Have you been with an elderly lately, who commented the food doesn’t taste the same as before or today’s generation is less active? Aah! So has curiosity killed the cat yet? I mean ever wondered what’s the reason? Not sure, if you have been following the news closely, but a lot of food politics is going on; genetically modified cow’s milk, food items sprinkled with antibiotics, dangerous food additives and dyes and the list goes on. In the ‘Cleaners and Toiletries section’ you can see a dozen brands all claiming to be the BEST for all surfaces. But are they the BEST for you as well? Have you read the labels carefully? Do you understand what risk chemicals carry? Some of these contain formaldehyde which causes cancer in animals, sulphuric acid changes the pH level of water eventually killing fish and phosphates in detergents has toxic properties.

Don’t mean to scare you, but as human beings with some sense and mind, we should be conscious of what we are exposing ourselves to. As more awareness is spread, we become mindful of the hidden dangerous that chemicals carry. Environment friendly products on the other hand, do not contain chlorine, petroleum-based solvents, glycol ethers and the like. Not only are chemicals nasty, but their fumes can also hurt your senses. So, why expose yourself to a hidden enemy when you know there are some better alternatives available. This year welcome the warmer days with some green cleaning tips.

Except for a few places up North, entire Pakistan is enjoying the warmth (well, not exactly ‘enjoying’ but at least you can keep your windows open and smell those lovely flowers). Below are some eco-friendly tips that will not only protect you from nasty chemicals, but also save a few valuable rupees and make cleaning fun. Read on and find out how.

Things Required:

You don’t need to spend hefty amounts of money on the cleaning products anymore; you have got everything in your kitchen, already. You need to assemble the following items:

-          Baking Soda

-          Vinegar

-          Olive Oil

-          Lemon Juice or Orange Oil

-          Rubber gloves

-          Old cloth pieces (use reusable microfiber cloth, if you can find one)

-          Old but firm toothbrush

-          Feather brush (used for dusting)

Strategy:

With the following in mind, you’re on your way to a spic-and-span home!

-          Reduce – Be practical. Having less stuff to clean means less time required for cleaning. Throw away everything that you have not used in years. You can hold a garage sale to part with your unused belongings, or you can be generous and donate them to charity.

-          Reuse – While you’re sifting through your junk, is there anything that can be reused as something else? Let the creative juices flow, but be honest. Don’t keep something that you’re never going to use.

-          Recycle – Empty landfills and reduce pollution by sending your junk to the recycling companies.

Always start from the top surfaces. Dust off walls and ceilings before you begin your detailed cleaning. (For the ease of our readers, we have divided cleaning according to rooms).

1. Kitchen and Bathrooms: These can be split into tiles, sinks, cabinets, appliances and trash cans or waste bins. Take a bowl and mix 1 Cup of white vinegar with ¼ Cup of Baking Soda. Add in some water. (The quantity will vary depending on how large your kitchen/bathroom is). Next, you need is an old toothbrush or washrag for scrubbing. Dip the brush or rag in the bowl and scrub the tiles. The vinegar will nicely clean the grout.

Cleaning cabinets varies according to the type of material used. In Pakistan, we mostly have wooden cabinets, therefore we will talking about them here. Empty each cabinet’s contents. Wipe the surface after dusting off the interiors first. If you have been regularly cleaning your cabinets, this might not be a hassle. However, for tough smudges or grease you will have to take the help of orange oil. Orange oil will break down thick grime. In absence of orange, you can also squeeze some lemon on the surface and then wipe it off. Now rinse that with another cloth soaked in water. Finally, dry the cabinets with a final clean cloth. Leave them on their own for at least 1 – 2 hours. Take your attention back to the cabinet contents and sort through the labels. Throw away things which have expired. There’s no need to be nice and friendly to the bacteria. Before you return the contents to their original place, don’t forget to wash the containers from the outside or at least dust them off.

