purecosheet is committed to clean clothes, a clean home,
and a cleaner, happier planet.
let's reduce garbage
let's share our stuff
let's stay out of the landfill
let's clean green
let’s reduce garbage
let’s keep our old stuff and our chemicals out of the landfills. For items that are in good shape that you simply don’t need any more, try www.freecycle.org – a grassroots and nonprofit movement of people who are reusing, reducing and recycling. each local group is moderated by local volunteers who connect the people looking for items with the people getting rid of them. their mission statement is ”to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources andeases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” they work in 85 countries, it’s free, and they say they keep 500 tons a day out of landfills.
let's stay out of the landfill
to find a local resource to help you safely and responsibly dispose of household chemicals and other waste not included in municipal recycling and garbage collection programs, go to www.earth911.com, a guide to local resources including recycling centers, how to recycle, pollution prevention and how help protect the environment. Or try typing “household chemical disposal” plus your location into your browser to find other local programs (in Ontario, Canada go to http://www.makethedrop.ca to find your local Orange Drop).
also take a look around at the places you already shop – many electronics stores will take your old electronics for safe disposal, office supply stores may accept old ink cartridges for recycling, and many grocery stores will recycle used grocery bags. some will even give out rewards for returning items like these.
let’s clean green
there are many green cleaners on the markets to choose from, so consider making the switch to chemical and perfume free cleaning.
you can also make some cleaners yourself– try these tips to clean your home with common household items.
green cleaning is easy, healthy and economical. sometimes green cleaning requires a little extra elbow grease, but think of it as five minutes less to spend at the gym, or as earning yourself a guilt free sweet treat...
please keep in mind...
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always keep cleaning solutions out of the reach of children and pets, including the safe formulas you mix yourself.
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label and store any green cleaning mixtures as carefully as you would any other cleaning mixture. although they are made from safe ingredients, they should be treated with caution.
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always test your mixture on small, hidden areas of all surfaces and carpets to be certain there won’t be any damage or discoloration.
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important note about cleaning with vinegar: do NOT use on special counter surfaces such as granite, as acids can etch and damage the stone. follow your particular manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
the big guns of green cleaning
baking soda - cleans, deodorizes, removes stains, polishes and softens fabrics. Can be used to clean plastic, vinyl, upholstery, carpets, stainless steel, silver, and can be used down drains and to refresh refrigerators.
vinegar - removes mildew, wax build up and stains. Use to clean windows, fireplaces, grout, paintbrushes, glass and coffeepots.
reusable sponges - wash your sponges in the dishwasher along with your dishes to make them last longer. also, microwave on high for two minutes to kill any bacteria.
old t shirts - make a great soft cloth.
toothbrushes - save your old toothbrushes to scrub small areas. they are ideal for cleaning your tile grout.
purecosheets – the only reusable, chemical free dryer sheet! after their life as a chemical free, reusable dryer sheet, our purecosheets make excellent microfiber cleaning cloths. they’re especially great for windows because they’re lint free.
how to clean green
Carpets
To clean dirt spots, use a mixture of vinegar and water and blot dry.
To clean grease spots, rub with baking soda and then vacuum clean.
To clean pet accidents, mix together 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water and ½ cup baking soda. Blot the excess moisture from the carpet and then spray on the cleaning solution. Blot dry and let air dry completely. Repeat as needed.
You can also make a natural carpet freshener from your favorite essential oil and baking soda. Add 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil for each cup of baking soda. Mix well to distribute the oils and break up clumps. Sprinkle evenly over the carpet, let it sit, and then vacuum (be sure to do this on a dry day so the baking soda doesn’t absorb moisture).
China
Use equal parts vinegar and salt to clean coffee and tea stains from your china.
To get stains off porcelain, rub with baking soda and a damp sponge. Then wash as usual.
Copper / Brass
Make a paste using equal parts of salt, vinegar and flour. Rub the paste onto the brass or copper item with a soft cloth and let the whole thing dry for about an hour. Wipe off the dried paste with a clean, soft cloth.
Lemon can also be used for lightly tarnished brass or copper pieces. Slice one lemon and dip it in salt, then rub the item with the salted lemon. Afterward, rinse and dry thoroughly.
You can also use a spray bottle filled with undiluted vinegar. Just spray the copper piece and sprinkle the tarnished area with salt, and wipe thoroughly with a sponge or cotton cloth. Be sure to remove all the salt, or the item will turn green. Repeat if necessary.
For copper pots, scrub with a bit of salt and vinegar.
Descaler
One part vinegar with two parts water is an excellent descaler. Boil inside your kettle and then rinse well, or pour into your iron reservoir, let stand 30 minutes, and then rinse well.
