All Natural Cleansers

[mizbear]

This is something that comes up every so often...
So: Do you have a favorite brand name of all natural cleansers or do you make your own?
Are there times when you feel that chemicals such as bleach are unavoidable- perhaps when cleaning a sick room?

I want to do away with as much of the chemical cleansers as I can; I use Dawn which is phosphate free; I tried Palmolive Eco in my dishwasher, but have to thoroughly rinse everything first... all the name brand toiet cleansers seem to have bleach, as do the dishwasher cleaners

The only natural cleaners I see much around here are 7th Generation, some of the SC Johnson brands, and there is one- I think it is called method?

[Deleted]

For everyday general cleaning we make a vinegar solution that we put into a spray bottle.

[sapphire12]

For mirrors and glass tables, I use a mix of white vinegar and water.
I also use borax on occasion to clean the bathroom and launder clothes.

[dakota4600]

I'm with Archie, for general cleaning we use vinegar and water. That we can put the 3 year old to work! I don't really pay too much attention to the toilet bowl cleaner contents, I just use what works best, personally I like Kaboom. For deep cleaning I keep comet scouring powder and bleach, but really don't use them too often.

[sarcasticgirl]

I make my own...

recipes i use:

Gorgeously Green All-Purpose Spray:
32-ounce plastic spray bottle
2 cups water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon pure castile soap (peppermint)
3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
20 drops tea tree oil
20 drops of lavender essential oil


Toilet Bowl Cleaners:
Liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
Baking soda or borax
Scrub with a toilet brush.

Carpet Deodorizer:
Baking soda
10 drops of essential oil (i use lavendar)

Mix together then sprinkle generously on carpet, wait 15 minutes and vacuum.

[sarcasticgirl]

The beauty is... after cleaning, my house smells like a spa!

[onestepcloser]

So i have a question about the natural cleaners...

how do i mix to get them to clean, deodorize, disinfect and sanitize?

[weltschmerz]

www.labonneattitude.com/en/site

These products are great. I don't know if they're available in the US, but if you see them, you should check them out.

[weltschmerz]

Yes, they are. Click on where to buy, then click on United States.

[stanthedevil]

images.shaklee.com/shaklee/pws/library/products/getcleanoverview_talksheet.pdf

I've been using Shaklee for over a year now. It's kind of pain because you have to go through a distributor, but the one that I found is awesomely low-key and doesn't push me to order more stuff.

It runs about $100 to get started, but a year later and I've barely put a dent into any of the products other than the laundry soap and that was because I was using too much originally. It's just me at home, but I also use the supplies in my classroom. The best part to me is that I no longer have to use gloves, open windows, and generally choke my way through cleaning. I bought a table on Craigslist and the woman had wiped it down with bleach (which was thoughtful) but the fumes made me gag all the way home since I hadn't been using any traditional cleaners for so long. I also love the smell which doesn't have the harsh chemical smell like bleach, Comet, etc. And, I really appreciate the company's emphasis on green living and sustainability both in composition and packaging.

[mizbear]

I have asthma and in my family you are more likely to get cancer than get hit by a truck so I am trying to do away with chemical cleansers- particularly those that are potential carcinogens.

And then there's the fact that I'm cheap- it's much less expensive to make cleansers when they do just as good a job then to buy stuff that could make me have an asthma attack or give me cancer....

[Wisconsin Beth]

I want DH to see this thread. We're in the midst of switching to chemical/toxin free cleaning stuff from the usual stuff available. He's done some research and has ordered stuff online that's arrived and we started using them recently.

[stanthedevil]

Beth -- Once I made the switch I stopped dreading cleaning so much. I still don't love cleaning but being able to drop the gloves and the stinging smells has made it so much easier. Plus I like knowing that I'm doing my little part to help keep chemicals and toxins out of our water supply.

[Honeylioness]

mizbear - I have a collection of safer and cheaper alternatives to harsh commercial cleansers on my home page. Feel free to use anything that that may be helpful.

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=frugal&action=display&thread=28


I have been using many of these ideas for years and rarely buy any specialty or commercial cleansers. I do still use bleach for laundry and disinfecting the floors under the cat boxes. I prefer Comet for bathrooms and do use dryer sheets - although when I take them out of the dryer they go into a jar with fabric softener in it to be re-used. Take out a sheet, squeeze out the excess liquid and toss it in to the dryer - though in the summer and spring I try to line dry as much as possible to save the electricity.

And, yes - I really do make my own laundry soap and have for years. Personally I find my clothes are looking newer longer without the harsh chemicals wearing down the fibers.

[dakota4600]

Honey- Thank you for sharing. As always you are a fountain of knowledge. I intend to try some of these at home.

[sarcasticgirl]

Honey, you're a rockstar! thanks for posting that link. So much information!!! i'm even planning on making my own laundry detergent this weekend ;D

[dcmetrocrab]

I use vinegar and water solution for most everyday cleaning. I add baking soda (just toss on top after spraying) if I need scouring action. Gets any metal parts super shiny. This is what I use to clean the bathroom and kitchen sink. Doesn't disinfect unfortunately. Deep cleaning, I use Comet or sometimes a weak bleach water solution.

