The Village of Wilmette is a member of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), an intergovernmental agency that strives to provide residents with environmentally-friendly lifestyle options. SWANCC has produced an Eco-Cleaning Guide to offer home recipes for cleaning products as a safer alternative to using cleaning products. The use of environmental cleaning products can:
• Decrease exposure to ingredients that may be harmful to your health
• Provide your home environment with cleaner air
• Save money if you make your own cleaning products
• Reduce use of non-renewable resources
General Household
All Purpose Liquid Cleaner
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 tablespoons liquid soap
1 gallon hot water
1 tablespoon of washing soda
1 tablespoon of borax
Add baking soda and liquid soap to hot water. Add washing soda to remove heavy grease, or borax to disinfect or kill mildew.
Bathroom
Grout Cleaner
3 cups baking soda
1 cup warm water
Mix baking soda with warm water into a paste. Scrub into grout with a toothbrush or sponge and rinse. For stubborn stains, leave paste on grout for an hour before rinsing.
Garden
Weed Control
Purchase higher concentrate vinegar (10 percent, as opposed to the 5 percent concentration of household vinegar) from a hardware store. Spray undiluted vinegar directly on weeds and in cracks in sidewalks and driveways to kill weeds.
Kitchen
All-Purpose Sanitizer
Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar to sanitize surfaces and remove food odors. Use distilled water if you plan to reuse the spray at a later time, as tap water mixed with vinegar will smell over time.
Home Furnishings
Carpet
1 Baking soda (or cornstarch)
Crushed Lavender Flowers
To eliminate odors, sprinkle baking soda over carpet, let stand for 30 minutes, then vacuum. (Add lavender flowers for scent.)