Back to Basics, Anybody make their own cleaning solutions?

[Shauna]

Hi I was just wondering if anybody had any tips on natural, homemade cleaning products, stain removers, etc. Things maybe that have been passed down from Grandma or Mom. I'd like to be more natural and green in my daily cleaning but find that the products seem to be more expensive and figured if there all natural shouldn't I be able to mix something simple up on my own. Just wondered what others have experienced regarding this. Also has anyone tried Soapnuts for laundry detergent or made their own laundry soap? I don't want to go back to Pioneer days or anything but think I would get alot of satisfaction making my own cleaning solutions, but they'd need to be simple, I don't have a lab! Thanks, Shauna

[Haley Bartlett]

Vinegar, vinegar vinegar. It is cheap and can be used for so may things. I use it to clean my home by mixing 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water. Vinegar has antibacterial functions. It also can be used in the washing machine to help whiten whites. Works well for mopping the floors also. To get staining from my tea habit off my stainless steel sinks I use baking soda, also a helpful product around the home.

[Shauna]

Thank you! It seems almost too simple, but my mom said the same thing. Feel like I have to deprogram myself from all the advertising! To think of all I've spent over the years on different cleaners for different "dirts" and all I needed was this! I've heard you can use it as a conditioner too, haven't tried that one yet, but I plan too. How about to clean dishes, baby bottles? I tried Dr. Bronners 1-18 magic soap, but it left a film :( I'm going to try Dapple next I guess, just hate wasting the money as these items aren't cheap or easily found near me. Must be a book on the subject, I'll have to look. I feel like I need a cheat sheet to carry around with me. Even when I go to the one health food store, seems there is alot of "fake" organic products there too, and I hate to spend the money and be duped again. I will definitely try vinegar! I would rather use something people have been using for years (like grandma) than one of the newer, trendy green products (unless they are genuine green) I have started using it in the rinse with the cloth diapers seems to help. Thanks for reminding me it does work! Shauna

[Rebecca]

I read the books, 'Green This! Greening Your Cleaning,' and 'Better Basics for the Home (then can't remember the rest of the title). Two great books. I agree with Haley though....simple vinegar and baking soda are staples around my home. I did purchase a non-toxic window cleaner, but once it is out, I'll just use vinegar. Also purchased a vegetable based kitchen cleaner, but only use it to get rid of the greasy film that finds its' way to the top of our frig. I use baking soda to clean the top of our glass stove, the yucky film on the shower, lift stains out of carpets, etc. Vinegar I use to clean floors, wash fruits and veggies, and clean toliets. I also encountered a 'film' while using Seventh Generation dish soap in the dishwasher, so I called the company and they refunded me my money and gave me some hints on what to do about it. They said to use less and to put about a 1/4 cup of vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher before we run each load. It works...no more film. They said that sometimes the minerals in the water will react with the soap and because it isn't harsh like the other conventional soaps, you would get a film. Whole Foods will let you return an item if you find it is not to your liking (a.k.a. 'fake'). I too have ran across this problem. Hope this helps!!!

[robin]

I also use vinegar water for most things; I add a few drops of tea tree essential oil for extra germ killing powers and to take the edge off the vinegar smell. I recently discovered that vinegar water is excellent in the steam cleaner, too.

For mirrors and windows: club soda. Works great. Invest in a squegee and your kids will willingly wash all your windows for you.

For soapscum and serious dirt, try borax ( can also be used in a pinch in the laundry or dishwasher). Borax works better than Ajax in the bathroom, practically no elbow grease required.

Baking soda is excellent for scrubbing dishes.

I think my favorite green cleaning book was "Clean House, Clean Planet", because it gives you a cost breakdown and effectiveness comparison to commercial products for each natural method.

[Shauna]

Thanks for all the tips, I'm going to order that book right now! Just finished The Hundred Year Lie and need something new to read! Sounds like a great follow-up book! I read that borax is really toxic and dangerous to use? I was going to try and make my own detergent for laundry but didn't like what I read about it. Anything were you need gloves for safety turns me off. You haven't had any problems with it? Instead I've been using soap nuts for the baby clothes & cloth diapers and hopefully for all our laundry eventually, if I can figure out the price breakdown is affordable. Seems to work well, the diapers were definitely a good idea of how well they clean! Thanks again for the book suggestion!

[Alwaysamom]

Hi Shauna


I teach people how to simplify their lives and one of the things I stress is the amount of cleaning products that are actually needed to properly maintain your home on a regular basis.

You need 3 products

An all natural liquid detergent (not soap)....my favourite is Nature Clean .....to clean all surfaces

Pure Baking Soda ....not the stuff on your grocers shelf, get it ordered from your local Natural Health Store....to remove stains and soap scum, as well as clean the kitchen sink, remove grease, clean ovens, clean toilets

Hydrogen Peroxide 3%.....to disinfect and to "bleach"

Need some scents....try Essential Oils

This will clean your whole house......with the aide of the proper tools and, of course, water.


As you can see, I stayed away from saying ......."Use Vinegar" I do have uses for it but it is definitely not used in my everday cleaning nor do my staff use it when we are in clients homes...it is not recommended in most homes today, especially homes with granite counter tops, marble, sealants and so on

The Famous African General, Hannibal, used vinegar to help his army cross the Alps. When they came across obstructive boulders they would heat them with fire and then drench them with vinegar which in turn cracked the boulders in to small pieces, allowing them to easily move them out of their way.

