natural cleaners??

[SandyG]

wanna know what you do/make/use
im nosey :giggle:

[keegans_mommy]

We use basically just vinegar and baking soda for all our cleaning, a pumic stone for any potty stains, microfiber cloths for dusting, a mixture of 1 tbsp each, borax and baking soda for automatic dishwashing detergent and will soon be making our laundry detergent.

It's SO much cheaper than the store brands and we never run out! :D

[MomnWife]

I'm a Melaleuca customer.

[kathywiehl]

I use vinegar, EOs, baking soda, and borax in various combos for just about everything.

[Watercolor Ponies]

You could try the book Clean House Clean Planet by Karen Logan. It has a bunch of recipes to basically replace any commercial cleaner you might have. Plus lots of helpful info on why using commercial cleaners isn't very healthy for you or your family (or your wallet!):mrgreen:

[Shannon]

Ok, but I tried using water with vinager in it to cleanout my fridge and I thought...wow, what a PITA and switched back to 409. How do you mix? Does it acually help with scrubbing or degreasing? And a pumis stone? You mean you scrub the inside of the toilet with it?

I really am interested in alternative way to clean because the last time I cleaned my shower I got so light headed and dizzy/nauseas from the fumes of the cleaners. My kids aren't allowed in any of the rooms I am cleaning because of the vapors. It CAN'T be healthy for you. I've also heard somewhere, whether its true or not I dont' know, that SAHM's have a higher chance of getting cancer...mostlyf rom allt he chemicals they are around and use all the time.

[Manna00]

I used to dilute my white vinegar for cleaning... but now I just use it straight. If you just let it set for a little bit it really does a great job on windows, stove tops, etc. With my fridge I use a washcloth dipped in the hottest water I can handle FIRST.... then put on the vinegar and let it sit. White vingear also works good in my shower--we have hard water so we get buildup and the vingear takes it right off. :)

[SheilaJoy]

Ok, but I tried using water with vinager in it to cleanout my fridge and I thought...wow, what a PITA and switched back to 409. .

:laugh: This struck me as really funny!
I use vinegar and water w/ peppermint EO to clean my floors, and it works wonders. Sometimes for stuck on junk, like in the fridge, you have to use baking soda as an abrasive. Those commercial cleaners really are bad for you. Also, orange EO works GREAT, it's like using orange clean or whatever that stuff is called that works really well.

[TexasLea]

yep, vinegar is the best! I just made the switch a few weeks ago. For the shower, I used to use one of those sprays that you spritz the walls with after your shower so you don't have to scrub as much. Now, I just spray them with vinegar and leave it to be rinsed off the next time the shower is used. It really eats at the soap scum that builds there.

I was pretty put off by the strong vinegar smell at first. I added a little eo and that worked well. I was cleaning in the kitchen the other day though and got another brainstorm. Instead of using all my EO up, I grabbed a packet of clear Kool-Aid and put it in my vinegar spray bottle. It took the edge off the vinegar odor and gave off a fruity smell. I wiped all my counters down as usual with it and it didn't leave behind any sort of residue. I have been using it since without a problem and I bought several more packs of clear watermelon -kiwi flavor at the store yesterday. I may just dump 2-3 into my gallon jug so that when I mop and such that smells fruity too. :)

As for the potty, I sprinkle some baking soda around the walls and spray that with vinegar. Then I use my bowl brush to swish it around, flush and viola.

I make my own laundry soap now as well. Oh, and for those of you who use the borax/ baking soda (or washing soda) combo in the dishwasher and have spot issues dispite vinegar in the rinse agent cup- I have found an answer! I found at Wal-Mart of all places a product called Lemi shine. You add it in the detergent cup and it keeps the spots off. It is all natural and made from fruit acids and natural citrus oils. It really works! It also can be used for cleaning the shower doors and such.

[keegans_mommy]

And a pumis stone? You mean you scrub the inside of the toilet with it?



Yup, now and then, the minerals in our water stain the toilet a dark brown :yuck: and the pumic stone is the ONLY thing we have used that works for that, it comes off like an eraser! I put a rubber glove on and scrub with the rock ;) Actually, Claire (7 years) loves to scrub with the stone LOL

I also second the book: clean home, clean planet. Wonderful information in that book!

[keegans_mommy]

BTW, I make our automatic dishwasher detergent yesterday and it did a famously good job!!!!

Anyway, I took the detergent bottle we had just used up (it was a gel/liquid) and I mixed up equel parts of the baking soda and borax, then added GSE and some lemon EO to make it smell good and then to thicken it; some corn starch. ONLY draw-back is that the powdered ingre. and the water (oh ya, add water too LOL) will seperate but only takes a second or two to shake it back up.

Anyway, works awesome! :thumbsup:

[Shannon]

Do you use regular white vinager? What is GSE?

I didn't get in on the EO co-op because I had no idea what you would use EO's for...lol. And where do you buy Borax?

[Watercolor Ponies]

I get Borax at Target in the laundry section, comes in a green box that says "20 mule team Borax" (I think) I use EO's to scent vinegars for cleaning bcs I hate the smell of vinegar, but love to clean with it. :thumbsup:

[keegans_mommy]

Do you use regular white vinager? What is GSE?

I didn't get in on the EO co-op because I had no idea what you would use EO's for...lol. And where do you buy Borax?


GSE=grapefruit seed extract-Great for..........EVERYTHING! LOL It's used in our house for: natural anti-biotic, taken daily it helps to keep you healthy from illness/virus, use it on wooden cutting boards after cutting with meat, in our diaper wash to help kill germs, in our natural cleaners for that same reason but can be applied topically (diluted for health purposes) to warts to get rid of them.

The Borax has been found at every grocery store I have found, and also Target and Wal-Mart. :) Look in your laundry section of the store. :) Green and yellow box, costing $3 or less ;)

I just made some all purpose cleaner (for sinks, toilets, counters) with equal portions of baking soda and borax, dumped some TTO in it, GSE and some water, mixed it and put it in a bottle to either dump or squirt onto what you are cleaning. Replace your soft scrub with this stuff ;)

[Watercolor Ponies]

does the pumice stone scratch your porcelain toilet? Just wondering, bcs all the pumice I have ever seen is really rough. Interested in this idea though...

[TexasLea]

I also wanted to add that I put a few drops of Lavender eo in a spray bottle of water to replace febreeze.

[SandyG]

so you girls use the borax to clean the kitchen AND bathrooms
i just got a box of borax. now what?? i just put it in a container with water?? how much water??or is it with vinegar??
and what kind of vinegar?? i use now simple green but once that stuff is gone. i m gonna use that stuff.
oh and for my tile floors im using my steam cleaner so i dont use cleaners for it so im happy :goodvibes:

[mercy589]

Hm, interesting ideas here, I just put the book mentioned on hold at my library, Im very interested in finding out more about this!