[whispering17]

Honeylioness:

Thank you for the tip about corn meal and ants. I have not been able to get rid of the ants here. After I read that tip, I left the computer and went and put some cornmeal down where the ants are congregating and they stopped to eat it. I look forward to being ant free soon!!

[gardenergirl]

I have a bunch of natural cleaners to share:

Clogged drain opener: Pour one cup baking soda down the drain followed by one cup vinegar. Cover the drain tightly for one minute, then flush with one gallon boiling water.

General cleanser and disinfectant: Stir 1/2 cup borax into one gallon of water. This can be used to clean toilet bowls, kitchen counters, bathtubs and many other household surfaces. Keep boric acid out of reach of children and pets!!

Air freshener: Place open containers of baking soda around the house as a deodorizer. You can also sprinkle baking soda on carpets, let it sit a while, then vacuum up to help remove odors.

Furniture polish: Use a mix of two parts olive oil or vege oil to one part lemon juice.

Glass cleaner: Mix two teaspoons white vinegar with one cup warm water.

Oven cleaner: Warm oven, moisten any spills, sprinkle them with baking soda or salt, and scrub.

Floor cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with one gallon water.

Scrubbing powder: Use baking soda or borax as a scouring powder.

Roach powder: Dust a very thin film of boric acid powder or Drione on surfaces and into cracks and crevices. Boric acid is also an effective way to control ants.

Ant repellant: Sprinkle chili powder around possible entry areas. Wash kitchen counters with equal parts vinegar and water. Plant pennyroyal, peppermint and tansy around your home.

Moth repellants: Use cedar chips or lavender flowers in storage areas.

[Frugal Nurse]

Currently, I use a lot of vinegar and water for windows, mirrors. I use a paste of baking soda and vinegar on carpet stains (I have light carpet- I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to use that on dark carpet).

While I was out shopping yesterday, I came across this book : www.amazon.com/Homemade-How--Hundreds-Everyday-Naturally/dp/0762109041/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1313678109&sr=8-6#_

It looks like it has a lot of good recipes in it, I ordered it today on Amazon, can't wait for it to come in!

[Frugal Nurse]

Wow Honey- I have bookmarked your page. There are so many useful recipes there!

[woodwand]

A number of years ago, I read in Flylady.net to swish out your toilet bowl daily & that it didn't matter what kind of soap you used. At that time, I had a bottle of baby shampoo that I was going to throw out because I read that it wasn't PH balanced for hair, but for eyes (hence, no tears). I've used any number of liquid soaps since then that I didn't like for their intended purpose.

The water here is very hard & I used to have to scrub the ring in the toilet periodically with a pumice stone (back when I was using cleanser once a week). Since cleaning it daily, and it takes very little soap, I haven't had to use the pumice stone. If you feel you need some grit to wash your sink, mix some baking soda with a little liquid soap for your own soft scrub.

[woodwand]

Also, you can turn baking soda into washing soda!
www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php?topic=20783.0

I plan on making my own detergent when I run out of my 2XTide, but it's taking a long time as I only use about one tablespoon per load plus a little baking soda. I use 1/2 cup white vinegar in the rinse. Everything comes off the line nice & soft.

[newmummy]

I had a book called "Home Made, Best Made" that had tons of cleaner recipes in it as well as some really good facial toners/scrubs, etcetera.

Tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil are my favorite additives to cleansers because it is antimicrobial (ref: cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/19/1/50 and ref: www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/eucalyptus-000241.htm) but you should be sure to use plenty as at low concentrations they are only bacteriostatic. Also, you can get both at Wal-Mart here in Texas, sometimes in the pharmaceutical area but sometimes hidden in the beauty section.

[mizbear]

I guess I am fortunate because we have a nice natural store and a section in the amish market where a lady does natural products where I can get verified essential oils and not pay an arm and a leg.

[leanna]

Just giving an update...

Thanks Gardening Grandma & Welts for the advice you gave me on the other thread for natural cleaners.

I ended up doing the vinegar and baking soda to remove stains from my iced tea maker. It worked well. I was pleased, because I didn't want to use chemicals on it, since the plastic could absorb those.

Unfortunately, the baking soda & vinegar did not remove the hard water stains from the tub. I will have to use steel wool, since that is the only thing that will work.

This house we live in is horrible for cleaning - I've never had such trouble. Fortunately, we won't be here much longer, so it will no longer be my problem!

[formerroomate99]

Does anybody know of a way to deodorize a diaper pail? I've tried putting a box of baking soda in the diaper pail but it didn't really work. Allergies run on my side, so I don't want to use any chemical air fresheners in it.

[Sam_2.0]

Former - what about soaking it in hot water & vinegar, and setting it out in the sun to dry? That's what I usually do to get smells out. If that does not work, then it gets bleached. Once its really clean, then setting baking soda in there should help keep it under control between cleanings.

[dakota4600]

Former- We did the same as Sam814. we also kept a pizza shaker full of baking soda nearby and put some in each time we threw a diaper away.

[formerroomate99]

Thanks for the suggestions ladies. I'm not sure how to do the soaking in vinegar thing, other than filling up the bathtub, but I'll try wiping it down with vinegar tonight.