GREEN CLEANING Going GREEN is easier than you think– and we are here to help you along the way!

PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 12, 2008 – Sanford, FL  -    At My Personal Plumber, we are thinking GREEN.  We feel it is our responsibility as plumbers to educate the consumer about being water conscientious and environmentally conservative.  Starting with your cleaning products…

   Nationwide, more than 32 million pounds of household cleaning products are poured down the drain each day.  Many of these products contain toxic substances that are not processed adequately by sewage treatment plants or septic systems.  Studies have shown that many cleaning products in households and offices contain more than 50 potentially harmful and possibly lethal chemicals.  Careless or improper use and disposal of these products may threaten individual health or lead to accidental poisoning.  Long-term or cumulative environmental consequences may also occur, such as contamination of surface ground water.

   Combined in various ways, some common household items work just as well as the most expensive and noxious cleaners on the market – and they don’t leave your living space smelling like a freshly sanitized hospital.  Stock up on a few safe, simple ingredients that can be used in most cleaning situations.  Soap, water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, borax, and a coarse scrubbing sponge can take care of most household cleaning needs.  (Be sure to label the homemade cleaners clearly and store them where children cannot reach them.  Also, NEVER mix ammonia and chlorine bleach; the results are extremely toxic.)

•   Baking Soda.  The next time you do laundry; try adding 1/2 cup to a cup of baking soda to your load to rid clothes of perspiration odors.  Or sprinkle it on your carpet before you vacuum for a deodorizer.
•   Lemon Juice.  The acid in lemon juice neutralizes hard water deposits, dissolves buildup and dirt on wood, and tarnish on silver.  (White vinegar can be used in place of lemon juice.  The infamous strong smell dissipates as the vinegar dries.)
•   Essential Oils.  Grapefruit seed extract and essential oils such as lavender, clove, and tea tree oil have antiseptic properties and operate as natural fungicides.  *To keep mold at bay, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle, or 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract to 1 quart of water. (For a stronger option, see below)

Natural Cleaning Recipes

•   White Vinegar Combinations.  For an effective glass cleaner, use a mixture of half white vinegar and half water.  For an All Purpose surface cleaner, mix together equal parts white vinegar and salt.  Scrub surfaces with a natural cleaning cloth.
•   Disinfectant.  Mix 1/2 cup of borax powder with 1 gallon of hot water.  Add a few drops of fragrant essential oil such as thyme, rosemary, or lavender.  Store the mixture in a labeled spray bottle.
•   Floor Scrubber.  To scrub out tough messes and stains, use washing soda and rinse well.  For lighter washing, dilute 1 cup washing soda in 1 gallon of warm or hot water.  Add a few tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice for extra shine.
•   Furniture Polish.  Mix 1 cup lemon juice with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp water; lightly apply to furniture using a soft cloth.  Let sit for a couple of minutes, then buff.  (Be sure to test the spray somewhere on the furniture just to make sure you have the mixture right and you will not damage the wood.)
•   Tile and Grout Paste.  1 cup water and 3 cups baking soda mixed into a paste works great for cleaning tile and grout.  Use a toothbrush to scrub the paste into grout.

…If you prefer to buy eco-friendly cleaners instead of making them yourself, buy from companies like Seventh Generation, Ecover, or Method.  While these products will certainly reduce the toxins you are exposed to, they do cost about the same as regular cleaning products.

Here are some more green cleaning tips for certain areas in your home:
•   Unclogging Your Showerhead:

Just remove the shower head, find a bowl or cup big enough for it to sit in face down, and fill it with about an inch of vinegar. After letting it sit for an hour or so, remove it from the bowl and run water through it at the sink for a few minutes.

•   To Remove Mold In The Bathroom:

You can use about 2 ounces of Borax and a cup of white vinegar to make a spray that you can aim directly at the mold in the tub or shower.  Once you spray it, let it to sit for 30-60 minutes and then wipe it off.  The mold will start coming off and you did not have to inhale toxic chemicals to do so.  As a back up and a maintenance tip, you can also periodically spray the moldy “areas” with straight vinegar and just let it sit there and soak in.

•   To Clean Appliances:

Microwaves - Mix 1/2 of water with a few teaspoons of baking soda in a microwave safe bowl.  Put the bowl in the microwave and run it for 2 minutes.  Take out the bowl and wipe it clean with just a rag.

Coffee Makers - When the coffee maker is empty, pour in a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar and some hot water to fill up the reservoir to the top.  Run the coffee maker like you were making coffee, just without any beans in it. Once the cycle has finished, run it twice more with just plain water, which will rinse out the vinegar and any build up left inside.

Refrigerators - Baking soda all the way…why would you want to spray chemicals where you store your food!  Make a nice paste from baking soda and water (equal parts of both) and scrub away.

•   Unclog Your Shower Drain:

Step 1 - Put the about ¾ cup DRY baking soda down the drain.
Step 2 - Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain after the baking soda.  Be sure to cover the drain immediately afterwards with a rag or plug, filling the hole completely so nothing can escape.  This is because the interaction of the two will cause a “mini volcano” that will want to come up and out of the drain-you want to keep it down there.
Step 3 - Leave this concoction in the drain for about 30 minutes.  While you are waiting, boil a tea kettle full of water.
Step 4 - After 30 minutes, remove the plug and slowly pour the HOT water down the drain.  All done!



I hope these tips help you to start your way to GREEN cleaning and helping the environment.  Remember, when you want to go a step further, we are here to help you choose other water conservative options for your home – and save you money!  (I.E. helping you make sure your home is leak free: one drip from a leaky faucet or pipe can waste up to 5 gallons of water a day; installing low-flow aerators for your faucets can save up to 30% of the water used without jeopardizing water pressure; tankless water heaters have been known to conserve up to 50% of the energy you use; installing a high efficiency low consumption toilet can reduce water use by 20% or more; and many other options!)