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[Originally appeared in Echo — a local monthly newspaper]

Is your bathroom in need of cleaning? When it does, most of us turn to that bin full of cleaning supplies tucked under our kitchen sinks. But, did you know that most of those cleaners contain toxic chemicals that are harmful not only to the environment but to our bodies as well? Approximately 17,000 petrochemicals are available for home use, but only 30% of them have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment. And, the average American home owns 63 synthetic chemical products, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals.

But don’t worry! We’ve got some great new tips for greening your bathroom cleaning routine that you might not have heard!

1. Use microfiber cloths. These cloths are great at grabbing up dust and dirt particles. In some instances, a microfiber cloth can even eliminate the need for cleaning products all together. When cleaning windows or mirrors, just thoroughly wet the cloth, wring it out, and wipe the surface clean. Throw it in the wash when you’re done – they can be re-used about 300 times!
2. Pumice grime away. Pumice isn’t just for your feet. Use a pumice stone to clean the grime from your toilet and tub – no need for chemical cleaning products!
3. Ditch the Drain-O. Are your drains clogged? Sprinkle a couple teaspoons of baking soda down the drain, pour some white vinegar on top until you see the characteristic foaming reaction, and then wash it down with a pitcher of very hot water.
4. Remove grease spots naturally. Make-up remover and other oils can leave tough stains if you drop them on bathroom rugs. But, skip the chemical-laden stain sticks. Simply wet an oil stain with rubbing alcohol, dab on some natural dish soap, and rub it into the stain with a brush. Then, it’s ready for the wash!
5. Kill odors with baking soda. You know that baking soda absorbs odors in your fridge, but did you know it does the same for your carpet? Sprinkle baking soda on your bathroom rugs (or other carpets in your house!), let it absorb the odors for a few minutes, and then vacuum it up!
6. Skip the fancy disinfectants. We all know that alcohol kills germs, right? Next time you need to disinfect your counters, try pouring some inexpensive vodka into a spray bottle, and wipe away the germs!
7. Try a local, natural cleaning product. We recently found out about Branch Basics, a human and environment-safe cleaning product made entirely from natural ingredients and made by a company right here in Charlottesville!

Want more tips? Keep an eye on betterworldbetty.org for the latest local tips on going green. Happy cleaning!

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