Review: Go green in your cleaning
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 4, 2013
The hot buzzword nowadays is "green," since we're all being urged to adopt greener lifestyles to conserve energy resources and be more environmentally conscious. Author Martha Green is doing her part with her "Clean and Green" series of books on natural cleaning in the home. In this book, she tackles bedrooms and bathrooms, two rooms where most people spend a big percentage of their time. Ms. Green states that many of the commercially available cleaning products are not only expensive to buy, they contain toxic substances and harmful chemicals that have health risks. She then presents ways to save money while using cleaning products that don't pose a threat to your health or the environment.In previous books in the series, Ms. Green showed how a number of common, inexpensive household products can be safely used for cleaning, including vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, cornstarch, cream of tartar, lemon juice, and table salt. In this book, she adds club soda (carbonated water), castile soap (soap made from vegetable fat rather than animal fats), and borax (a natural mineral also known as sodium borate).The book covers wooden furniture and cabinetry, with tips on cleaning and polishing. The book moves on then to discuss mattresses and how to clean them. Both light cleaning and deep cleaning are covered. For deep cleaning, a steam cleaner is required. Sheets, towels, and bed linens are next, and - surprisingly - vinegar plays a key role here. The book even includes suggestions for cleaning windows and mirrors. Next up are floors, with cleaning methods described for the different types of flooring. One of the toughest cleaning jobs in most homes is the bathroom, with the toilet, sink, tub, and shower presenting a real challenge.The book is quite thorough in its coverage of bedroom and bathroom cleaning products and how to use them. It's a valuable resource for anyone who would like to "go green" in their approach to cleaning.