Chances are, if you’re a java hound, you have lots of coffee grounds you’ve been throwing on your compost pile. But did you know you can get a whole host of uses out of the grounds first?

–wrap them in a square cloth, rubber band the cloth together, and use them to scrub dishes.

–rub them on your hands to eliminate the smell of garlic, onions, or fish.

–drop them on plants to keep pests away

–dilute them in water, and rinse your dog with them. They’re an all natural flea rinse!

Also try…

Using regular water to clean mirrors and glass. It’s streak free, odor free, and really works!

Use old newspaper instead of paper towels when cleaning glass and mirrors, too. They work just as well, and you can still recycle them.

Oh my, you’re thinking. But the humble onion has a rather magical ability. You know that dark funky smell all basements seem to have?

–Cut an onion in half, and leave one half downstairs overnight. Amazingly, onions are great odor-eaters. This is a wonderful way to clear away any funky stench, including paint smells and deep fried odors. If you hate the way an onion smells on your hands afterwards, try rinsing them with vinegar. It works wonders.

When life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade…or a powerful disinfectant, air freshener, or eco-polish!

Why not use lemon juice to….

–Clean your cutting board. Rub the lemon on the board, let it sit, rinse, and air dry. Lemon juice removes stains AND kills germs.

–Clean laminate countertops—just scrub the lemon over them, and then wipe clean.

–Don’t you hate it when you get rust marks on your clothes? Get rid of unsightly marks by applying rub juice on top of the stain. Sprinkle cream of tartar over the top, rub it in, and let it sit until the rust dissolves. 15-30 minutes should do the trick.

–Freshen up your whites: mix half a cup lemon juice, or even just a handful of sliced lemons, into a gallon of ultra-hot water. Soak cotton and polyester clothes 1-12 hours, and then wash as usual. Don’t worry. You cannot ever-overbleach with lemon juice. Even better—your clothes will last longer using this method than if you used ordinary bleach.

–Tupper-fixer upper. Tired of your embarrassingly yellowed plastic containers? Squeeze in some lemon juice and add baking soda. Scrub the solution in, let sit as long as needed.

–Clean your copper. Use half a lemon sprinkled with salt, and massage onto the copper until all the tarnish has been buffed off. Add salt as needed. Rinse well. Air dry. Copper bottomed pans will heat more evenly when they are clean on the bottom; this is a helpful trick for busy cooks!

This humble item packs a powerful punch, and can kill most mold, bacteria, and germs. Nontoxic, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly, vinegar has been beloved for its cleaning properties for centuries.

Use Distilled white Vinegar to….

–cut grease on dishes when you wash by hand. Just pour a little into your hot water.

–a bit of salt mixed with vinegar polishes chrome fixtures.

–clean countertops. Just sweep them with a cloth moistened with a little undiluted white vinegar.

–deodorize your drain: pour down some baking soda, and then some hot vinegar. Flush with hot water.

–deodorize your garbage disposal! Freeze vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run a few cubes down your disposal system while also running cold water.

–clean your microwave! Pour half water and half vinegar into an open bowl; heat to boiling. Wipe interior clean.

–you can also use vinegar and water to clean your fridge, freezer, plastic food containers, miniblinds, grill, sponges, dish rags,

–clean your can opener with vinegar and a toothbrush

–vinegar is the ultimate weapon for Grime be Gone. Just wet a rag and wipe.

–deodorize and clean your toilet bowl. Dump in a few cups of vinegar, let it sit, and scrub clean.

–fend off ants. Spray vinegar around doorways, windows, and any cracks where you see the little pests coming in.

–kill fruitflies with an open bowl of vinegar on the countertop.

–clean faucets. Wet a towel in vinegar, wrap around the faucet, and let it sit overnight. Even thick calcium deposits will be easier to remove in the morning.

–replace your toxic air freshener with a spray bottle filled with 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 table spoon vinegar, and one cup water.

Here, try this…

–sprinkle baking soda in your crisper drawers, and then cover with a folded towel. No more peculiar vegetable smells.

–remove food stains from surfaces by scrubbing with a baking soda paste.

–sprinkle the bottom of your trash can and laundry bins.

–sprinkle baking soda on damp cloth and wipe to clean surfaces

–clean your silver. Use a mix of 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water, rub, rinse, and dry with soft cloth.

–is your floor marred with scuff marks or grease stains? No more! Sprinkle baking soda and wipe with a warm, wet cloth. Presto.

–clean stubborn parts and pans. Sprinkle with soda, fill with hot water, let soak. Even burnt-on food particles would come off easily.

–clean every surface in your bathroom (except the mirror) with a baking soda paste. Scrub, wipe, polish. Your bathroom will gleam.

–clean your hairbrush by soaking it in hot water and baking soda. Rinse and air dry.

–Keep your drains clean by pouring a quarter cup of baking soda down the drains every week. Flush with hot water.

–Do you have chairs or rugs that smell a bit funky? Sprinkle baking soda on, let sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuum. Spot test first.

–A bit of baking soda dusted over an ash tray will help to combat the smell of stubs.

–sprinkle your dog with baking soda, and then give him a good brushing. A quick fix when you’ve got company coming over.

–sanitize your children’s toys: soak them in a pail of hot water with ¼ cup baking soda thrown in. Rinse and let dry in the sun. You can also wipe the toys with a rag dipped into the pail.

–treat stained clothing with a baking soda paste before washing. Also try replacing half your laundry detergent with baking soda; clothes will smell fresh, and your detergent will go farther.

You’ll save up to hundreds of dollars a year—and more if you’re cleaning nonresidential areas.

Green cleaning products like lemon juice, vinegar, and coffee grounds are far less likely to aggravate asthma or headaches.

Improved air quality.

This means heightened productivity!

Green cleaning products are safe for everyone, including pregnant women, young children, and the elderly. You don’t have to worry when your pets come into contact with green products, either.

You will consume far fewer chemicals—think how often your food touches the countertop in your kitchen. If your countertop harbors dangerous chemicals, then you will ingest those same industrial chemicals.

Many cleaning products, air fresheners, and mold removers have been found to actually DOUBLE your risk of breast cancer if you clean with them often. By using green cleaning products, you ensure your family’s safety for years to come.

http://www.thirdage.com/breast-cancer/can-too-much-cleaning-cause-cancer

Sustainable. Non-toxic. Nurture your mental, physical, and spiritual health: go green!