Green Up Your Cleanup: The Green House

by Jill Schoff

Green Up Your Cleanup is a timely handbook of advice and cleanser "recipes" that explains how to eliminate toxic-chemical household cleaning agents from your life and replace them with natural, and often homemade solutions. Inspired by the author's experience as a mother of an allergic child, the book includes anecdotal information that led her to natural cleaning solutions and has "green facts," "smart tips," and informational sidebars generously...

• Format: Spiral-bound
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580113958
• ISBN13: 9781580113953
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Creative Homeowner
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

excellent resource

This is an excellent book. The author gives a small section on why we should go green, but recognizes that if you are even looking at a book like this you already are aware of most of the reasons. Recipes are given, essential oils are mentioned, but are not absolutely necessary, the author saying at one point "if you miss the smell of lemon in the commercial products". It enthused me to try some essential oils. I will definitely be trying some of these homemade recipes in my cleaning. The author also recognizes that sometimes you have to use commercial products but gives information so that you can make better choices. Recommended book for anyone who wants to take steps to being more eco friendly in their cleaning.

excellent source -simple, safe & inexpensive cleaning alternatives

...purchased this book last week for a bridal shower gift when I was actually looking for another similar book, but this one is so much better. It's written in conversational language, an easy quick read that gets to the point. There are many examples, illustrations and an extensive resource list. There is a series of usable, simple recipes that include back-to-the-basics, non-toxic ingredients (the same stuff our great grandmothers used before there was such a thing as Proctor & Gamble). It's sort of formatted like a cook-book with recipes organized according to what needs to be cleaned; for example - ovens, showers, laundry, roofs, siding, etc. I bought a copy for myself and after talking about why the author wrote the book (her infant son developed exzema that physicians could not resolve) with my mother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, I learned there are many children with eczema, including my nieces & young cousins. The author discovered that detergents (including all household detergents, not just laundry detergent) were causing her son's skin problems. When she started making her own cleaners (vinegar, baking soda, borax, washing powder, lemon) the eczema disappeared. It's too soon to see what effect the change in cleaning materials will have on my nieces, but I'm willing to bet it will be a positive outcome. In addition to this, there are safer alternatives to solving really tough cleaning challenges where you would normally use bleach or caustic sprays - ie; mildew & soap scum in showers, mildew on shingle roofs and disinfecting countertops - these are my biggest problems. While it might require a little more effort to mix the solutions every month or so, rather than grab the toxic stuff off the shelf at the grocery store, it's worth the peace of mind knowing that I'm not adding to the poisons my family & pets are exposed to. Highly recommend this book and it's a great gift for brides-to-be and first time home owners.

Excellent book!

I came across this book the other day and it is the most useful book I've bought in a very long time. For the past several months I've been researching homemade detergents on the internet, but it's hard to tell what really works, what's really "green," and what I should try. Many of the laundry detergent recipes include "Fels Naptha"--I found a bar at the grocery store and it had a strong artificial smell, but no list of ingredients. I never tried it. After purchasing this book, I tried several of the basic cleaning recipes and they work just as well, or even better, that commercial products I've been using. I tried the baking soda/castile soap recipe on my bathtub yesterday and managed to get out a stubborn stain that even a bleach product didn't remove. I've now completely switched to Jill's recipes for all of my cleaning supplies, and not only do I feel great about using green products, but I'm going to save a ton of money every year on laundry and dishwashing detergents. Anyone looking to green up their home or to save money should get this book.

Perfect Book for First Home

Green Up Your Cleanup is a cleverly designed book with a standard spine that hides a spiral bound. It is a full color green cleaning manual. For example, several pages are devoted to explaining how to clean windows with large illustrations. Green products are used, as is a squeegee (instead of wasteful paper towels.) I like the suggested green cleaning potions--lots of vinegar and baking soda--both of which are cheap and very effective. What stood out to me was the practical spiral format, as it allows the book to lie flat and be used as a manual. The manual style is why this book is best suited for those who do not know how to clean. This is a perfect housewarming gift for young people who don't know how to clean and are moving into their first home. The author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet

Great, Easy Guide for going Green.

I have a number of very good books on every aspect of green, however, this is the book I was going to write. Thanks to Jill, I don't have to bother. This book is excellent in every way. Well researched and written in a very easy to understand way. I love that she explains the dangers of chemicals and toxins and gives great alternatives to them. I talk to groups about going green and recommend books for people to buy. This book will be added to my list. I highly recommend this book, it has all the information you need to start changing your environment for the sake of yourself, your family and the planet.