Tubs and sinks require a baking soda and vinegar treatment. Sprinkle some baking soda followed by ½ Cup of vinegar mixed in water. Scrub the walls and surface. Let the mixture sit in for 15 minutes then run clean water as it will require thorough rinsing.

One reason, why your electricity bill is high is the frost in your deep freezer or the dust on your refrigerator’s coils. Switch off your deep freezer, take out the content and let the frost melt. Wipe its walls and sprinkle some baking soda; that will take care of the funky smell. Now, over to the refrigerator! Depending on the make, refrigerator’s coils are usually at the back. Dust them off with a kitchen brush. And your refrigerator will start breathing pleasantly again.

Sprinkle some borax powder at the base of your trash cans or waste bins. It will tackle the moulds and fungus and keep the insects away. If you have a garbage dispenser, you can squeeze a lime or two in it. This will keep the pungent smell away and also the beasties.

2. The Rooms: Let’s divide our rooms into windows, carpets and rugs, upholstery and furniture. Contrary to the general belief of cleaning windows in direct sun, wipe them off when sunlight is away. Direct exposure to sun dries up the windows too fast making streaks visible. First, dust off your windows with a cloth. Now mix 1 Cup vinegar and 2 tbsps cornstarch with water in a spray bottle and shower it on the glass. Wipe it off with crumpled old newspaper or piece of cloth.

Baking soda is a perfect cleaning agent. It is very effective for cleaning; scrubbing objects other than aluminium and silver, and for removing odour. Sprinkle some soda on the carpet so it may absorb stench. Next, run your vacuum cleaner. If your carpet has spots and stains, pour a few drops of vinegar on them. The natural cleaner will do its job.

Dust some soda on the upholstery, let it sit in for a while and vacuum. If you get good amount of sunshine, take out cushions and drapes, and keep them in sunlight for some time. The heat from the sun will battle with the little beasties concealed from your sight. That’s one reason why you’re sneezing all the time. To return shine to your furniture prepare your own polish. Combine 1 Cup of Olive Oil with 1/3 Cup of Lemon Juice or White Vinegar. Take your washrag and wipe the surfaces.

Display your books and journals with pride. Take them off and clean the shelf reaching all sides and corners. Grab a feather brush and gently run it over your precious collection. You can also use a clean piece of cloth, but dust lightly. For the cupboards, follow the same procedure as mentioned above for cabinets. However, this time make sure you do not stock away your belongings in plastic containers get some lovely cane baskets easily available at Sunday bazar or other local markets. If you have to use plastic container ensure it is made of bio-degradable or non-toxic material.

One last bit of advice, do not start cleaning the entire house in one day. You will never be able to accomplish your anticipated spring cleaning. Allocate one weekend to each room. Being nice to oneself is included in the package of green lifestyle.

Taking care of general odours:

That’s one of the best parts of my cleaning routine. If you are also one of those who get enticed by freshly baked cookies and simmering cinnamon sticks, I am sure you want your house to smell nice all the time. Eco-friendly doesn’t only mean good for the environment, but it’s also light on your pocket. Natural homemade cleaners are as effective as their harsh counterparts. Grow herbs such as basil or rosemary on your kitchen window. Keep chunks of cedar or sandalwood in your drawers or hide them in corners of your shelves. Create your own scents by mixing essential oils with natural ingredients such as orange zest, cinnamons and others spices. Make a potpourri or pour them in a bottle, and spray as you go. In case, you do not wish to make scents on your own, check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/Necos-Natural-Store-and-Cafe/109867642373012. They have a huge collection of earth-friendly items. Advice from personal experience: Carry a good amount of cash, you will be tempted to buy everything.  Invest in some soy or beeswax candles. They are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and create 95%less soot than their paraffin counterparts. Lastly, grow indoor plants they work as great as air filters.

Clean and green do not have to be mutually exclusive! Love your planet, use environment friendly products. Don’t forget to share some green cleaning tips in the comments section for everyone’s benefit. Have fun spring cleaning your house, the green way!!