Healthy home guide

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap (not detergent).
• 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar.
• 1-1/2 cups water.

Directions

• Add all ingredients to a clean 16-ounce spray bottle.
• Shake well.
• Spray on surfaces.
• Wipe away after 5 minutes (this allows the cleaner to penetrate).

Note: When using on glass, use a lint-free rag to wipe the surface.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar.
• 1/2 gallon warm water.

Directions

Use the mixture to mop your floors. No need to rinse! Your floors should dry quickly.

The multi-purpose cleaner recipe can be used on glass, or you can make a specific glass cleaner with the following recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vinegar.
• 1 cup water.

Directions

• Add mixture to a spray bottle.
• Spray on glass surface.
• Wipe away with a lint-free rag.

Ingredients (for outdoor windows)

• 1 cup vinegar.
• 1 cup warm water.
• A few drops of liquid dish soap.

Directions

• Add mixture to a bucket.
• Use a sponge to wash the mixture onto your windows.
• Rinse well.
• Use a squeegee to dry.

You can use the multipurpose cleaner recipe to clean your microwave, but if you have caked-on food that is difficult to scrub away, you can do the following to loosen it:

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar.
• 1 cup water.

Directions

• Place mixture in a microwave-safe container (e.g., glass).
• Put the container into the microwave.
• Turn the microwave on and set the time long enough to bring the mixture to a boil.

The steam will loosen caked-on food, making it easier to clean. Once the inside of the microwave is cool enough, wipe down the inside.

Mold in your home can be a potential health hazard. If you have a small area (less than 10 square feet or what appears to be an area less than a 3 ft. x 3 ft. square), you can use the following instructions to clean the area.

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon of a mild detergent (e.g., nontoxic liquid dish soap or laundry detergent).
• 1-1/2 cups warm water.

Protection

• Wear a face mask (such as an N95 mask).
• Wear nonporous gloves (such as rubber kitchen or bathroom gloves).
• Open a window while cleaning the area (if possible).

Directions

• Add the mixture to a spray bottle.
• Spray on hard surfaces.
• Scrub off all the mold.
• Let the solution dry completely.

Learn more about cleaning and preventing mold in your home:

• Clean and prevent mold in your home | Washington State Department of Health. 
• Mold Cleanup in Your Home | US EPA.

Note: Don’t use this cleaner on self-cleaning ovens.

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda.
• Water (enough to make a paste).

Directions

• Apply paste to oven surface.
• Scrub after 10–15 minutes.
• Use a scouring pad for problem areas.

You may need to scrub hard, but baking soda is not toxic to you, your family, or your pets.

Ingredients

• Baking soda.
• Liquid dish soap (not detergent).

For these surfaces, you will use baking soda as a scouring powder.

Directions

• Sprinkle baking soda on the surface.
• Rub with a wet rag.
• Add a little soap to the rag for more cleaning power.
• Rinse well with water to avoid leaving a hazy film.

For toilet bowls

• Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl.
• Add a few drops of liquid dish soap.
• Scrub with a toilet brush.

HEPA filters capture small particles. By using a HEPA filter when you vacuum, you can increase the amount of dust you remove from your floors and carpet, and therefore the amount of chemicals collected in that dust. This is especially important if you have children or pets since they spend more time on the floor.

• Learn more about HEPA filters.
• Visit Healthy Home | Washington State Department of Health for more tips on keeping your home safe and healthy.