TEAspoon of unscented

dishwashing soap with about 2 cups of HOT water. Shake it up to

dissolve the solids and label it. It will keep indefinitely. This is

good for spraying kitchen counters, bathrooms, sink handles, walls. I

couldn't get some gooey stuff off a microwave the other day and this

took it right off. I got this recipe online somehwere and have used

it ever since.

2. Bathtubs and sinks. I slap on some gloves and use straight

washing soda. Not baking soda, but WASHING soda. It is very alkaline

and will burn your hands, but it has no scent and doesn't seem to

bother me. It cuts through grease and body/soap scum really well. Use

it just like comet.

3. Mirrors and windows. Mix a squirt of unscented dishwashing soap

in 1/3 bucket of hot water. Using a sloppy wet sponge, wash the

window or mirror, then SQUEEGEE it dry. Use a clean cotton cloth (not

terry-cloth but like a dishdrying cloth) or wadded newspaper to

finish up. Works great! You can add vinegar if you want but my

experience is that the vinegar doesn't do any better of a job.

4. Floors. I use a tablespoon of washing soda, a tablespoon of Borax

and a tablespoon of ammonia. This combo may bother some folks, but

doesn't seem to bother me. I use a sponge mop and this gets up most

grime.

5. Air Freshener. I keep beeswax candles around the house and light

them when I need the air cleaned. They're cheap and easy to make. For

instructions, give me a hollar.

6. Dust with Microfiber cloths. These are the best things since

baseball. No chemicals at all. Just spray them lightly with plain

water and go to town. Pick up all the dust and polish surfaces.

7. Microfiber sponges. You can find these in most grocery stores now.

They're usually white with a blue line in the middle. No chemicals.

You just wet them lightly and rub scuff marks on walls and floors and

watch them disappear.

8. Burnt on junk on pots/pans. Put in a handful of salt, a handful

of baking SODA, and a cup of water. Bring to a boil and watch the

burnt junk float to the top. Be careful of the heat. This likes to

boil over... but it is a GREAT way to avoid scrubbing and has never

failed for me.

I wash my clothes with 1/8 cup non-fragrance laundry soap.

I've washed some with no soap at all successfully.

So maybe we're brainwashed into THINKING we need to wash with chemicals?

I mean, if you're out in the garden or on a road crew, maybe, but just everyday

street dust? Maybe hot water is enough?

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Laundry recipes:

Use 1/2 cup Borax, 1/2 cup Super Washing Soda, and 1/2 cup Baking

soda. I fill the liquid fabric softener dispenser with undiluted

vinegar. The wash comes out clean, fresh-smelling, and soft.