Clean out mineral deposits in your coffee pot by pouring in 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water. Follow up with a full carafe of plain water.
Dishwasher
Pour a cup of vinegar into the bottom of your dishwasher when you are ready to run it through a full cycle. The vinegar will deodorize, sanitize and make the dishes and glasses sparkle.
Drain Opener
A plunger will usually do the trick. If not, pour 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of salt and half a cup of vinegar down the drain. Let it bubble for 15 minutes, then pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Please do not use this method if you have recently used commercial drain cleaners.
Fireplace
If your wood-burning fireplace has gathered soot and smoke smudges around its exterior, you can clean it up by applying a paste of cream of tartar and water. Rub the paste into the stains, let it dry, then scrub it off.
You can help loosen soot buildup on the inside of your fireplace by tossing an occasional handful of salt into the fire.
To make a natural air freshener, try tossing in dried orange and lemon rinds.
Floors
Your basic vinegar and water solution is great for cleaning most types of bare floors. Mix 1 cup vinegar with 1 gallon warm water and mop it onto a ceramic tile, linoleum, or vinyl. If your vinyl or linoleum floor looks a little dull after cleaning, you can give it a shine by mopping it over again with straight club soda.
Clean your wood floors with a solution of ¼ cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water. Spray a soft cloth with the vinegar and water solution and use it to lightly damp mop your floors. Don’t ever saturate wood floors with any liquid, including the vinegar and water solution.
Furniture Polish
Mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice (yum!) and apply it to your furniture using a soft cloth. The combination gives your wood furniture a nice smell and a sparkling shine.
Or, try1 part vegetable oil with one part vinegar. Shake it up in a jar. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and polish until the desired shine is achieved.
When a hot serving dish or glass of water has marred the surface of a wood table, you can quickly get rid of the mark by making a thin paste of salad oil or lemon oil and salt. Wipe the paste on, then lightly buff the area as you wipe it off with a soft cloth.
Glass / Mirrors
Use 4 tablespoons lemon juice mixed with a half gallon of water. Or, you can try equal parts of warm water and vinegar. Dry with a used t shirt to prevent streaking.
Remove window decals by painting them with vinegar. When they have thoroughly soaked for a few minutes, they can be wiped off easily.
Microwave
To clean a dirty microwave oven, place a mug of water in your microwave and heat it on high for three minutes. When it’s done, let it sit inside the microwave for two more minutes, then wipe the inside of the microwave with a clean cloth. To eliminate odours, add a lemon slice or a splash of vinegar to the water.
Odour Removal
To create a natural room air freshener, use a few drops of your favourite essential oil on a cotton ball and leave it in the room.
Or, mix your favourite essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spray the air as needed.
Or, simmer a pan of water with spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg on the stove for a delightful air freshener. Or use apples and cinnamon – and enjoy the applesauce after the room is scented!
To remove musty smells from small areas (closets, trunks) try a container of kitty litter or baking soda.
To get rid of onion or garlic smells on your cutting board, rub the surface with the cut side of a lime or lemon.
To help eliminate odors from the refrigerator, put an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator to eliminate food odors (you'll need to change the box every month or two).
Oven
To clean an oven spill, mix one part cinnamon and 6 parts salt together. Sprinkle to absorb the spill and remove the burnt food odor. Wipe when the oven cools.
To clean the inside of your oven, scrub with a paste composed of baking soda and water. Allow it to dry, then scrub off dried baking soda with dry scrub brush or pad and brush out of oven. Rinse with water to remove any residue.
To clean stove tops, just use straight vinegar, which will cut through and break down the grease and food splatters.
For really messy stove tops sprinkle on some baking soda and give it a good scrub first.
Pewter
Mix 1 teaspoon salt and 1 cup vinegar. Add enough flour to the mixture to make a paste. Apply the paste using a soft cloth and allow it to dry for half an hour. Rinse the piece thoroughly with warm water and polish with another soft cloth. Make sure all the paste is removed from any grooves or hidden areas.
Stainless Steel
To make your stainless steel sink shine, wipe or spray with vinegar or club soda and then dry it with a clean cloth.
Tub and Tile
Use baking soda and a damp cloth to clean your tub and tiles, and scrub with a brush to get into the grout.
Film that accumulates in your bathtub can be removed by scrubbing with vinegar.
To keep mold and mildew from building up, fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray on problem areas, and let it dry naturally.
To remove mineral deposits on your showerhead or taps,spray them with vinegar and then cover with a small plastic bag. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight.
Vinyl
Dipping a cloth in straight lemon juice and rubbing can remove stains on vinyl items such as recliners or tile flooring.
purecosheet is committed to clean clothes, a clean home,
and a clean planet.
let's reduce garbage let's share our stuff let's stay out of the landfill let's clean green
