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Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Non-toxic cleaning tips from the Mystic Aquarium

Clean green this spring
Dale Wolbrink, Mystic Aquarium

Image result for non-toxic cleaningSpring is here (at least according to the calendar!) and a survey conducted by simplemost.com revealed that 66% of adult Americans participate in spring cleaning. 

With ocean protection of utmost importance to Mystic Aquarium, the conservation team has prepared a host of recipes for cleaning products that are not only effective but also earth-friendly.

“Reducing personal impact on the environment can make a world of difference,” said MaryEllen Mateleska, Director of Education & Conservation. “By informing the public about simple actions, we hope they will become closer with our local environment.”

With common household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water, conscious cleaners can make a host earth-friendly cleaning products like all-purpose cleaner, silver polish, tile cleaners and others.


ALL–PURPOSE CLEANER
Ingredients: vinegar, baking soda, water
Directions: Mix ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda, and ½ gallon of water.  Place in spray bottle.

SILVER POLISH
Ingredients: vinegar, baking soda, water (boiling), salt, aluminum foil
Directions: Place a piece of aluminum foil in a pan, add one tablespoon of salt and one tablespoon of baking soda. Slowly pour ½ cup vinegar into the pan.  Pour in a cup of boiling water before adding silverware.

Make sure that each piece of silverware is touching the foil. Wait 30-45 seconds and remove the pieces from the pan.  Buff with a cloth for a good-as-new look.

TILE CLEANER
Ingredients: baking soda, liquid soap, and lavender oil
Directions: Mix ½ cup baking soda, two tablespoon liquid soap and 5-10 drops of lavender oil to make a paste.

Place the paste on tile; using a cloth or toothbrush to clean.  Rinse with water.

FURNITURE /WOOD POLISH
Ingredients: lemon (or lemon juice), olive oil, water
Directions: Combine juice from one lemon (or two to three tablespoon of lemon juice), one tablespoon olive oil and one tablespoon of water into a jar.  Shake until mixed.

Once mixed, dip a cloth in the solution to clean wood surfaces.

GLASS CLEANER
Ingredients: water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, orange essential oil
Directions: Mix two cups water, ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup rubbing alcohol, and one or two drops of orange essential oil.  Place in a spray bottle.  Use in place of store bought cleaner.

Click here  for other homemade and ‘green’ cleaning products and beauty products.

“Through engagement in these environmentally-focused activities, we seek to set the stage for long-term engagement, whether it be change in personal day-to-day behavior, becoming an active advocate for policies protecting Long Island Sound, and/or active participation in on-the-ground stewardship behavior directly in one of the Sound’s habitats,” added Mateleska.

To learn more about Mystic Aquarium’s citizen science and public conservation efforts and activities, visit MysticAquarium.org/events.