7 Green Cleaning Products You Already Own

The average American spends at least 9 hours a day in their home, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and because we spend so much time there, we’re willing to go above and beyond to keep it clean in the greenest way possible. But what many don’t know is that the greenest, most effective products aren’t those in the fancy bottles with the high price tags. Rather, they’re the simple goods we already have lying around the house.

Vinegar:

You can buy it cheaply by the gallon, and it will often do as well a job cleaning as many of the fancy “green” products you can pick up at places a la Bed, Bath & Beyond. For clarity’s sake, I’m talking about white distilled vinegar in particular. Use it on windows to replace Windex, eliminate lime buildup on faucets, or de-mold your fridge with an undiluted wipe down. Really, there are hundreds of ways to use vinegar as an effective cleaning agent. Try them all!

Cream of Tartar:

Used for one in every few dozen recipes, every home that does any amount of baking likely has this lurking at the back of a shelf somewhere. A mild abrasive when mixed with liquid, you can use it to take care of everything from bathroom shower rings to buffing the bottom of aluminum pans.

Lemon:

Many of the household cleaning products we use have a chemically-created lemon scent that makes the end result smell divine. Unfortunately, the chemicals used to create that fresh environment can be harmful to lungs. Consider peeling or zesting a lemon into a cup of water and letting it simmer on your stove to get a real clean smell.

Baking Soda:

Like cream of tartar, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) works as another mild abrasive to clean everything from grout to vinyl. It also has the ability to soak up foul odors, so consider leaving it in smell-challenged spots like shoe or sports bags.

Eucalyptus Oil:

This essential oil is a true multi-purpose product. It works as an antibacterial, antifungal, deodorizer and as pest control. Mix with hot water or vinegar to clean just about anything, or wipe a few drops directly onto areas that attract creepy crawlies like ants, moths or silverfish and they’ll vanish quickly.

Borax:

Laundry detergents and fabric softeners are laden with all sorts of chemicals that subsequently transfer from our clothing to our skin. Borax is a biodegradable alternative that can be mixed in equal parts with washing soda and shredded natural soap to make an environmentally conscious, but equally effective detergent.

Olive Oil:

From reviving leather furniture to polishing wood, this handy household must-have is a healthy alternative to most other commercial polishes. (Remember: no need to get the expensive stuff when you’re just cleaning with it!)

If you happen to be missing out on any of these products - don’t worry! You should be able to pick them up on the fly at nearly any grocer, and all for less than $20.