Amy+2 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 what do you use?!? We have just recently moved and I am wanting to get a way from the typical carcinogen containing cleaners. I have contemplated the Melalueca line...kind of expensive though. In the past I used the Sun and Earth line of products and loved them. Might go back to it, but before I do I thought I would ask the hive what you all use/prefer.;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 We use white vinegar, bicarb soda and eucalyptus oil for everything that doesn't require dish washing or laundry detergent. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 We use white vinegar, bicarb soda and eucalyptus oil for everything that doesn't require dish washing or laundry detergent. Rosie :iagree::iagree: Vinegar is a great cleaner. :) Baking soda too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I've posted this before, but if you keep hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in separate spray bottles (opaque for the peroxide) and spray equal portions on "contaminated" surfaces such as cutting boards or sinks that have been in contact with raw meat or poultry, or any other surface with contaminated with bacteria, that this is an extremely powerful disinfectant. More effective than the toxic alternatives, and completely safe. This should be widely known, but it isn't. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Homeade: Vinegar/water is great, especially in areas with hard water. When the solution dries, you can't smell the vinegar AT ALL. I have switched to this in my Bissel steam vac b/c their cleaning solution was making me sick, and I had to pull the thing out a lot recently due to -- ahem -- the girls' stomach flu. I also use a lot of Borax for various things (CHEAP!) and buy baking soda by the 10 pound bag at Costco (SUPER CHEAP). As for commercial lines, I really do love Method. It is widely available and effective. Their "Le Scrub" in the funky squeeze bottle (it has a slot on top to store your sponge) is fabulous for countertops, sinks, tub, shower and tile. It's designed for the bath but I use it in the kitchen, too. It has a wonderful eucalyptus smell, and finely ground marble gently scrubs. It has gotten red-veggie type stains (oil packed peppers!) off of my white Corian sink that stinky headache-inducing S*ft Scr*b didn't get off...and no bleach. Their packaging is cool (so it appeals to my sense of modern style) but don't be fooled. It is NOT style over substance. Their dishwashing liquid (they tested the "go naked" scentless) in first place for effectiveness in Cook's Illustrated's recent test of eco-brand liquids. I like the pink grapefruit scent. The full line is at Target, and you can also get it at Whole Foods, big box home stores, Costco has some bulk hand wash, and even discontinued scents at Big Lots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Better Basics for the Home has lots of great recipes for homemade cleaners using vinegar, castille soap, baking soda, etc etc. I use the "Basic Alkaline Cleaner" all the time and love it. There's a great wood duster recipe and a vinegar bath spray that are awesome too. Check it out! Kelli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abreakfromlife Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Vinegar and baking soda for almost everything....vinegar kills 99% of germs. Bill is right on with the peroxide, but I think it bleaches and so I'm always afraid to use it in my non-stained clothes :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Vinegar and baking soda for almost everything....vinegar kills 99% of germs. Bill is right on with the peroxide, but I think it bleaches and so I'm always afraid to use it in my non-stained clothes :tongue_smilie: Yea, I wouldn't use the peroxide/vinegar combo on clothes. But the combination is it an astoundingly powerful disinfectant. Far better than vinegar or peroxide alone. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I found Clean House Clean Planet to be a helpful guide in getting started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherryTX Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 :iagree::iagree: Vinegar is a great cleaner. :) Baking soda too. :) Yes I agree. I regularly use white vinegar and baking soda - it does a great job on my sink and stainless steel pans (the baking soda that is). I use the vinegar instead of fabric softener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakeside Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I've posted this before, but if you keep hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in separate spray bottles (opaque for the peroxide) and spray equal portions on "contaminated" surfaces such as cutting boards or sinks that have been in contact with raw meat or poultry, or any other surface with contaminated with bacteria, that this is an extremely powerful disinfectant. More effective than the toxic alternatives, and completely safe. This should be widely known, but it isn't. Bill Thanks for posting this again! I had never heard of this before. We're not germophobes here, but raw poultry is something that is always a puzzle to clean up after. Do you use the vinegar and the peroxide full strength? Where can one find opaque spray bottles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakeside Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I found Clean House Clean Planet to be a helpful guide in getting started. I found some useful recipes in this book also. We mostly use some combination of vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. The only actual cleaning product that I buy is Bon Ami. I've tried using baking soda instead, but I don't think it works as well in scrubbing the bath tub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Thanks for posting this again! I had never heard of this before. We're not germophobes here, but raw poultry is something that is always a puzzle to clean up after. Do you use the vinegar and the peroxide full strength? Where can one find opaque spray bottles? Yes, you use the peroxide and vinegar full strength. I found a metal spray bottle for mine. I'm not sure how quickly peroxide breaks down when exposed to light, but it seems it always packed in opaque containers for this reason. I'm not a "germ-o-phobe" either, but there are those times when the food prep areas, cutting boards and sink need to be sanitized and I hate to break-out the toxic "big-guns", and this is a non-toxic big gun. