Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips (Plus Giveaway and Discounts!)
I have succumbed to hiring a full time helper at home. I’ve been training her for 2 weeks now, often explaining and showing her how to clean the house the eco-friendly way by using less chemicals / products that could potentially be toxic to young children. Since I’m going through what we use to maintain a clean and green household, I thought I would share it here too.
White distilled vinegar:
Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.
Clean kitchen counter tops, shelves and walls of refrigerator and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar. Keeps ants away too.
Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Mix a cup of white vinegar with half a bucket of water to mop the floor. It removes grease, disinfect and shines your non-waxed floor. It is also fast-drying.
Remove ugly film in narrow-necked glass jars, flower vases, and bottles by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar sit in them for a few hours. Add a little rice or sand and shake vigorously to loosen stubborn stains.
Shine metal eating utensils by soaking them for a couple of hours or overnight in a glass or bowl of undiluted white distilled vinegar.Â
To rid grease off exhaust fan grids, soak them in a mixture of half hot water, half vinegar with a little washing liquid before scrubbing.
Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups white distilled vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing.
Bicarb soda /Baking soda:
Stop buying Cif. Make your own scouring cleanser by combining ¼ cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
Get rid of sour milk smell in baby milk bottles by adding a teaspoon of bicarb soda and water after washing.Â
Fill some containers with baking soda and place inside to absorb stale smell in the fridge.
Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of bicarb soda and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.
Lemon:
Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by boiling water with a few pieces of quartered lime/lemon in the kettle. Drain the water and lemon before your next use.
Eco-friendly cleaning products, like Ecover ZERO:
(The good folks at Ecover kindly sent some products to review for the purpose of this eco-friendly post)
No more sour milk / strong detergent smell in my baby milk bottle with Ecover ZERO washing-up liquid. Its fragrant-free and colouring-free formulation cleans well without leaving any harmful residual traces in baby’s bottles. All their products are also safe for sensitive skin. My hands are not sensitive, but god knows how much washing up a mum does in a day, so a gentle formulation for the skin is always welcomed.
Eco-friendly laundry with Ecover ZERO Non Bio laundry liquid This detergent uses natural plant oils and acids to clean clothing, therefore it isn’t packed with phosphates that can wreak havoc on water supplies causing algal blooms and red tide. Washing my clothes was no different with this detergent than any other, put in a cap-full, close the lid and walk away. The clothes felt clean, soft, and had a certain “earthy” smell that I enjoyed.Â
Alternative uses for Ecover ZEROÂ fabric conditioner:
Remove hard-water stains Dab fabric conditioner onto the stains and let it soak for 10 minutes. Then wipe the conditioner and stain off the glass with a damp cloth and rinse well,
Float away baked-on grime Forget scrubbing. Fill the casserole with water, add a squirt of fabric conditioner, and soak for an hour, or until residue wipes easily away.
Giveaway:
I’ve got 3 bottles of 500ml Washing Up Liquid by Ecover worth SGD14.85 to give away to one lucky reader.Â
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what you like to read more on The Chill Mom. Don’t forget to leave your email address as well. If you don’t want to leave your email address here, do leave a comment and email me at mich.hon@gmail.com
Contest will run from 27 June until 10 July 2014. Results will be posted on the The Chill Mom Facebook page on 11 July 2014. So ‘like’ the page to keep yourself updated!Â
Bonus for all readers: Ecover is offering The Chill Mom’s readers 20% off all items* with promo code ‘ECV20TCM‘ for the next 2 months!
*Valid from 27/6/2014-31/8/2014
 Promo code is only valid on Ecover website: www.ecover.com.sg
 Except promotional items
Update: The Giveaway contest winner is Carol Lim! Congrats and check your email!
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I would like to read more of your sharing on fashion and beauty;).
pc/ khor.pc@gmail.com
I would like to read more of your sharing on fashion and beauty;).
pc/ khor.pc@gmail.com
More beauty and parenting posts please!
sakuraharuka at live dot com
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
More beauty and parenting posts please!
sakuraharuka at live dot com
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
I really enjoy all these practical tips for the home, and would love to see more such posts. Parenting experiences and fun toddler-related activities are always a hit too! 😉
Adeline / growingwiththetans@gmail.com
I really enjoy all these practical tips for the home, and would love to see more such posts. Parenting experiences and fun toddler-related activities are always a hit too! 😉
Adeline / growingwiththetans@gmail.com
What great tips-thanks so much for sharing them.
If you have a moment to spare I'd be so thrilled if you could share your post at my weekly Say G'Day Saturday linky. This would be such a fabulous addition!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
What great tips-thanks so much for sharing them.
