Also, most commercial oven cleaners come in aerosol cans. Environmentalists have been concerned for some time about the ozone depletion caused by pressurized spray cans. Thankfully, there are more eco-friendly ways to clean the tough grease and build-up that ovens can accumulate.

1. Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Always a favorite for natural cleaning, baking soda can be used for oven cleaning as well. Simply spray the inside of your oven with water, then sprinkle baking soda onto the wet surfaces. Leave it overnight, and in the morning, wipe away the grime. You may have to do some scrubbing (steel wool is effective), but most of the dirt will cling to the baking soda.

2. Washing Soda (sodium carbonate)

Not to be confused with baking soda, washing soda can be found in most stores that sell laundry detergent. Mix one part washing soda with four parts baking soda; add enough water to make a paste, and spread it inside your oven. Leave it overnight, then wipe your oven down the next day. Be sure to rinse.

3. Commercial cleaners that are environmentally friendly

More and more cleaners are becoming available for purchase that do not have the unhealthy chemicals and fumes of traditional oven cleaners. Look for ones that are not packaged in aerosol cans. They may cost a bit more, but with your family’s health and the planet to protect, it is a worthy investment.

4. Borax

This is another product found in the laundry detergent aisle. It is typically used in addition to detergent as a “boost” for laundry. But it can also be used in oven cleaning. Mix the following into a spray bottle: two tablespoons liquid soap, 2 teaspoons borax, and 1-2 cups warm water. Spray this on the inside of your oven, then leave it for a few hours and wipe off.

Don’t forget the microwave. A paste made from just baking soda and water has been known to clean dried-on mess from a chili explosion! Simply mix baking soda with water and apply to the inside of your microwave. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight; then wipe out with a soft cloth. You don’t want to use scrubbers like steel wool in the microwave.

There are a lot of elaborate substances available to clean your oven effectively. But simple, household items can work nicely, and be eco-friendly.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

Pick appropriate plants. Not all plants are appropriate for the area you live in. While you might be able to control the temperature, humidity, and rain conditions inside your house, you can’t do it out in the garden. If you pick appropriate plants for your area, you may be able to avoid using fertilizers and saving on water too. Research, what plants are native to your surrounding areas and try planting them in your own garden. Wildflowers, are just that, they can pretty much be left alone and will thrive in most areas.

Pick natural repelling plants. You don’t need to rely on poisons to keep away garden ruining pests. Many plants produce chemicals that repel these animals naturally. By putting them in or around you garden, you can keep your garden safe with little effort and no chemicals. Plus, you can pick parts of these plants and use them to make products to keep them away from you too.

If you don’t want to plant natural repellents in your garden, you can use them to spray your plants without harming them or adding artificial chemicals to your garden. Many herbs like hot pepper, vanilla, and lavender can help repel insects from your garden.

Pull weeds. We’re all looking for a quick and easy way to safely get rid of weeds without chemicals, but the good old fashioned way is still very effective.  It you take time every day to pull the weeds you can find, you’ll only take a few minutes so it doesn’t seem like a lot of work.  You can even get the kids involved, just be sure to do it properly so you don’t spread the seeds around.  There are even some common weeds that are edible, just make sure there are no pesticides that could have gotten on them.

Crop rotation. Farmers all over the world use crop rotation to naturally fertilize plants. The concept is to change what crop you’re putting in a certain field each year. Plants use different nutrients and put other nutrients back into the soil. If you rotate crops that replace the nutrients the other plants use, you will have to fertilize the soil less. 

You can use this same concept in your garden by planting different plants every year, or just rotating where you put specific plants in the garden. 

Keep Going Green!
Lynne