CLEANING STUFF the ORGANIC way

The following products and methods are the least environmentally unfriendly items to use to clean up.

VINEGAR   Vinegar is the number one item you need to purchase as a cleanser. It will clean windows and mirrors (just add about 1/4 cup to your dishcleaning liquid - not dishwasher detergent though) and mix this into a quart of water. If you put this into a pump type bottle it works wonders on all glass items.

BORAX  Lovely stuff that will degrease most anything and deodorize it too! Just sprinkle some on, let it sit for a bit, then rub with a damp cloth. That's all there is too it!

BAKING SODA  My favorite for cleaning refrigerators and freezers.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE  Will bleach out food type stains in your fridge. Will also KILL germs. Look for sanitizers that have hydrogen peroxide as the main ingredient.

PAPER TOWELS Use the brown unbleached ones. Better for the environment than the white bleached ones.

DISH SOAP    See if it is labelled chlorine and phospate free.

BORIC ACID  Sprinkle along baseboards and under heavy appliances to control creepy crawlies like ants and roaches etc. Keep away from pets and kids though.

Things to avoid using

Sponges  Sponges are filthy little bacteria breeders and dirt trappers. Even if you concientiously wash them by tossing into the machine once or twice a week, I wouldn't have them around. Unbleached paper towels are the best.