• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Retro Housewife Goes Green

A retro housewife in the modern world.

  • Start Here
    • About
    • Retro Homemaking – Readers’ Favorites
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Homemaking Tips
    • Homemakers Club
    • Cleaning
    • Frugal
    • Organization
    • Decorating
    • Crafting
    • Eco-Friendly Living
    • Holidays
    • Time Management
  • Food
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Recipe Index
  • Shop

The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Hacks

This post may contain affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I support the Amazon boycott and I’m working to remove links as I can. Learn more.

June 2, 2022 By Lisa Sharp 22 Comments

Trying to be more eco-friendly and make cleaning easier? These amazing eco-friendly cleaning hacks really work and will change the way you clean.

cleaning supplies with text overlay eco-friendly cleaning hacks you need to try

Hidden Dangers of Cleaning

Many of the products we use in our homes contain endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors can cause all kinds of health problems from reproductive problems to immune system problems, and so much more.

According to the Toronto Indoor Air Conference of 1990 women that stay at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those working outside of the home. This is thought to be due to exposure to toxic chemicals found in common household products. The last thing we need when trying to keep our homes clean is to be raising our risk of cancer and other health problems.

Reducing Your Risk

There are ways to reduce your risk of these problems. Switching to natural products can seem overwhelming at first, there are so many options out there. Which are really safe? Do they work?

On this list, you will find great eco-friendly cleaning hacks and recipes that really work. Starting slowly can help keep you from getting too overwhelmed. Bookmark or Pin this post and slowly work through the list.

Keep what you love and ditch what you don’t. You are sure to find a green cleaning solution that works for you and your family.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Hacks

Try these cleaning hacks to help make cleaning easier and keep things eco-friendly.

Clean Stainless Steel with Flour

Did you know you can clean stainless steel with flour?

Photo Credit: brendid.com

Clean Your Coffee Pot with Vinegar

Vinegar is a great way to keep your coffee pot nice and clean. Learn how to best clean your coffee pot and keep it clean.

Photo Credit: www.drkarenslee.com

Make Homemade Washing Soda

Use this guide to make homemade washing soda from baking soda. It's easy and you only need one ingredient!

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Use Vodka for Odors

You can use vodka to remove odors in all kinds of things. You can even make a simple air freshener using vodka.

Use baking soda to freshen your carpet

With just baking soda or baking soda and a few other ingredients, you can have amazing smelling carpet.

Use citrus peels to clean your garbage disposal

Save your citrus peels to keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh.

Make your own soft scrub.

With just a few ingredients you likely already have you can make a lemon soft scrub.

Use a clothes line to remove stains.

Did you know you can remove stains from your whites by line drying them? Simply hang them in the sun and the sun will gently bleach your clothes.

Clean your clothes with berries

You can use soap nuts (which are actually a berry) to make your own laundry detergent.

Keep your shower clean with essential oils.

You can make your own daily shower cleaner with just a few simple ingredients so you can scrub less often.

More Cleaning Tips

Want even more ways to clean your home? Check out all of these great cleaning resources and don’t forget to join the free Retro Housewife Goes Green community.

1950s style woman cleaning wearing red rubber gloves, red apron and red lipstick

A Real 1950s Housewife Cleaning Schedule

woman in yellow dress and heels with red apron holding mop

The Best Vintage Spring Cleaning Tips

little girl with grandma outside by clothesline

Vintage Cleaning Tips You Should Steal from Grandma

cleaning caddy full of natural cleaning products

Vintage Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips

Sharing is caring!

Filed Under: Cleaning, Green Living, Homemaking

blue zig-zag background with text don't like ads? become a premium member to enjoy the site ad-free. Join now!

Previous Post: « 1950s Beauty Routine
Next Post: Homemade Daily Shower Cleaner »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paige Wolf says

    April 3, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    Great Tips! We use quite a few of these 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:05 pm

      They are so helpful in my life I know! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lori Popkewitz Alper says

    April 3, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    So many great tips that I want to try. The blinds! The toilet bowl brush! Thanks for the shout out Lisa.

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:05 pm

      Thanks for the great tip! Glad you liked the others as well!

      Reply
  3. Micaela @MindfulMomma says

    April 3, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    Good old baking soda and vinegar keep helping us out! Thanks for the great tips. Just pinned!

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:05 pm

      Such great natural cleaning ingredients! Thanks for pinning! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Erin says

    April 3, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    I love life hacks. There are a few great tips I need to try 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks for checking them out!

      Reply
  5. Miranda @ Miranda Writes Blog says

    April 3, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    I definitely need to implement the sock trick. My blinds are pretty bad right now. My grandmother taught me the toilet brush trick years ago. She taught me most of the cleaning tricks I know, now that I think about it… =)

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Mine need done again! Grandma’s are great like that. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Betsy (Eco-novice) says

    April 3, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    A great collection of tips. Love the blinds idea.

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks, it makes it a lot easier!

      Reply
  7. Green Bean says

    April 3, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    There is some serious genius here!! Flour to clean stainless steel. Who knew? Pinning.

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      Glad you liked it! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Ariana says

    April 3, 2015 at 9:08 pm

    Love the tips about the toilet brush cleaner and the blinds! Definitely going to give my blinds a good scrub with the vinegar and water. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      You’re welcome! Easy, effective tips are the best! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Angie Scheie says

    April 4, 2015 at 3:56 am

    Great list! I have never heard of flour on stainless steel before. And spraying the toilet brush first? Brilliant! Pinning and applying stat!

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      Flour isn’t something I would have thought about either. Glad you liked the tips!

      Reply
  10. Jessica Cangiano says

    April 5, 2015 at 8:27 am

    Terrific tips one and all! I so wish I lived somewhere with a yard or balcony/deck so that I could string out my laundry to dry care of Mother Nature. I grew up with my mom and both my grandmas doing that and miss that unbeatable scent and feel of sun-dried laundry soooo much. One day, I hope!!!

    Big hugs,
    ? Jessica

    Reply
    • Lisa Sharp says

      April 5, 2015 at 2:00 pm

      I wish my allergies were better so I could always line dry my clothes!

      Reply
  11. Ashley says

    March 4, 2017 at 11:19 pm

    Nice post! I especially love the flour for the stainless steel and the sock trick for the blinds. Very creative! I will definitely be sharing with my readers!

    Reply
  12. Sammy says

    March 7, 2017 at 9:47 am

    Love the vodka air freshener! And the flour for stainless steel, so many great ideas!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

photo of Lisa

Welcome to my blog! My name is Lisa and I'm the Retro Housewife trying to live a greener life. I share my love of all things vintage, homemaking and green living here on the blog. To read more, click here.

mail button Facebook button Instagram button Pinterest button Twitter button

Featured Posts

collage of vintage potluck recipes

Vintage Potluck Recipes You Need to Make

graphic of a retro housewife wearing a dress and apron cleaning a mirror in a pink and green bathroom

How to Clean a Bathroom Like a 1950s Housewife

collage of cheap recipes

13 of Grandma’s Favorite Cheap Recipes

1940s woman sitting at a desk in her home writing

Writing for a Better World: Lessons from WWII Women Writers for Today

red, aqua, and white rag wreath hanging on aqua door

How to Make a Rag Wreath for Any Holiday or Occasion

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Join Now (Ad-Free Experience)
  • Ad-Free Login
  • My Account
  • Sponsor Me

Copyright © 2025 · Niche Theme

Copyright © 2025 · Retro Housewife Goes Green