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Written by Gregory Clark, Four Green Steps
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Thursday, 01 November 2012 11:08 |
Here comes Thanksgiving! How to clean up your Halloween mess
 With trick or treating behind us and children recovering from their sugar comas, we are now in full swing of the holiday season. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with feasts o' plenty coming up, whether you're hosting this American tradition or attending one, we can all take a few simple steps to help make this holiday season a green one while reducing that cost burden to our wallets normally associated with this time of giving and thanks. In this holiday series we're going to explore various green friendly decorating options and ways to turn down the costs while turning up the greenness.
Be greener and save money at the same time? How does that work?
While clearing out those cobwebs that blended in wonderfully for Halloween you can take a few simple steps to everyday cleaning that's more eco-friendly and cost effective. For starters, if your windows are in need of a good wash, vinegar, an old newspaper, and elbow grease will make those windows sparkle without triggering anyone's seasonal allergies. If you're looking to make that wood furniture sparkle too, add a squeeze of lemon juice to your white vinegar and this highly acidic solution will remove any gunk build-up from your polished wood furniture; leaving a nice shine. 
To clean those ceramic things like bath tubs, sinks, and toilets, a little baking soda will go a long way. Unlike other petroleum based cleansers, baking soda is non-toxic, removes odors, and will do wonders for removing grease, stains, and other dirt. Just mix 1 cup of baking soda with ½ cup of liquid castile soap, stir and apply. With a good scrub this basic solution will remove most stains and can be stored for up to a year if kept in an airtight jar. To give that oven a good once-over baking soda will do the trick as well. This time, just take that 1 cup of baking soda and mix it with a dab of liquid detergent to make an awesome degreaser.
To transform your cabinet of cleaning supplies to reflect your eco-mind here is a starter list that will provide the necessary items to create nearly all cleaning supplies needed for the everyday home:
- Baking soda
- Washing soda
- White distilled vinegar
- A good liquid soap or detergent
- Tea tree oil
- 6 clean spray bottles
- 2 glass jars
What are your natural recipes for DIY cleaning solutions? Share your tips in the comment box below!
Images courtesy of JD Hancock and s nester on Flickr.
Stay tuned for our next edition where we explore DIY Thanksgiving decoration ideas!
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