Oh no – I did it again!

If you believe the principles of feng shui, a south-facing range is a recipe for burned meals. In my case I suspect it has more to do with my habit of leaving the stove in order to “sneak in just one more paragraph” of whatever writing project I was immersed in before the familiar wails of “I’m hungry” forced me into the kitchen.

Regardless of the reason, I’m faced more often than I’d like to be with the prospect of chiseling seared-on black residue from the bottoms of my cooking pots.

I used to dread it when this happened. The black stuff took forever to get off despite every effort with scouring pad and scrubbing powder. Then I discovered baking soda.

I don’t remember if some baking soda article in Countryside or similar magazine tipped me off, or if it was a prayerful act of sheer desperation. One day when I was faced with the residue from a particularly charred batch of refried beans I grabbed the jar of baking powder off the shelf and dumped half of it into the pan. I use baking soda a lot for regular cleaning, so I figured it might help with this.

It didn’t seem to work any better than regular cleanser. Sighing, I set it aside to figure out something else for the meal.

Something distracted me and it wasn’t until a day or so later that I returned grudgingly to the pan. To my surprise, large portions of the burned-on stuff simply flaked right off with a little scrubbing. What was left was relatively easy to remove with a fresh scrubby pad. I figured it must have been the overnight treatment with the baking powder paste.

I found out later that most burned food residue is acidic, so it makes sense that the alkaline baking powder reacts with it and helps weaken its structure. However it works, I was thrilled to have found a solution that didn’t involve toxic chemicals whose names I can’t pronounce.

So tonight, as I study the bubbly pattern left by burned peas in the bottom of my stainless steel saucepot, I merely smile, and reach for the baking powder. And wonder what feng shui would say about moving the computer desk next to the stove.

Anne Michelsen is co-founder of Marathon Renewable Energy, Inc., specializing in solar hot water systems. You can read more of her work at YourGreenLifestyle.blogspot.com

It is easy to keep your homes spic and span these days thanks to loads of chemical-based products that can easily clean up any mess in your household. These substances are not expensive but the cost of using them can be high health-wise not only for you but for the entire family. It can also wreak havoc to the environment due to pollution arising from the manufacture as well as the manner of disposal of such products.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reported a survey finding that 54.6% of all citizens of the United States are allergic to one or more allergens. With at least six detectable allergens present in half of the total number of American homes it is not surprising that up to 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases.

The funny thing here is that you need not spend a lot or expose yourself and your family to hazardous substances to keep your homes clean. With a little research and some readily-available materials you can make your own green household cleaning products. Take note of some of these easy-to-make home-made cleaning products that are not only safe for your health but also for the environment.

Baking Soda

If you’ve tried baking or you stay in your kitchen once in a while then you are probably acquainted with baking soda. Aside from merely being used as a baking ingredient, baking soda can also be used to clean and deodorize your sink, your plates, your refrigerator and a lot of surfaces. With its mild abrasive action, baking soda is a natural alternative for commercial and chemically-laden scouring powders. Used alone, baking soda is a powerful dirt remover for your bath tubs or kitchen sink. To remove grimes that are difficult to remove, mix baking soda with water to form a paste and leave on the surface for up to 20 minutes before rinsing. If you have a problem with your drain unclog it with about a half cup of baking soda followed by hot water and leave it there for at least tow hours before you flush it again with hot water and voila!

Borax

Borax or sodium borate decahydrate does not only soften water but it is a natural disinfectant, cleanser and deodorizer. This natural mineral is a great cleaning agent you can use to kill molds and bacteria from floors to walls. Instead of using bleach to remove stains in any surface why not use this naturally occurring mineral discovered as far back as 4,000 years ago. Borax is widely used in industrial settings but it is also useful inside the home as a multipurpose cleaner, insecticide, disinfectant and laundry booster to mention a few. You can mix Borax with other cleaning agent like soap and chlorine bleach as it is not reactive. However, the fact that Borax can be used as an herbicide and an insecticide means it is not naturally safe. Aside from using it as a cleaning agent you can also use Borax to kill fleas, ants and roaches.

Vinegar and Lemon

Vinegar or acetic acid is not only a great kitchen ingredient for cooking and for dipping food but it is also an excellent stain and grease remover. Lemon on the other hand, is also effective in killing household bacteria. If you hate the smell of fish in your kitchen but can’t help it because it is one of your family’s favorite main dishes then do not worry because vinegar can help you remove the smell of fish. Kitchen odors from cooking various dishes can also be toned down by simmering a teaspoon of vinegar in a cup of water. Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner and can produce maximum cleaning effects when mixed with other ingredients like baking soda or water. Use the mixture to remove shower stains, clean your windows and glasses. If you have difficulty removing coffee and tea stains from your cups and your kettles then use vinegar.  (See more vinegar tips here.)

Herbs

If you think herbs are merely for healing and cooking then think again. Herbs like eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage and juniper can also be used as disinfectant The process of making your own herbal disinfectant is also pretty easy since you only need to boil the leaves of these herbs and you already have a home-made disinfectant. This disinfectant can be used on any surface from walls to floors except when they are made of glass. The Four Thieves Vinegar used to ward off the plagues eons ago may have been a myth but the ingredients that make up the concoction which includes rosemary, thyme, sage and lavender plus vinegar and garlic have antiviral and antibacterial effects you can use as a homemade cleaning agent.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are not only useful for aromatherapy but they are also ideal disinfectants. You can make your own spray disinfectant by combining water and a few drops of essential oils. You can also use this as air freshener instead of the commercial air fresheners that contain harmful substances. Making your own air freshener out of essential oils is not only safe for your health but it is only cheaper since it only takes a few drops of oils to make a bottle of freshener. Among the oils you can use to make your own cleaning agent include lemon, eucalyptus, clove or cinnamon among others.

Making your own home-made cleaning products out of natural ingredients will not only keep your home safe from toxic and polluting chemicals contained in commercial home cleaning products. It will also help you save on expensive commercial cleaners and give you that satisfaction that can only be felt once you have created something useful.

Everyone with a mother probably knows that club soda lifts out stains. But that’s where many people’s knowledge of green house cleaning methods ends. Truth is, there’s a bevy of all-natural, non-toxic ways to clean most everything in your home (and yard and garden, for that matter). Here we’ll examine just one other of those safe and inexpensive alternatives to expensive and hazardous (to the environment and your health) chemical cleaners – white vinegar.

White vinegar might is one of the best all-purpose, all-natural household cleaners you can find. Just look at all it cleans:

• Linoleum floors – mop with a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar in a bucket of warm water; the best part – no rinsing needed and the smell goes away as it dries
• Furniture – polish with a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part olive oil
• Drains – to clear and prevent future clogs, first pour down 1/2 cup baking soda, then a 1/2 cup white vinegar; let it fizzle a bit, then pour down a tea-kettle full of boiling water; repeat as necessary
• Brass – just add 1 cup white vinegar to 1 cup flour (all-purpose or white) and 1 teaspoon salt and make into a paste
• Copper – just mix equal parts white vinegar and salt and dab on with a rag; rinse after thoroughly with water (to prevent corrosion); do not use on lacquered finishes

And getting back to mama’s old club soda trick – to deal with stains on carpets, rugs, clothing, tablecloths, drapes, and other fabrics, pour a little club soda over the stain (if on fabric supporting the back side with a pad of paper towels), and blot gently. DO NOT RUB – that only makes it worse. If that doesn’t work after a few tries, sprinkle some Borax over the stain.