My eco-friendly cleaning tips
A clean home is a happy home. Have you ever heard that one before? I know I have and I have to say that I am personally much happier when my home is clean and smelling fresh. 
Since having children, I have become more conscious about the products I use when cleaning my home. I would like to share with you my top eco-friendly cleaning tips.
- Vinegar works wonders! I love the cleaning power of vinegar. Mix it with water in a 50/50 ratio. I keep mine in a spray bottle and use it on windows and mirrors and even on my laminate flooring. If the smell bothers you, try adding a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or sweet orange or even a bit of lemon juice.
- Two words....baking soda! Baking soda makes a great cleaner as well. Mix it up as a paste and scrub tough stains. Let it sit and scrub the surface and rinse with cool water.
- Ditch those paper towels! Using paper towels creates so much waste. Why not use a cloth that is reusable for your cleaning? I like to use microfibre cloths to clean but have also been known to use cut up old cotton t-shirts or even flannel sheets for cleaning cloths. I just wash them, hang to dry and reuse next time around!
- Save energy by hanging your clothes to dry. I have a clothes line outdoors but it is a little impossible for me to use during the winter months. I try to use it all spring, summer and fall though. I hang blue jeans to dry all year round and never throw them in the clothes dryer.
- Clean the air with indoor plants. Did you know that plants clean and purify the air in our homes?
- This is a tip I recently found out about and am anxious to try it out soon! Before you throw your newspapers into the recycle bin use them to clean windows or glass. Spray to dampen with a bit of the vinegar/water solution and apply to the surface for a streak-free clean!
- Here is another tip I just read about. Fabric softeners can be full of chemicals and scents that can irritate. To soften clothes without synthetic fabric softener use vinegar (woo hoo, vinegar again....I love it!), about ½ cup in your rinse cycle. For elimination of static in the dryer, I found these reusable dryer sheets made in Canada by Static Eliminator. These sheets can be found in many retail locations throughout Canada.
- Look for eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products whenever possible. They can usually be found in your local grocery stores. Well.ca is a great source online for many "green" cleaning products. Check these ones out.
These were just a few ideas to help you to switch to more eco-friendly cleaning options. I hope this will inspire you to take a few steps to keeping your home clean without harsh chemicals. Come back soon because there will be plenty more tips and cool stuff in April, when we dedicate all of April to Earth Month. If you have your own "green" cleaning tip, please let us know by leaving us a comment!
Happy cleaning!
Image source: Flickr Creative Commons: C.Wess Daniels', Well.ca
