The C&T Publishing “Green Team” rolled out a supply of eco-friendly cleaners for the office. We removed bleach, ammonia, and petroleum-based cleaning ingredients from the C&T stash, substituting them with bio-friendly materials like vinegar and baking soda. This ensures a green clean, with rinse water that is safe to go down the drains and into water supplies.
Our green goal was to turn away from unfriendly cleaning chemicals, for a greener, cleaner C&T Publishing and we were easily able to meet that goal. Please use our greener cleaner recipes to mix yourself up a batch… the planet will love you!
These simple, easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to make our green cleaners:
• Baking soda
• Borax (usually found near powdered laundry soap in supermarkets)
• Castile soap (We use Dr. Bronner’s)
• Distilled white vinegar
• Essential oils (we like to use orange, lemon, lavender, oregano, and bergamot)
• Purified/filtered water
Note: Even though re-using materials is definitely the green thing to do, you should not re-use containers from chemical cleaners. The residue on the inside of the bottle never really goes away…not even dishsoap containers (which often contain petrochemicals). Treat yourself to some pretty new bottles. (We’ve found them at The Container Store, Costco, and Sam’s Club, but they’re also available at most hardware and grocery stores.)
All-Purpose Cleaner Spray
Replaces Formula 409 or the likes: Use for all surfaces, countertops, sinks, floors, etc.
Recipe
• 2 Tbsp. castile soap
• 2 tsp. borax
• 3–5 drops each:
Lemon essential oil
Orange essential oil
• 5 oz. hot, filtered water
• 8 oz. distilled white vinegar
Instructions
1. Combine castile soap, borax, essential oils, and hot water in 32 oz. spray bottle Replace top and shake to mix contents.
2. Add vinegar and fill to 32 oz. line with hot filtered water. Replace top and shake again to mix ingredients.
3. Spray and wipe on counters/surfaces.
Glass & Degreaser Spray
Replaces Windex: Use to degrease all glass surfaces (mirrors, windows, microwave front) or to degrease sinks, countertops, cabinets, floors, and so on. (It’s perfect for removing mineral deposits and soap residue on sinks, too!)
Recipe
• 8 oz. distilled white vinegar
• 24 oz. filtered water
Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients in 32 oz. spray bottle.
2. Replace top and shake to mix contents. Spray and wipe dry.
Bathroom & Disinfectant Spray
Replaces Lysol: for all surfaces in need of disinfection (toilet surfaces, door handles, bathroom sink, etc.). Kills bacteria, viruses, fungi. Use on toilet/surfaces to disinfect and kill germs. Note: For disinfection, spray needs to sit on surface for 5–10 min.
Recipe
• 1 tsp. castile soap
• 10–12 drops each:
Oregano essential oil
Lemon essential oil
• 5 oz. hot, filtered water
• 27 oz. distilled white vinegar
Instructions
1. Combine soap, both essential oils, and hot water in a 32 oz. spray bottle. Replace top and shake to combine contents.
2. Add vinegar, filling to 32 oz. line. Replace top and shake to mix contents.
3. Spray on surface to disinfect, let sit 5–10 minutes, then wipe dry.
Sink Scrub/Drain Opener/Toilet Bowl Cleanser
Replaces Comet and Drano: Green ingredients like vinegar and baking soda even work in a super-cleansing capacity!
Drain Opener
Recipe
• 4 Tbsp. baking soda
• 8 oz. hot water
• 4 oz. distilled white vinegar
Instructions
1. Combine baking soda and hot water in an 8 oz. cup and pour into drain.
2. Pour white vinegar into drain, and cover. Let sit 30 min. and rinse with hot water.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Recipe
• 1 cup baking soda
• 8 oz. distilled white vinegar
Instructions
1. Combine ingredients in toilet bowl.
2. Scrub and let sit 30 min. or overnight.
3. Flush toilet to rinse.
4. To finish, spray toilet bowl with Bathroom & Disinfectant Spray and let dry.
Sink Scrub
Recipe
• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
Instructions
1. Sprinkle both ingredients into the sink and mix into a paste.
2. Scrub and rinse. For tough stains, let sit 30 min. before rinsing.
Air Freshener
Replaces chemical-based air fresheners like Febreze: Essential oils and filtered water are all you need to keep things smelling fresh. (And at C&T Publishing, where everybody shares just 2 bathrooms, this is important!)
Recipe
• 3–5 drops each:
Orange essential oil
Lemon essential oil
Bergamot or lavender essential oil
Castile soap
• 12 oz. filtered water
Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients with half of the water in a 12 oz. spray bottle. Replace top and shake to mix contents.
2. Fill to top with remaining filtered water. Spray as needed.
