Natural Cleaning Products??

[bubbaray]

Anyone using any natural cleaning products they like?

We clean our hardwood floors with 1c white vinegar to a gallon of water (as recommended by our hardwood installer).

But, other than that, I have to say that I've always been a "sparkle is best" in cleaning products kinda girl. However, DH saw a horrific TV program the other night and really wants us to try to use less harmful cleaners.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/f...ers/index.html

I do use and like Simple Green, which is apparently non-toxic (??). http://consumer.simplegreen.com/

Today I purchased some Ecover cleaner and dish soap. So far, I really like the dish soap (I got the lemon, it smells amazing!). http://www.ecover.com/american/index.htm The products here seem to be the European ones, b/c the packaging on the US version on the website is completely different -- not sure if its just a packaging thing or if the contents differ too.

I tried the Ecover based on this review:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/f...ers/index.html

Does anyone clean completely naturally, ie with vinegar, etc.?? Does it really work????
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/tips/cleaners.html

My cleaning lady is sceptical -- she pretty much uses only Vim cream cleanser and rinses everything. She says most of her clients have tried "green" products and they just don't work.

TIA

Melissa

Maya Papaya!
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040411/3/4/1/-8/.png[/img][/url]

[chlobo]

"My cleaning lady is sceptical -- she pretty much uses only Vim cream cleanser and rinses everything. She says most of her clients have tried "green" products and they just don't work."

What exactly is she cleaning? Except for tile grout I have found simple homemade cleaners to be quite effective. What is she trying to achieve when she cleans?

For a great resource on homemade cleaners check out the book "Clean House, Clean Planet". It has recipes for all kinds of cleaners - from toilet bowls, to windows, to floors. And most usually have 3 or 4 ingredients - none of which are chemicals.

Also, trying these websites

http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/tips/a/vinegar.htm

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/970811c.cfm

I just recently found out that you can use apple cider vinegar mixed with baking soda to get marker stains out of carpet. How cool is that?

Anyhow, you can try googling different things having to do with natural cleaning and find all sorts of information.

If anyone finds a good all natural solution to tile grout mold I'd love to hear it!

[bostonsmama]

When I was growing up, my mother always used Shaklee's Basic G and Basic H, both powerful and concentrated eco-cleansers and germicides. I have a strong affinity for both now...really because there's not a commercial/chemical cleaner on the market that can take the smell of vomit out of carpet or grease off a counter like Basic G can! It's worth taking a peak at: http://www.shaklee.com/product/Cleaners

At the recommendation of Eileen (mudder17), I also tried and now really like Dr. Bronner's castille soap. My DH will mop the kitchen floor with it, and I use it to wash my fruit & rinse out my water bottle. It's cheap; it works, and it smells so good. I can't tell you how I gag and cough when I have to spray Fantastic or bleach-based cleaners in my sink! I just have so many chemical-based cleaners left over that I switch off so I can use them up. But as soon as the Lysol and 409 are gone, I'm going to try and go cold turkey, as long as the results stay the same.

My MIL (many years ago) managed her own housekeeping business and she always used vinegar water instead of windex to keep the windows shiny. So, if that says anything about the effectiveness of homemade cleaners, I don't know what does. ;)

Finally, DH and I live in an area with many unprotected wet lands and waterways, so everything we throw away, dump down our drains or toss into our gutters/sewer filters through our rivers and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. So, unless we want a little Lysol with our fish, it behooves us to cut back where we can to keep the waterways and wildlife clean. I applaud you for any steps you might take to reduce indoor and outdoor pollution, no matter how small or insignificant it seems.

Larissa
who's trying to create her own miracle

I'm an Aunt again! Introducing Jack Dorian, born to my brother and SIL on 3/25/06 at 6pm (7.5lbs)
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/32719.jpg

[mudder17]

I use some of the recipes in Karen Logan's Clean House, Green Planet (or something like that). My main ingredients are Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castille Soap (that is just so yummy and so much better than tilex, etc.), Club Soda, White Vinegar, Baking Soda, and a variety of essential oils. The club soda with lime oil works extremely well for glass and I do get streak-free, shiny windows when I clean. I also use her recipe for wooden floor cleaner, general cleaner (that I use in place of 409), deodorizer, bathtub/tile cleaner, a scrub (basically baking soda with essential oils in it) for my stove and other places where dirt is a bit more ground in), and disinfectant. They all smell much better than the commercial stuff and most of them are just as or more effective. There are a few things that I find I can't get, but then I send in DH with the "bad" stuff. ;) But for the most part, these Natural Cleaning Products are quite effective and also cheap! :)


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ies/candle.gif for Leah
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http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catca...-6_Kaya+is.png
Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[jillc]

Yep, another vote for the book Clean House, Clean Planet. I started using several of the "recipes" from the book based upon recommendations of the ladies here on the boards. I love them!! :)

Easy, cheap, and I feel much better about using this natural stuff than all the nasty chemicals - blech!

[new_mommy25]

Eileen, what do you use to clean the tub? Will baking soda and vinegar kill mildew?

[chlobo]

Do you have something that works on moldy tile grout?

[JBaxter]

Another vote for Clean house Clean planet. The earth scrub is great ( peppermint drbonners soap, baking soda, water & vinegar)!

[annasmom]

When I was at WF, the only Castille soap I found was a sort of body wash, is that the Castille soap you all use?? I don't remember if it was Dr. Bonner's brand, but I do remember that it had writing ALL over the bottle (a kind of narrative which I found confusing when trying to find the ingredients, uses, etc.). Maybe I was in the wrong aisle?? Thanks!

[elliput]

That sounds like Dr.Bonners to me!