Question: I tried switching to a safer, non-toxic glass cleaner but ended up with streaks and smudges. What’s the deal?
Britt, Toronto
If you’ve been using conventional glass cleaners, you should take one small step before making the full leap to safer products. First, you need to clean up the toxic gunk traditional brands leave behind.
Grab a spray bottle and mix a five per cent solution of hydrogen peroxide to water. Spray onto the glass and mirrors in your home, and voila! This mixture will cut through the waxy film. Now you can start using safer products, especially products without ammonia, whose vapours can irritate eyes and lungs.
Before you start shopping for an alternative store-bought brand, try this easy glass-cleaner recipe: One-part water to one-part white vinegar. For the more refined, a can of club soda added to a spray bottle will do. These cheap green cleaning solutions can be wiped off with yesterday’s newspaper. You can even use this column once you’re done with it.
Lindsay Coulter gives you the straight goods on living green. Send your questions to queenofgreen@metronews.ca. For more great tips, visit The David Suzuki Foundation at davidsuzuki.org.
