Have you ever looked at your shelf of cleaning powders, aerosols, liquids, gels, oils and wondered, do I really need all these? Perhaps you’ve asked yourself, is it even wise to use such a variety of chemicals when I don’t know their long-term effects on the environment or my body.

With cancers showing up in epidemic proportions and allergies on the rise, we do well to look for places we can make changes. One change that’s easy and inexpensive is to return to old-fashioned and environmentally kind cleaning products. In fact, with only four – baking soda, borax, salt and vinegar – you’re well on your way to a green cleaning shelf. Let’s take a closer look at these four things and discover how they can solve almost any cleaning problem.

Baking soda  or sodium bicarbonate occurs naturally in mineral springs but can also be made artificially. While you are probably most familiar with its use in food preparation, it has medical uses (as an antacid for example), absorbs moisture and odors, and is gently abrasive.

Borax or sodium borate – a naturally occurring alkaline mineral – is a white powder of soft, colorless crystals that easily dissolve in water. It is a component of detergents, a fire retardant and an insecticide that kills ants and fleas. It also softens water, deodorizes and disinfects. Though borax gives off no toxic fumes and has a reputation of being safe for the environment, it can irritate the skin and should not be ingested.

Salt, or sodium chloride is mined from rock salt deposits or recovered from evaporated brine. Though you may know it best as a flavoring for food, it is also used as a de-icer for winter roads, a water softener, and is an important ingredient in manufacturing many things, from textiles to leather shoes. It inhibits the growth of bacteria making it a natural preservative and a home remedy for infections.

Vinegar (main ingredient acetic acid) is made when the ethanol from a liquid containing alcohol (wine, cider, beer, fermented fruit juice etc.) is oxidized. Its main household use is in food preparation and as a condiment. Medically, scientific studies have showed it is effective to hasten a feeling of fullness when dieting, as a treatment for high cholesterol and a soother for some stings. It is also useful as a cleaner for glass and other surfaces.

Put Baking Soda, Borax, Salt and Vinegar on Cleaning Duty

Now let’s go through your house to see how you can put baking soda, borax, salt and vinegar to work for you.

- Odors:

~ Rugs and carpets: to absorb odors sprinkle baking soda 20 minutes before vacuuming.

~ Room deodorizer: Slice an orange in half, remove the pulp and fill the rind with salt for an aromatic room freshener.

~ Garbage cans: Sprinkle bottoms of garbage cans with baking soda to absorb odors.

~ Litter boxes: Sprinkle bottom of box with baking soda before spreading litter on top to absorb odors.

- Cleaning Solutions:

~ Window cleaner: mix vinegar with water in concentrations of one cup vinegar to one to four cups of water. If the window seems streaky after shining, add ½ tsp. liquid soap. This will remove the waxy residue left by commercial cleaners.

~ All-purpose Cleaner 1: place a mixture of half vinegar, half water in a spray bottle. Use this for countertops, windows, woodwork, mirrors, bathtubs and showers.

~ All-purpose Cleaner 2: 1 quart water, ½ cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice or 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol.

- Metals:

~ Wipe chrome with apple cider vinegar, then rinse.

~Wipe stainless cookware and copper-clad pots with a mixture of several tablespoons of vinegar mixed with a little salt.

~ Rub tarnished silver and copper with baking soda.

~Dissolve baking soda in a large container of warm water. Place tarnished silver in the water touching a piece of aluminum foil.

~ Remove rust from tools, skate blades, bicycle chains, handlebars, spokes etc. by making a paste with salt and 1 tbsp. vinegar (or lemon juice). Apply the paste to rust spots with a dry cloth and rub.

- Drains: Unclog by pouring ¼ cup baking soda into the drain. Follow with ½ cup vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes, then pour a kettle full of boiling water to flush.

- Vases: make a paste with 1/3 cup salt and 2 tbsp. vinegar. Apply to the inside of the vase (double or triple the recipe if it’s a large vase) and let stand for 20 minutes. Discard paste and scrub.

- Furniture: Polish furniture with a mixture of 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. white vinegar and 4 cups water.

- Silk flowers: Place dusty silk flowers in a large bag with 1 cup salt and shake vigorously.

LAUNDRY

- Clothes etc.: add ½ cup borax to each laundry load to remove spots and brighten colors.

Add ¼ cup baking soda  or ½ cup vinegar to the final rinse to soften clothes.

- Stains:

~ Remove grease stains with borax.

            ~ Remove Juice, wine and coffee stains with baking soda.

KITCHEN

- Garbage disposal: Pour ½ cup salt into the garbage disposal unit, then run it according to manufacturer’s directions to get rid of bad odors.