Historic rumour has it that Cleopatra demonstrated its solvency powers by dissolving precious pearls in vinegar to win a bet that she could consume a fortune in a single meal.

If you place an ice cube in to a glass of vinegar it will melt at a faster rate than one place in a glass of water

Place an egg in vinegar and within 24 hours it will have softened the shell

Vinegar, heated, can remove layers of mineral deposits (calcium) without effort

Heated, it can remove dried on paint from paint brushes and soften the bristles for reuse.

And…………………

We use this on laminate flooring, which is held together with glue……ceramic/stone tile where the grout has a thin layer of sealant to protect it…….granite counter tops…..marble.

What happens when you use vinegar on a granite counter top....it hazes. I have seen it with my own eyes when a client decided to do what the installer told her to do...over and over again. She ruined the finish.

I have seen the finish come off of a high sheen coffee table by using vinegar to clean and polish...it was my own when I was first doing testing.

Don't get me wrong vinegar is good to have but you have to be careful with where and how you use it.

Heated, it is amazing at cleaning neglected tubs and showers

Wipe down the inside of your oven after each use with a towel soaked in vinegar

Use to remove calcium and lime build up

Pour into toilet for a natural disinfectant when you don't have the hydrogen peroxide

but please do not use on items that are glued such as your laminate hardwood floors or wood chopping blocks......items that are sealed like the grout on your floor, on your backsplash and in your shower and the granite on your counters.....and never ever on Marble


Have fun!

Alwaysamom
The Queen of Green

[Shauna]

Wow! Thank you so much for all the info!!!! I'll have to look and see if our health food store carries pure baking soda, or if they can order it for me. Our store is a little small, are there any webstores you might suggest, like a "one stop shop" where I could find this and more along these lines? At reasonable prices? Does the baking soda from the grocer not work or damage things or its just not as good as pure? I really appreciate the history you've offered on vinegar, thanks for sparing my furniture :) I don't have granite or laminate, but I probably don't want to ruin my hardwoods either! I have MUCH to learn! Thanks again!

[Alaina Frederick]

Shauna,

Hello there! I've done a number of the things you have asked. I have tried the soapnuts and they are great. Husband was weirded out by them though :) I also make my own laundry soap. I have a large glass jar that I mix some baking powder and borax in. I'll use a scoop of that and then in the 'fabric softener' area of our washer I'll pour in some plain old vinegar. No the clothes do not smell like vinegar but the colors are brighter and the vinegar acts like a fabric softener as well.

We do not use fabric softener in this house - 1. lots of chemicals in the liquid and sheets 2. they coat everything with a thin layer and will cut down on the absorbency of the material and will coat your dryer with a layer and aids in the start of dryer fires.

As for cleaning products. A spray bottle with some water and vinegar does some great things- you can clean just about anything with baking powder, borax, and vinegar.

I still don't get the whole green line by Clorox... Clorox and Green just don't belong in the same sentence :)

Alaina

[Shauna]

Thanks for the tips! I was going to try Borax and found some scary stuff about it online. How its not safe for pregnant women and children ( I think I read it from some link on organic consumer assoc, but not sure I start on one page and follow links and get lost :) I know its natural but read its still not safe. Have you experienced any trouble with it? I really wanted to try it, but got turned off by what I read. I definitely thought the soapnuts were a little weird looking to, but loved the idea that they were SO natural! We're still using them and they work wonderful on cloth diapers!!!! Which is how I know they were "really" working. What do you use for hand washing dishes and for the dishwasher? We don't have Dapple anywhere local and it seems pricey. Must be something safe, effective and cost effective out there! I keep thinking of my grandmother and how she was really poor and lived on a farm and had a bunch of kids, can't see her spending $6 on a bottle of dish soap! I agree with the Clorox, Green thing! But I think most people are too busy to even think about it, and just reach for it hoping to try and do something a little more green, and that's probably what Clorox is hoping for! I only wish these companies had to list what really is on the label, but look how long it took the cigarette companies! Oh well, I can dream. Thank so much for the info, I'm on my way to the library now for 500 uses for Vinegar & Baking Soda books!

[Willo Radgens]

I use a half vinegar/half water solution for almost everything (sinks, counters, windows, mirrors, etc). I use Charlie's Soap for laundry and have been really happy with it. It has been inexpensive and effective on everything, including cloth diapers. Hope that helps!

[Shauna]

Thanks I appreciate the help! I have recently started experimenting with vinegar as I've heard great things. But was cautioned at how well it works, heard it can be too powerful! I never thought to use it on mirrors! Thanks for the tip!! My bathroom is starting to look like a pantry, what with the baking soda, vinegar & olive oil :) Luckily my immediate family is very supportive and willing to try most of the ideas. Any tips on dish soap or dishwasher detergent? So far I've tried Dr. Bronner's for dishes but it leaves such a residue on baby bottles. I've heard good things about Charlie's Soap too, haven't tried it yet. We've been using Soapnuts and really like them so far. I figure like anything it will take some trial and error to figure out a new routine and some de-programming from all the marketing. Thanks again, it always helps to hear what works for others. Shauna