Cleaning Products Clutter - Go Green!

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Cleaning Products Clutter - Go Green!

(9 posts) (7 voices)

Started 2 years ago by Claycat
Latest reply from angelicious
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Claycat
Member

I have eliminated most cleaning products from my house. For general cleaning I use vinegar and baking soda. I use them separately, unless I'm trying to unclog the sink. Vinegar gets rid of a lot of bacteria. I use it to disinfect the toilets and sink, and I use the baking soda to remove residue.

I use Seventh Generation Lavender Floral and Mint Dishwashing Liquid. It smells nice without overwhelming.

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/Dish-Soap

I use Charlie's Soap to wash our clothes. It smells so fresh and not like strong perfume. I got to where I couldn't walk down the detergent aisle at the store, because the smell was so atrocious. I hate it when I walk down the street and smell someone's drier softener sheets.

http://www.charliesoap.com/

Posted 2 years ago #
Sky
Member

I recently started using baking soda to clean the kitchen. It will take tea stains off my white counters every bit as well as clorox without the toxic odor and harm to the environment. Also, baking soda and vinegar to keep my drains running well.

I've been making my laundry detergent with washing soda, borax and Fels-Naptha soap. It's good, can't say it works as well as Tide but it does an okay job. I tried making dishwashing detergent but didn't like it.

Any recipes for cleaners?

Posted 2 years ago #
Sheryl
Member

Sky, I make my own laundry detergent too, but I find it works BETTER than the store bought stuff! :-) But I do agree about the DW detergent - I still buy that.

I buy the big jugs of the Costco Kirkland Environmentally friendly dish soap, and I use it for a lot of things around the house, including washing my hair (along with vinegar to rinse it out.) And no, it doesn't dry out my hair.

Liquid dish soap also makes a good laundry pre-treater - it's designed to remove greasy food stains, so it works great. Just make sure you let it sit overnight before you wash the item of clothing. It's even gotten out stains that have gone through the dryer.

Posted 2 years ago #
nws2002
Member

I've make my own laundry soap too, I use the food processor and make the powdered variety. Much easier than the liquid I tried to make at first. It works great for me, the only thing I've found is that I have to use extra for my gym clothes.

My grandmother taught me how to use baking soda, borax, lemons, salt, and white vinegar to clean almost anything. Various combinations are used for different things.

I've been buying the Clorox GreenWorks cleaners recently because it's just easier to have those around. They are semi-green and don't have a strong smell.

Posted 2 years ago #
Sheryl
Member

I like the GreenWorks cleaners too. I have MCS, and they don't bother me at all. Do a great job, too. Claycat, I know what you mean about the drier softener sheets. Well actually, ALL fragranced laundry detergent and softener makes me sick. I hate going down that aisle at the grocery store.

I also make the powdered laundry detergent (1 bar of Fels Naptha, grated, 1.5 cups washing soda, 1.5 cups borax. Mix it together and run it through the blender.) I use 2 tablespoons per large load and it gets everything clean and fresh smelling.

I've also used lemon juice and salt to clean my copper bottom pans - works like magic! :-)

Posted 2 years ago #
Laetitia in Australia
Member

I have some Enjo cloths for cleaning the bathroom and toilet; they only require cold water, no detergents. For stubborn calcium build-up they have a pseudo-detergent to use as a pre-treatment. I haven't yet acquired the kitchen cloths but my friend who used to be a demonstrator said that she became a demonstrator because they can clean all her super-greasy pots with just cold water.

Posted 2 years ago #
CareyOkie
Member

I use vinegar for almost everything. Mopping, countertops, windows, even in the carpet shampooer. We also use Seventh Generation laundry detergent, liquid dish soap, and toilet cleaner. We use Ecover dishwasher detergent tablets....they seem to do a good job.

Have you all ever heard of Dr. Bronner's soap? It is a really nice liquid soap that is phosphate free (so it's even safe to use on camping trips...won't harm the environment even if you use it in a stream or lake). People use it to wash their clothes, bodies, hair....you can even use it to brush your teeth. I think we might try it on our next vacation to eliminate a bunch of the extra toiletries.

Posted 2 years ago #
Sheryl
Member

I love Dr. Bronner's. I buy it by the gallon and pour it into dispensers or squeeze bottles and leave them all over the house. (The Lavendar is especially nice.)

It works great, but I quit using it to shower or wash my hair with because it started leaving an oily film on my hair (my hair's naturally oily) and it left a terrible scummy mess in the tub.

I still like it for other stuff though. BTW, I tried brushing my teeth with it, and I wouldn't recommend it. Soapy! :-P

Posted 2 years ago #
angelicious
Member

Not very green of me, but I love the Mr Clean spray. My cleaning products are:

*Vinegar (dilute 10:1 with fabric softener for ultra-soft clothes)
*Mr Clean cleaner (in reusable spray bottles)
*Windex for laminate flooring. I don't know why, but vinegar doesn't work; leaves a rather unpleasant smudginess
*Bar Keeper's Friend for porcelain sink & glass stovetop
*Oxiclean (sp?) for heavy duty cleanings
*Mr Clean Magic Erasers (actually, the el-cheapo Target brand, since I go thru these a lot)

Do I get green bragging rights for the erasers that disintegrate as you use them? :b

Posted 2 years ago #

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