- Oven: Make a paste of ½ cup salt, 1½ cup baking soda, ½ cup water. Spread the paste on the dirty surfaces and leave on overnight. In the morning place a  mixture of ¼ cup vinegar and ¼ cup water in a spray bottle and spray treated surfaces. Wipe off and rinse thoroughly to get rid of all white residue.

- Microwave oven: Place bowl with ¼ cup vinegar and 2 cups water in the oven and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Leave for another 3 minutes then remove bowl and wipe down inside of microwave with damp cloth.

- Wooden cutting boards: Sprinkle a liberal amount of salt on smelly cutting boards, rub lightly then wash in soapy water.

- Dishwasher: Place 1 cup vinegar in an empty dishwasher and run it through its wash cycle to remove mineral build-up and odor.

- Coffee pots: Clean with a mixture of white vinegar and water.

- Smelly hands: Dip a cut lemon wedge in salt, rub it on your hands, then rinse with water.

BATHROOM

- Toilet bowls: Clean with ½  cup borax in a gallon of water.

- Mildew: Scrub with borax or baking soda.

- Grout: Mix 3 cups baking soda with 1 cup warm water. Scrub into the grout then rinse thoroughly.

Scouring Powders:

~ Use baking soda as a scouring powder. It may take more scrubbing but it won’t scratch surfaces.

~ Make a scouring slurry by mixing ¼ cup borax and ¼ cup baking soda with 1½ cups hot water.

- Combs and brushes: Rid of residue by wash with baking soda in water. Rinse well.

If all that cleaning has left you with tired, sore feet, celebrate the end of the day with a salt water foot bath. Mix ¼ cup salt and ¼ cup baking soda into 1½ gallons of warm water. Soak feet for up to 15 minutes. (This may not be suitable for people with diabetes or circulation problems.)

If you are environmentally minded, you might like the opportunity to green your workplace with a few simple changes.  While the changes that you make might be small, they can make a positive difference on the environment. If your company wants to go green but is not able to accomplish on their own, check out IJCSA Green Cleaning Directory to find the true, certified professionals that will be happy to provide guidence.

Like most people, you spring clean during April. This year start off right. Be green. Make your home sparkle and shine, but in a manner that preserves the Earth. On your to-do list, focus on activities that recycle goods, reduce electricity, and utilize natural cleansers. 

RECYCLE GOODS

Swap paper towels for rags. Make use of old clothes too worn to give away. Turn them into reusable cleaning rags. First, wash these garments. Then, cut out 12x12 squares wherever possible. Unlike paper towels, cloth rags are sturdy and won't fall apart. 

Donate furniture to charity. Help another person while feeding your soul. Give away that old couch and chair that's unsightly or just in the way. Charitable organizations like Good Will pick up furniture for free.  

Get rid of old appliances. Do away with your collection of toasters, blenders, and microwaves. Donate these things to charity or a young couple starting out. A new home for old appliances helps declutter space making room for more necessary products.  

REDUCE ELECTRICITY

Unplug rarely used electronics. Reduce your energy bill and conserve. Unplug rarely used electronics. When plugged in, their kilowatts count toward the bill even if turned off. See immediate savings after 30 days. 

Seal off windows and door frames. Open spaces around windows and door frames let in outside air. Therefore, more energy is needed to heat or cool a room. Solve this issue with a caulk gun. As part of your green spring cleaning, caulk around these areas and seal them off. 

Switch to CFL light bulbs. According to the EPA, CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. They also last longer. These factors translate into monetary savings.

USE NATURAL CLEANSERS

Wipe surfaces with white distilled vinegar. This aqueous solution is an excellent cleanser. Besides eradicating mold and bacteria, it leaves no streaks. Apply white distilled vinegar on windows and reflective surfaces. 

Use baking soda as an oven cleaner. Create a thick paste using baking soda and water. Afterward, coat the walls and floors of your oven with this substance. Wait a couple of hours. The bicarbonate in this popular product breaks down grime. Wipe away the layers of dirt with a damp rag.  

Sanitize the cooler with lemons. Slice two lemons in half and squeeze the juice into a spray bottle. Then, add water. Spritz this solution throughout your refrigerator and wipe after a minute. The acid in the lemon juice acts as an antiseptic. It also leaves a wonderful aroma. 

COMMERCIAL GREEN CLEANING SERVICES

An eco-friendly business cares about the bottom line, but it also keeps an eye on the corporate impact on the environment. Small and large businesses need to impress consumers and clients by implementing green practices, but what are the steps a company can take to go green? Its simple, check out the #1 rated Green Cleaning Directory! If you are located in Michigan, Strength H2O Industrial Solutions is proud to offer green services on all Michigan facility types.

 With today's climate of infectious disease the need for training about bloodborne pathogens with all staff is vitally. It is important for cleaning employees and staff to know about bloodborne pathogens as they can cause disease such as HIV or HBV. 

