My favorite green cleaning articles

I don't have much to blog about today, but I'm in the writing mood, I thought I'd use this post to share some of my favorite green cleaning articles (written by yours truly).

First of all, why go green with home cleaning? You can probably guess a few of the reasons.

Top 10 Reasons to Go Green with Home Cleaning Today

I have found that there are a number of ways my family and I can benefit from cutting out the commercial cleaners and going green today. I feel much better about using alternative cleaning products in my home; these are just ten reasons to go green with home cleaning...continue reading.
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The laundry room is one of the first places I started "greening" in my house. Why?

Reasons to Avoid Commercial Laundry Products

That "laundry scent" you smell when you walk into the laundry room may not be as safe as you think. Commercial laundry products may get the job done, but at a risk to you, your family and the environment. There are numerous reasons to avoid these store-bought products...continue reading.
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How exactly do you go green in the laundry room?

Essential Green Products for the Laundry Room

The chemicals that you use to clean your clothing end up on your skin, soaking into your body and potentially harming you. There are harmful chemicals in commercial laundry detergents, dryer sheets and stain removers, such as bleach. Are you turned off commercial laundry products yet? If not, you might be happy to know that homemade alternatives can save you a good chunk of money. Instead, try these essential green products for the laundry room...continue reading.
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Healthier Bleach Alternatives

To many, the burning in your nostrils and throat means the bottle of bleach is doing its job. To others, it can mean an asthma attack is on its way.

There are so many healthier solutions to bleach for whitening clothes and disinfecting surfaces, yet it can be so easy to grab the bleach when you are in a hurry. It really isn't that difficult to find natural cleaning solutions in your kitchen or laundry room, though. Used alone or in conjunction with other natural products, these are some of the top bleach alternatives...continue reading.
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Healthier Alternatives to Floor Cleaners

They may give your house a clean smell, but the harsh chemical cleaning products on today's market are not helping to improve your health or that of the environment. Instead, use green floor cleaners that will remove debris without harming your family. Here are a few natural alternatives to commercial floor cleaners...continue reading.
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Swiffer mop pads are expensive, stinky and they dry out after just a couple swipes over the floor.

How to Make DIY Reusable Swiffer Mop Pads

Are you looking for a way to save money on cleaning products? Make your own replacement Swiffer mop pads. Not only will you save a ton of money, but the DIY cleaning solution is more eco-friendly--and you will get a more effective way to quickly clean your floors. Here's how you can make DIY reusable Swiffer mop pads at home...continue reading.
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Safer Deodorizers for the Home

Homes can get smelly. Pets, lots of people, food cooking: Odors tend to linger unless they are taken care of right away. Have you already tried vacuuming and spraying the house down with air freshener? Perhaps a gentle breeze flowing throughout won't even help. Your house might need a good deodorizer, combined with some deep cleaning.

However, commercial deodorizers contain ingredients that may be harmful to people and pets. There are various ways you can safely, naturally deodorize your home and get a fresh, clean scent...continue reading.
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6 Kitchen Ingredients that Double as Green Cleaners

Do you want to get rid of your commercial cleaning products and switch to healthier alternatives? Or, maybe you just ran out of cleaners and don't feel like running to the store. Green homemade cleaning products are a healthier cleaning alternative; they don't contain all the harmful chemicals that make your lungs burn and eyes water. Get a clean, healthy home with these kitchen ingredients...continue reading.
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You may have heard that baking soda and vinegar work to unclog drains.

How to Unclog Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Is your bathroom starting to smell worse than a bathroom should ever smell? Will no air freshener mask the stench coming from within? Chances are, the smell could be coming from your sink or bathtub, rather than from the toilet. This past weekend, it took me a while to figure out what was causing the awful smell in my house, but I finally realized that one of the bathroom drains were clogged. With a little vinegar and baking soda, the stale odor quickly disappeared...continue reading.
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How to Make a Natural, All-Purpose Spray

A natural, all-purpose cleaning spray should be the first item on your list of green cleaners to make. It can be used for wiping down countertops, cleaning the bathroom and essentially disinfecting any hard surface in the home. I have used my homemade all-purpose spray for cleaning many different surfaces and, while it may smell pretty strong with the eucalyptus oil option, it doesn't contain the harmful chemicals used in many commercial cleaners...continue reading.
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Green Cleaning Window Recipes, Inside & Out

By the time fall rolls around, your home's windows may have accumulated a fine layer of dirt and grime -- especially on the outside. It may be a good idea to clean them up, inside and out, in preparation for the coming winter months. However, like myself, you may prefer not to breathe in the fine mist of chemicals that are in commercial window cleaners -- no matter how well they clean the windows. Instead, I would rather make my own heavy-duty windows for fall cleaning, using healthier, green products...continue reading.
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..and don't forget about your car!

Green Cleaning Recipes & Products for the Car

Driving through a car wash may be convenient, but it wastes a large amount of water, and the cleaning products are often harmful to the environment. Even the car wash soap you can buy in stores contains harmful chemicals. By washing your car at home, you can help preserve the environment (and save money) in more ways than one. For example, you are both preserving valuable resources and saving money by using less water. Make your own green cleaning products and use eco-friendly supplies to clean up your car...continue reading.

I know that's a lot of articles, but it's actually only a few of my favorites. Anytime I can, I will choose green, non-chemical cleaners to clean my house. Do you have any favorite alternative cleaning tips? Go ahead and share in the comments!

Updating to add:

Easy "Going Green" Tips for Beginners

Do you want to change to a greener lifestyle? Aren't sure where to start? It can be overwhelming for a beginner to think about all the ways there are to improve your life with a healthier, more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Don't worry--you don't have to make a dozen changes overnight. Take it slow. There are several different ways you can get started "going green"...continue reading.