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I use Ecover products when I need a cleaner. However, I am becoming more and more wedded to my scrubbing brush. Apart from a few areas where I really need to control bacteria (kitchen work surfaces and the toilet) I just use a scrubbing brush and water for cleaning. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherryTX Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I am interesting in seeing what else I can replace - a lot of what I have read here I am already familiar with, but there are some new suggestions as well. I have a question about Borax - I do have a box, but I bought it because a friend of mine told me her sister in Virginia sprinkles it outside the foundation of her house to help keep bugs out. Has anyone tried this? I am curious as to how effective it is. Down here in TX, there are many a bug, and I would love to focus on preventing them from getting inside, but really would like to NOT have pesticides sprayed around the outside of the house if I can help it. (We had to treat for termites a year ago - no big deal, and it worked, whoohoo- but I would like to ensure that we have less cockroaches come in. We are not "infested" but being in TX, my god, I have even been in super uber beyond godliness clean homes and even the people that own those tell me they still have trouble keeping them out all the time.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy+2 Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 Just wanted to say thanks for all the great info!!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakeside Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 I am interesting in seeing what else I can replace - a lot of what I have read here I am already familiar with, but there are some new suggestions as well. I have a question about Borax - I do have a box, but I bought it because a friend of mine told me her sister in Virginia sprinkles it outside the foundation of her house to help keep bugs out. Has anyone tried this? I am curious as to how effective it is. Down here in TX, there are many a bug, and I would love to focus on preventing them from getting inside, but really would like to NOT have pesticides sprayed around the outside of the house if I can help it. (We had to treat for termites a year ago - no big deal, and it worked, whoohoo- but I would like to ensure that we have less cockroaches come in. We are not "infested" but being in TX, my god, I have even been in super uber beyond godliness clean homes and even the people that own those tell me they still have trouble keeping them out all the time.) Borax does work against cockroaches, but it is also toxic to children and pets, so you want to be careful where and how you apply it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Thanks for posting this again! I had never heard of this before. We're not germophobes here, but raw poultry is something that is always a puzzle to clean up after. Do you use the vinegar and the peroxide full strength? Where can one find opaque spray bottles? Just a note--the nozzles from my standard spray bottles from the Walmart cleaning aisle screw right on to the 32 oz brown bottle that I buy my hydrgen peroxide in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Just a note--the nozzles from my standard spray bottles from the Walmart cleaning aisle screw right on to the 32 oz brown bottle that I buy my hydrgen peroxide in. Brilliant! Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Another tip for anyone who crochets -- I was encouraged to get out my crochet hook after reading a post on here a few months back -- small scrubby things (or tiny washcloths) made out of acrylic yarn are remarkably good at scrubbing. I am delighted with how well they get grime off of the tubs and sinks, with little or no additional scrub or cleanser, or even just soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest janainaz Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 :iagree::iagree: Vinegar is a great cleaner. :) Baking soda too. :) Yep, I agree. I use vinegar and baking soda for everything. But, does anyone know the right combo for glass cleaner? Is it vinegar and water, but to what percentage? I still use glass cleaner for windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Thanks for posting this again! I had never heard of this before. We're not germophobes here, but raw poultry is something that is always a puzzle to clean up after. Do you use the vinegar and the peroxide full strength? Where can one find opaque spray bottles? I bought the big bottle of peroxide from Walmart which happens to have exactly the same size top as the cheap spray bottles they sell in the cleaning section. So I just took the top from a spray bottle and put it on the peroxide bottle and now I have a brown bottle of sprayable peroxide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 The book I referenced above recommends Club Soda for windows; that water is good and whatever they put in the soda to make it fizzy makes it dry quickly leaving fewer streaks. I've found it to work pretty well the few times I've used it to wash windows/mirrors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.