Check to make sure that none of your cleaners have been banned or placed on a restricted list by the EPA and that none of them are past the expiration date
For cleaners that can still be used, offer them to someone else who can use them. You might have a neighbor or friend who will use them, or you might be able to give them to a local business that needs them.
Find a household hazardous waste collection or recycling site near you. You can find one near your zip code through the locator at Earth911.com.
Call your local household hazardous waste site to find out their guidelines on disposing of waste. Do they accept collections only on certain days or during certain hours? Is there any limit to the amount of toxic cleaning products you can bring? What are their guidelines for accepting waste?
If your toxic cleaning products do not exceed the limit of what you can bring to your local site, then check with your neighbors to see if any of them have household hazardous waste they would like to dispose of. By taking the waste from several houses in one trip, you can reduce the carbon emissions impact of your travel.
Take your remaining toxic cleaning products, including items that are banned or expired, to the household hazardous waste site nearest you and dispose of them according to the site's guidelines.
After your home has no chemicals all you need is a couple of gallons of vinegar, some lemons, baking soda, a spray bottle or two, and a jar. I also recommend getting a container that you would use to dispense a gallon or two of tea out of to make the mixture (like a Rubbermaid one with a dispenser at the bottom).
Put one part vinegar and three parts water in the container along with two or three lemon peels (save the inside). Let this sit for a day or two, then put it in the spray bottle. Vinegar acts as an extracting device and will absorb the lemon scent and cleaning power. You might want to know that it will always smell like vinegar, but don't worry vinegar evaporates so you won't smell it after cleaning. Plus this solution sanitizes!
This mixture will be used in the spray bottles for windows, counter tops, floors, and just about everything else.
Now use the insides of the lemons and squeeze the juice into the jar. Discard the rest in your compost pile and if you haven't jumped on that band wagon I will show you an easy and cheap way sooner or later.
The lemon juice can be used in conjunction with the baking soda which will be used as a scrub. Mix the baking soda and lemon juice together to make a paste and use your hands or a rag to clean the tub, shower, floor, etc. If it is horrible spray the vinegar solution and it will have a chemical reaction to the baking soda make it even stronger.
So your set up and ready to go! You now can clean and not worry about your skin, lungs, hair, and bleach stains on your clothes!
Please note that marble and other delicate surfaces need more attention, do your research and find something you can do to clean it without harming these kinds of surfaces, but I assure you that you can make the cleaner yourself.
In conclusion, I want to add that going green is so much more than saving our planet. It is about saving money and our integrity. For example, we have become so brainwashed into thinking that we need a cleaner for our windows, tubs, flooring, kitchen, etc. When all we really need is to make it ourselves thus saving money and excluding ourselves from being a puppet on corporate Americas stage.
Alex Sherman
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