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Green cleaning services are becoming more and more popular as consumers become more aware of the potential health risks associated with traditional cleaning products and methods.  Green cleaning services are important for families who want to create the safest indoor environment possible for themselves, their pets and their guests.  Chemical ingredients in common household products can contain toxins that can make us sick.  Illnesses resulting from these toxins can be as mild as a headache or as severe as cancer.  But green cleaning services can reduce or eliminate these health risks.

Studies of bisphenol-S, the chemical compound sometimes used to replace bisphenol-A in "BPA-free" plastic products, found it is disruptive not only to the body's hormone system, but to brain circuitry in developing animal embryos. Known to mimic estrogen, BPA and BPS are not the only synthetic chemicals found in hard plastic and certain resins that do so. Since companies are under no obligation to tell consumers what chemicals are used in the manufacture of their product, many health experts say the best thing to do is avoid contact with household plastics altogether. It is impossible to avoid these plastics throughout the day! AVOID: - hard plastic sports bottles - plastic food storage containers - food wrap - hard and flexible packaging - deli containers - plastic bags - baby bottle components (nipple, ring, liner, etc) - plastic dinnerware and plates - non-stick cookware - plastic cleaning products - thermal receipt paper - canned food and drink - tissue paper and toilet paper ALTERNATIVES: - stainless steel water bottles - ceramic plates and dishes - unbleached wax paper - anything made from wool, cotton, hemp or plastic-free, biodegradable fibers - plastic-free cleaning products, such as baking soda, vinegar and essential oils - stainless steel or cast iron cookware - glass blender - wire salad spinner - stainless steel ice-cube tray - natural rubber gloves - recycled, individually-wrapped toilet paper - bar soap - handkerchief  

Quick Tricks of Vinegar that All Things Green Cleaning, LLC likes to use! We are so close to water sources here in Portsmouth and the Seacoast that we want to watch what we put down our drains! Watch this video for a green way of treating clogs! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCgIdfuQAD4 Good Uses of Vinegar: All Around the House

1. To remove stickers that have been used to "decorate" furniture and other surfaces, moisten with vinegar. Let sit for at least ten minutes, then remove.
2. For persistent room odors, place a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight.
3. For spills on carpet, use a sponge or cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible. Then spray with a mixture of half vinegar, half water. Let stand for about two minutes, then blot with towel or sponge. Repeat as needed.
4. For more persistent stains, use a mixture of 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap, and 1 cup warm water. Proceed as suggested above. When finished cleaning, dry using a hairdryer set on low.
5. To clean windows, spray with half vinegar, half water. Wipe clean with either newspapers or cloth.
6. To clean silver, pewter, copper, or brass, dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in one cup vinegar. Add flour to create a paste (1/4 cup or more). Apply the paste to the metal item, and let stand for at least fifteen minutes. Rinse with warm water and polish with a soft cloth.
7. No-wax floors can be cleaned with a solution of 1 cup vinegar per gallon of water for a shinier surface.
8. To clean wood paneling, use a mixture of 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 2 cups warm water. Apply to paneling with a soft cloth. Dry with a clean cloth.

In the Bathroom

1. To remove corrosion or chemical build-up from showerheads, soak in vinegar overnight.
2. Remove stains from the toilet bowl by spraying with vinegar and spraying.
3. To remove soap build-up from faucets, clean with a mixture of 1 part salt to four parts vinegar.
4. Spray shower walls and shower curtain with vinegar to help prevent mildew.

In the Kitchen

1. To keep ants away, spray vinegar along doorways, windowsills, countertops - anywhere that ants are likely to appear. If you find an ant trail (path that ants use repeatedly), clean it with vinegar.
2. To remove odors from the sink or garbage disposal, pour in a cup or more vinegar. Do not rinse out again for at least an hour.
3. For a clogged drain, first pour in 1/2 cup baking soda. Then add an equal amount of vinegar. When the mixture finishes bubbling, rinse with warm water. (Note: some garbage disposals do not react well to this cleaning method; check with the manufacturer first.) Video above!
4. Wipe your hands with vinegar after chopping. It will remove strong scents like onion and garlic, as well as stains from fruit juices.
5. To clean wooden cutting boards, wipe with vinegar.
6. Remove strong odors. Rinse jars with a half and half mixture of vinegar and water to remove garlic or other strong odors. Boil water with several spoons of vinegar to remove the smell of burnt food from your kitchen.
7. Vinegar is an excellent cleaner for all kitchen surfaces - counters, refrigerators, stovetops.
8. To clean your microwave oven, put a microwave-safe bowl of 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in the oven, and cook long enough to boil. In addition to removing any lingering odors, this will loosen any baked-on food from the microwave's walls.
9. To remove coffee or tea stains from china, clean with a mixture of vinegar and salt.

In the Laundry

1. To keep colors from running in the wash, soak in vinegar before washing.
2. To decrease lint on clothing, add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
3. Many persistent stains can be removed with vinegar: coffee, chocolate, ketchup, jam, cola, wine. Gently rub stain with vinegar, then wash.
4. To make your "brights brighter", add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
5. For fresher cloth diapers, add one cup distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle. This will break down uric acid and remove both lingering stains and scents.
6. To remove scorch marks from an iron, rub with a mixture of vinegar and salt.
7. To remove soap residue from the washing machine, run an empty (no laundry) cycle with one cup vinegar added.
8. To remove the smell of smoke from clothing, add a cup of vinegar to a tub of hot water. Let clothing hang in the same room for several hours.

Pet Care

1. To keep cats off windowsills or other surfaces, spray with vinegar. This will also keep them from scratching upholstery (spray an unnoticeable area of the fabric first to make sure the vinegar doesn't cause a stain).
2. To keep dogs from scratching their ears, clean with a soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar.
3. If your dog should have a run-in with a skunk, vinegar will take care of the smell better than even tomato juice. Using vinegar diluted 50% with water, rub the dog's fur. Rinse with warm water. Repeat as needed.

 

All Things Green Cleaning offers ideas for alternative “green” cleaners.

Alternatives for Toxic Cleaners

Furniture Polish................¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup white vinegar, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
Glass Cleaner...................¼ cup white vinegar in a quart of warm water, squirt of lemon for scent
Toilet Bowl Cleaner.............Baking soda and vinegar; let it sit for an hour
Tile/Grout Cleaner..............One part borax, one part backing soda, one part vinegar to make a paste

All Things Green Cleaning based out of Portsmouth New Hampshire takes pride in offering eco friendly residential cleaning.  All Things Green Cleaning has a few green tips for you!  

Do you have build up on your shower head or tub nozzle from mineral deposits? Here’s an All Things Green Cleaning secret, Shhhh…….Fill a plastic sandwich bag with undiluted white vinegar and tie it around the shower head. Leave this on overnight. The next day, remove and scrub with a brush!  
Do you have a hard time keeping stainless steel clean and streak free? Use warm water and wet down with clean cloth then dry. Pour a small amount of olive oil into a clean cloth and wipe along the grain. Then with a new dry cloth in circular motion buff out stainless steel.  

All Things Green Cleaning is a mother owned and operated company and we know how busy life can be! When you finally arrive home after work and picking up the kids, dinner can seem like a chore and once dinner is done WHO wants to do the dishes!?!? You’d rather spend time relaxing with your family, friends or alone, here’s a little tip! Sprinkle on some salt on the dishes in the sink, this keeps the food from sticking and makes them easier to wash later.