Green Cleaning craze

[Phisherman]

Apparently there is a "green cleaning" craze going on (it's about
time). From ABC News:

<snip>...
If people have the time, there are also inexpensive ways to
"eco-clean" your own home. Rangan points out that combining basic
household items, such as white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, borax,
water and lemon, can work just as well as any premium-priced product.

"There's a little bit of science behind it so you're not just using
lemon on everything," she said. "But making your own formulations is
pretty easy."

Below are a few natural cleaning tips from GreenerChoice.org, an
independent, nonprofit group that collaborates with the Consumer
policy Institute. A more complete list of cleaning formulations is
available here:


http://www.eco-labels.org/greenconsumers/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices

Ovens: Mix one cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then
add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and
let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime.
Tub and tile: Mix 1 2/3 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of liquid soap,
and 1/2 of cup water. As the last step, add two tablespoons of vinegar
(if you add the vinegar too early it will react with the baking soda.)
Immediately apply, wipe and scrub.

Toilet bowl: Pour one cup of borax into the toilet before going to
bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner,
add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the borax.

Furniture: Mix olive oil and vinegar in a one-to-one ratio and polish
with a soft cloth.

Windows: Put three tablespoons of vinegar per one quart water in a
spray bottle. For extra-dirty windows, try 1/2 teaspoon of liquid
soap, three tablespoons of vinegar, and two cups of water. Shake well.

[Mrs Bonk]

Phisherman wrote:
> Apparently there is a "green cleaning" craze going on (it's about
> time). From ABC News:

> Ovens: Mix one cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then
> add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and
> let soak overnight.

I do try to be green. We should all be making an effort. I had two money
off vouchers this week for products by a company that respects the planet so
I will toddle off to the shops to investigate.
On reading past posts I see Mr F Bentos recommended a similar method of oven
cleaning to the paste one and didn't I recently give a tip for linseed oil
and vinegar as polish? You will find it at Google under the heading "duster
tip"

[Sawney Beane]

Phisherman wrote:
>
> http://www.eco-labels.org/greenconsumers/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices
>
> Toilet bowl: Pour one cup of borax into the toilet before going to
> bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner,
> add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the borax.
>
Is that to clean the Superbowl? At room temperature it would take
about 4 gallons of water to dissolve a cup of borax.

I wonder if there would really be any benefit to letting borax sit
in the bowl overnight. Anyway, what if somebody had to go?

[BootHill_Lady]

Sawney Beane wrote:
> Phisherman wrote:
> >
> > http://www.eco-labels.org/greenconsumers/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices
> >
> > Toilet bowl: Pour one cup of borax into the toilet before going to
> > bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner,
> > add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the borax.
> >
> Is that to clean the Superbowl? At room temperature it would take
> about 4 gallons of water to dissolve a cup of borax.
>
> I wonder if there would really be any benefit to letting borax sit
> in the bowl overnight. Anyway, what if somebody had to go?

and I say its not the "bowl under water" where the borax would work
that needs help, its the area between the water and the rim of the
toidy bowl that has the greater need. Surely the borax is not going to
"bubble" up high enough to clean that! So, starting
over................what do you use to clean the REAL toilet problem?

[Sawney Beane]

Phisherman wrote:
>
>
> Below are a few natural cleaning tips from GreenerChoice.org, an
> independent, nonprofit group that collaborates with the Consumer
> policy Institute. A more complete list of cleaning formulations is
> available here:
>
> http://www.eco-labels.org/greenconsumers/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices
>
>
> Toilet bowl: Pour one cup of borax into the toilet before going to
> bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner,
> add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the borax.
>
The specific gravity of borax is 1.78. The solubility at 20 C is
30 g/l. So it would take about 4 gallons to dissolve a cup of
borax. That's some toilet bowl!

I wonder if there would really be any benefit to letting borax sit
in the bowl overnight. Anyway, what if somebody has to go?

[Sawney Beane]

BootHill_Lady wrote:
>
> Sawney Beane wrote:
> > Phisherman wrote:
> > >
> > > http://www.eco-labels.org/greenconsumers/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices
> > >
> > > Toilet bowl: Pour one cup of borax into the toilet before going to
> > > bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner,
> > > add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the borax.
> > >
> > Is that to clean the Superbowl? At room temperature it would take
> > about 4 gallons of water to dissolve a cup of borax.
> >
> > I wonder if there would really be any benefit to letting borax sit
> > in the bowl overnight. Anyway, what if somebody had to go?
>
> and I say its not the "bowl under water" where the borax would work
> that needs help, its the area between the water and the rim of the
> toidy bowl that has the greater need. Surely the borax is not going to
> "bubble" up high enough to clean that! So, starting
> over................what do you use to clean the REAL toilet problem?

Scrub with a paste of borax and vinegar?

[Gregory Morrow]

Mrs Bonk wrote:

> I do try to be green. We should all be making an effort. I had two money
> off vouchers this week for products by a company that respects the planet
so
> I will toddle off to the shops to investigate.
> On reading past posts I see Mr F Bentos recommended a similar method of
oven
> cleaning to the paste one and didn't I recently give a tip for linseed oil
> and vinegar as polish? You will find it at Google under the heading
"duster
> tip"


Good to see you again Mrs. B....

As far as my oven goes I simply put a container of ammonia in it and let it
sit overnight. It's fairly easy to clean then...the surfaces of my oven are
removable and I just take them out and wipe them down. Far preferable to
that expensive and very toxic commerical oven cleaner spray...I frankly
cannot abide the odour of it :-|

That ammonia "method" works well for other things that need cleaning. Put
the dirty items in a plastic garbage bag, put a pan/container of ammonia in
and tie the bag shut. A day or two later take the item(s) out and they'll
clean right up. This is especially good for bbq grille grates, etc. Don't
try this with aluminum things however, as IIRC ammonia and aluminum are
reactive to each other...

--
Best
Greg

[Mrs Bonk]

Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Mrs Bonk wrote:
>
>> I do try to be green. We should all be making an effort. I had two money
>> off vouchers this week for products by a company that respects the
>> planet so I will toddle off to the shops to investigate.
>> On reading past posts I see Mr F Bentos recommended a similar method of
>> oven cleaning to the paste one and didn't I recently give a tip for
>> linseed oil and vinegar as polish? You will find it at Google under the
>> heading "duster tip"
>
>
> Good to see you again Mrs. B....

Thank you Gregory. Very sweet of you to say it. I have been rather quiet
lately due to a spate of decorating.


> As far as my oven goes I simply put a container of ammonia in it and let
> it sit overnight. It's fairly easy to clean then...the surfaces of my
> oven are removable and I just take them out and wipe them down. Far
> preferable to that expensive and very toxic commerical oven cleaner
> spray...I frankly cannot abide the odour of it :-|
>
> That ammonia "method" works well for other things that need cleaning. Put
> the dirty items in a plastic garbage bag, put a pan/container of ammonia
> in and tie the bag shut. A day or two later take the item(s) out and
> they'll clean right up. This is especially good for bbq grille grates,
> etc. Don't try this with aluminum things however, as IIRC ammonia and
> aluminum are reactive to each other...

Are they really? I know I cannot use soda with aluminium. I haven't any
ammonia in the house, it is not something I tend to use except if it's
already in a product. You are extremely fortunate to have removeable liners,
how I wish I didn't have to get down on my knees, head in oven every Sunday
after lunch.