Clean
green this spring
Spring
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.
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.