If you have a moment to spare I'd be so thrilled if you could share your post at my weekly Say G'Day Saturday linky. This would be such a fabulous addition!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Vinegar has so many great uses! I love posts just like this that help us to reduce toxins in our homes!
Vinegar has so many great uses! I love posts just like this that help us to reduce toxins in our homes!
Simply awesome…Always prefer to go with natural cleaning stuff then chemicals. We will love to read more about places to explore with toddlers & how to make this short trip more pleasant with pulling my hairs… More about fun & play along with making them independent…
Thanks
Ashmika
jainash1083@gmail.com
Simply awesome…Always prefer to go with natural cleaning stuff then chemicals. We will love to read more about places to explore with toddlers & how to make this short trip more pleasant with pulling my hairs… More about fun & play along with making them independent…
Thanks
Ashmika
jainash1083@gmail.com
Activities for young toddler and parenting experiences
Jaime Chan chueimei@gmail.com
Activities for young toddler and parenting experiences
Jaime Chan chueimei@gmail.com
Oh nice! I'd like to read more about more cheaper alternatives for cleaning, saving money.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Oh nice! I'd like to read more about more cheaper alternatives for cleaning, saving money.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Love your practical tips! Thanks for sharing!
Waiwai
mami(at)peipeihaohao(dot)com
Great articles from home to kids – really enjoy them. Would like to see more of parenting experience!
Fiona
naofi_gn@hotmail.com
Oh this is a great list!!!! I also throw any extra lemons or limes down the garbage disposal whenever I use one for cooking just to freshen up the smell. I just now found your blog, so I can only say I'd love to see more all natural solutions to everyday problems!
Oh this is a great list!!!! I also throw any extra lemons or limes down the garbage disposal whenever I use one for cooking just to freshen up the smell. I just now found your blog, so I can only say I'd love to see more all natural solutions to everyday problems!
I loved this article! So informative and much appreciated! I'm featuring you at this weekend's party. Thanks for sharing on Sunday FUNday!
I loved this article! So informative and much appreciated! I'm featuring you at this weekend's party. Thanks for sharing on Sunday FUNday!
Thanks for the feature, Kristine!
Thanks for the feature, Kristine!
Would love to read more abt useful practical tips for the house.
Cheers
Carol Lim
Cmeilim@gmail.com
Would love to read more abt useful practical tips for the house.
Cheers
Carol Lim
Cmeilim@gmail.com
Fantastic post! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams, starts on Fridays 😀 Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.
Fantastic post! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams, starts on Fridays 😀 Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.
Well done on cleaning. This is a very positive way to welcome the New Year. This weekend I did my floors and other than the usual not a lot! I do like a clean house and love watching 'obsessive cleaners' on tv it always gives me new ideas Carpet Cleaning Sherwood Park hope you guys like that..
Thanks for share that…
Well done on cleaning. This is a very positive way to welcome the New Year. This weekend I did my floors and other than the usual not a lot! I do like a clean house and love watching 'obsessive cleaners' on tv it always gives me new ideas Carpet Cleaning Sherwood Park hope you guys like that..
Thanks for share that…
The most important factor of switching to green house cleaners is that they improve indoor air quality. Harmful indoor air has been shown to be responsible for 6% of all job related injuries, which can be avoided by switching to green cleaning.
The most important factor of switching to green house cleaners is that they improve indoor air quality. Harmful indoor air has been shown to be responsible for 6% of all job related injuries, which can be avoided by switching to green cleaning.
This is such a helpful list! With young kids in the house, it's nice to find eco-friendly and natural cleaning supplies. I think I need to buy more lemons! Thanks for sharing. #ConfessionsLinkUp
This is such a helpful list! With young kids in the house, it's nice to find eco-friendly and natural cleaning supplies. I think I need to buy more lemons! Thanks for sharing. #ConfessionsLinkUp
Haha.. yes, lemon is so versatile for cooking too.Thanks for stopping by, Amy!
Haha.. yes, lemon is so versatile for cooking too.Thanks for stopping by, Amy!
Thanks for providing such a useful information. Hope to get some more information in future also. Eco friendly degreaser
Thanks,
Enviroclean
Thanks for providing such a useful information. Hope to get some more information in future also. Eco friendly degreaser
Thanks,
Enviroclean
Hi, thanks for stopping by. May I know what would you like to read more on the blog?
Hi, thanks for stopping by. May I know what would you like to read more on the blog?
Michelle, I mean hope I get more information regarding cleaning products from your blog.
Michelle, I mean hope I get more information regarding cleaning products from your blog.
It is fantastic blog regarded cleaning products. thanks for sharing with us.
It is fantastic blog regarded cleaning products. thanks for sharing with us.