Spring Green Cleaning
Spring is upon us, and with it, Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd of each year. It's worth learning how to make non-toxic green household cleaners, so if you've been putting it off, read more to find out how to make a few simple recipes today.
We are more than three decades into Earth Day, which was first celebrated in 1970 to commemorate and raise awarness of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, CA. It is widely believed to have ushered in the modern environmental movement (Bill McKibben's book, The End of Nature, published in 1989, raised the stakes considerably by introducing the concept of climate change to a wide readership).
We can each do our part to live a more green lifestyle, as well as become politically active in areas like GMO labelling and climate change (read about Climate Dots, the next climate change action happening on May 5, and learn how to participate).
If you missed our Spring Green Cleaning class last week, here are a few recipes you can easily make using products at the Co-op to reduce toxic chemicals in your house and in our environment. Read more about the health and environmental benefits of green cleaning and common ingredients.
Herbal Soft Scrub
½ cup baking soda
½ cup castille soap
15 drops of antimicrobial essential oils like rosemary and sage
Mix well until you have a frosting-like consistency. If you have leftovers, add one teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to maintain the consistency. For kitchen counters, bathrooms, tiles, and most surfaces except wood.
From Mountain Rose Blog
Super Surface Spray
16 oz. spray bottle
14 oz. 1:1 solution of distilled white vinegar and water
7 dropsof tea tree essential oil
7 drops of lavender essential oil
7 drops of lemon essential oil
Use this all-purpose surface spray for kitchen counters, cabinets, refrigerator shelves, blinds, painted wood surfaces, painted walls, molding, fan blades, and more!
From Mountain Rose Blog
Window and Mirror Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
1 cup distilled water
¼ cup vodka
20 drops peppermint essential oil
Mix ingredients into a spray bottle.
Dish Soap
¼ cup castile soap
¾ cup water
1 tsp. glycerin
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
Mix ingredients into a squeeze bottle, and keep it by the sink.
