自製清潔劑

談到日用產品時，環保意識和經濟利益有時會導致艱難的決定。家庭支出成本和環保概念之間的鬥爭是一個難題——買一瓶昂貴的全天然有機清潔劑還是相對廉價的傳統化學配方清潔劑，很讓人傷腦筋。在環保產品還未形成主流、難以購買的消費環境中和經濟普遍不景氣的情況下，這個問題尤其突出。解決辦法就是自己動手（DIY）。很多家用清潔劑可以用容易購買到的材料自製，這樣就可以節約一筆家庭開支了。這些自製清潔劑的效果和出售的清潔劑一樣，甚至更好，並且更環保。自製清潔劑的常用材料包括：小蘇打、檸檬汁和白醋。基於一些化學性質，以下是上述成分在與頑固汙漬和細菌戰鬥時產生的反應。小蘇打（Na HCO3）是一種堿性化合物，常用於溫和腐蝕性溶液以清除汙漬和中和難聞氣味，同時具有抗真菌作用。檸檬汁，呈強酸性，可用於除水垢和除銀器上的繡。白醋，呈強酸性，具有許多和檸檬汁相同的特性。此外，白醋能有效抗菌，是廚房和浴室中十分有用的清潔劑。而且，如果加入薰衣草、丁香或茶樹精油等，不僅可以增添清潔劑的怡人香氣，還可以增強上述原料抗真菌和抗細菌的特性。以下是家庭自製清潔劑的配方，它可以帶領你走進一段家庭清潔的探秘之旅。以下材料來自美國環保署。 通用清潔劑：1、 將醋和鹽充分混合。2、 小蘇打。將4湯匙的小蘇打溶解在0.95升（約1升）的熱水中，或者將小蘇打塗在濕潤的海綿上。小蘇打具有清潔汙垢和除異味的作用，尤適用於廚房和浴室。 製作小貼士：1、 用塗有小蘇打的濕潤海綿將新鮮水果和蔬菜上的泥土和殘渣清洗幹淨，最後用清水衝淨。2、 在盛有清水的大碗中加入2到3湯匙的小蘇打，然後把水果和蔬菜放入碗裏洗。很多人認為這樣可以去除殘留的農藥、泥土和蠟。 經驗之談：1、 抓傷擦傷：將檸檬汁和沙拉油等量混合，塗於傷口處直至擦痕消失。2、 將切花浸在小蘇打溶液中可以延切花壽命。這比用商業包裝溶液來得更有效。 The precarious balance between environmental activism and fiscal responsibility can lead to tough decisions when it comes to household products. The battle between economics and conscience can be a tough one- buying an all-natural organic cleaner at a significantly higher cost than traditional, chemical based products, is a hard argument to make, especially in a consumer climate where these products are not mainstream nor readily available and economic hardships are widespread. A viable solution to this common conundrum is to Do It Yourself (DIY). Many common household cleaners can be made at home with readily available ingredients and for a fraction of the cost of their commercial alternatives. These products clean as well as or better than their commercial counterparts and are more environmentally friendly to boot! Common ingredients for these DIY cleaning marvels include: baking soda, lemon juice, and white vinegar. For a bit of a science break-down, here is what the above ingredients actually do as dirt and germ fighting power-houses. Baking Soda, or Sodium Bicarbonate (Na HCO3), is an alkaline compound which is often used as a mild abrasive agent to remove stains and neutralize odors- it also has some anti-fungal properties. Lemon Juice, which is very acidic, can be used to dissolve some compounds, such as hard-water deposits or remove tarnish from silver. White vinegar is also very acidic and has many of the same properties as lemon juice. Additionally, white vinegar has strong antimicrobial properties and is a useful cleaning agent for bathroom and kitchen application. Furthermore, adding essential oils such as lavender, clove, or tea tree, not only add a pleasant aroma, but can also increase the anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties of the ingredients listed above. Below I have provided some recipes to get you started on your homemade cleaning adventures! These are some ideas from the EPA:All-Purpose Cleaners:1. Vinegar and Salt. Mix together for a good surface cleaner.2. Baking Soda. Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water for a general cleaner. Or use baking soda on a damp sponge. Baking soda will clean and deodorize all kitchen and bathroom surfaces.Cooking Ideas:Cooking Tips: 1. Clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables by sprinkling baking soda on a wet sponge and scrubbing away. Rinse with water.2. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a large bowl of cool water to which you’ve added 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda. This, many feel, helps remove pesticides as well as any dirt and wax.Random Things:1. For Scratches: Lemon Juice and Vegetable Oil. Mix equal parts of lemon juice and salad oil. Rub into scratches with a soft cloth until scratches disappear.2. Dip cut flowers in a solution of baking soda and water to extend their life, rather than using commercial package solutions.