 Employees must be aware of the multiple ways bloodborne pathogens can spread and what personal protective safety equipment to wear such as goggles, disposable latex gloves. learning about universal standards will help with stopping the spread, universal standards tells us that blood and body fluids from ALL patients should be treated as potentially infectious with no exception and infection control precautions be taken to minimize exposure.

 It is important for employees and staff to learn that  Contagion can happen from needles or other sharps so employees must store them in containers to avoid injury and contamination. Staff should know not to eat, drink, smoke, or apply lip balm in areas where there is possibility of bloodborne pathogen exposure.

  It is vital that cleaning employees and staff know about bloodborne pathogens so they know the risks associated with their jobs and the best safety practices to date.

  Having the knowledge of bloodborne pathogens and other OPIM's  helps keep cleaning employees, other staff and, clients/patients safe from bloodborne pathogens.

  Proper training and a control plan will give guidelines on what to do before and after exposure. 

Bloodborne Pathogens are infectious microorganisms that are passed through bodily fluids.  These microorganisms can transfer a variety of different viruses and diseases.  These viruses and diseases can cause a variety of different illnesses and even death. 

The safety of all employees and customers is of the upmost importance for any business.  The key to this safety is knowledge because the better informed your employees are the safer they are which keeps your customers safe from these viruses and diseases.

Certification for bloodborne pathogens is a very important step in making sure your employees understand the severity of these pathogens as well as when, where, and how they can be transferred.  Following OSHA standards, continuing education, as well as reminders during safety meetings all play a key role in keeping everyone safe.

Employees and employers both should be properly informed on proper OSHA standards for Bloodborne pathogens. The importance of PPE is mandatory and should be worn regardless if area is safe or not, and/or if the person is experienced or not. PPE is to be worn at all times. 

It is very important to have a OSHA control plan, which helps determine what to do before and after any exposure. Proper control plans show in detail how to properly clean up after potentially hazardous materials as well as how to properly dispose of such materials. Having a OSHA control plan could save many lives including your own. 

It is important that every employee and employer receives proper training and safety instruction. OSHA provides guidelines to be followed at all times. As well as a document that should be used in any incident report related to any Bloodborne pathogen exposures.

IJCSA is one of the Top places to receive wonderful customer service, not only we listen to your needs we are there for you on what needs to be taken care of and get the job done.   Not only getting the job done but doing it in safe professional and clean way.  Here at IJCSA its important to us to have each customer being taken care and when they have used our services we want to know how we did,  and if a customer wasn't happy about something we want to know so we can take that extract it and make it 100 percent better.  Everyone has a voice and we are here to listen.

Janitorial staff are important to our every day lives because they risk their own health to make sure others are working in a clean, safe and sanitary environment. Those that work cleaning in the health care are very important to those that are already sick by helping to maintain a sanitized area so that patients can get better quicker.

In the times of COVID-19, janitorial staff play an important role in maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of all environments where sickness and other sicknesses may be contracted.This includes schools, health care, and others. For all of your janitorial and commercial cleaning needs, please visit the janitorial directory.

     A clean healthcare facility is vital to good health. That's why it's very important to have proper cleaning and sanitation at all times. This prevents the spread of infections, viruses and other related health issues. 

     Housekeeping is what I call the "life saving" department. Taking the time to make sure that you're working in a clean and safe environment benefits everyone. The sole purpose of going to a medical facility is to get well as soon as possible, not to get worse. 

     Good healthcare aseptic techniques brings about great value to the environment of the sick in a variety of ways. Healthcare workers have to go home to their families and loved ones daily, and no one wants to take anything like bloodborne pathogens home with them. So, having a clean healthcare facility is a safe place for your healthcare needs. 

For the cleaning staff it is very important to have knowledge of Bloodborne Pathogens because when working in cleaning there is always a great probability of being exposed to the different fluids that human beings produce, which can contain pathogenic microorganisms that if not treated in the correct way can cause great problems to the person who comes into contact with these fluids. Another reason that knowledge of bloodborne pathogens is important is that if they are not treated correctly, they can expose other people to being infected with these diseases.

literally the way in which a good prevention for these cases, can represent the difference between life and death. That’s why it is important to follow the requirements and precautions provided by OSHA. as well as having the right equipment for each task.  the employer must also have an exposure control plan for the workplace in which details and protection measures are included. And finally, always make sure to have adequate supplies in stock to cover the functions that employees must perform.

that the protective equipment is always personal, and always have close to everything that may be required for a task. Do not perform actions such as eating, drinking or smoking in areas where the risk of being exposed to a Bloodborne Pathogens is high. Another is, avoid picking up infected items with your bare hand, and do not reuse cleaning items in these places such as sponges or rags finally use the color language appropriately to divide the contaminated items and always have the containers and bags labeled for their respective functions.