Log in

View Full Version : Cleaning products



TxZen
2-5-15, 5:33pm
How many do y'all have? I went to help out a friend, who is sick, clean her home. The entire kitchen sink underneath was filled with cleaning products. Her house is only 1000 square feet.

I have an all purpose cleaner- Mrs. Meyers that I make up as I go and need in a bottle (I do everything from top to bottom, kitchen to bathroom, even tile floors), a bottle of Windex and I throw a dash of bleach in the toilets after cleaning with the all purpose cleaner. 1 large bottle of Dawn and dishwasher tabs. I have some leather cleaner, Amor All, some basic soap for my Jeep. I thought this was a lot but I guess not.

mschrisgo2
2-6-15, 1:29am
How many products? Not much. A can of Comet that I use for the toilets, Windex for the mirrors, concentrated all-purpose cleaner for counter tops, bathroom fixtures, kitchen sink, etc., vinegar and baking soda for the tub, non-chlorine bleach goes into the mop water for the kitchen and bathroom floors, concentrated carpet shampoo for the Hoover carpet steamer. The Comet, Windex, and carpet shampoo last "forever." I buy the baking soda and vinegar in large quantities, so they are very inexpensive. The non-chlorine bleach is the most expensive at $3.99 a gallon, and I use about half gallon a month. (I have house dogs.) About once a year I buy a small bottle of Dawn at the Dollar store. (also buy my laundry detergent there, $1 instead of $10 at the supermarket). So that's 9 products, including laundry detergent. I figure I spend about $3/month on cleaning products.

Many years ago (40?), I realized I was polluting the air in the house with chemicals and stopped buying all the latest and greatest, as advertised, cleaning products and went to simple, non-toxic products. I was so happy I did when I had my own child, and later when I became a dog mom, and even more so when my grands arrived. Now I also appreciate the tremendous amount of dollars saved!

I take my car to the car wash; they recycle the water, and that's a big deal here in drought-California.

ApatheticNoMore
2-6-15, 2:24am
I have a bottle of Mrs Meyers, some Comet for when I need bleach (rarely but it has it's uses), Bon Ami for what I don't and just need some abrasion, Seventh Generation dishwashing detergent. Ok those things I actually like. I also have a cleaner I tried called "naturally it's clean kitchen" but it doesn't seem of much use (not recommended), and some cleaner that seems to have gotten left here.

The car gets cleaned - by nature when it rains.

lessisbest
2-6-15, 9:38am
I do most of my weekly cleaning (tub/shower, toilets, floors, flat surfaces, faucets, etc.) with steam using distilled water (steam mop or steam cleaner) and a cloth rag, bar mop, or micro-fiber towel. Seasonally I'll steam the beds, rugs, furniture, drapes, etc. Plain old “elbow grease”, along with mild soap and water, and an occasional Mr. Clean Magic Sponge, will clean most things.

Ingredients used to make cleaners, sanitizers, air fresheners, and misc. other "natural" cleaners when needed:

-Distilled vinegar
-Hydrogen peroxide
-Baking soda
-Cream of tartar
-Thieves Oil
-Liquid Castile Soap
-Witch Hazel
-Aloe Vera Gel
-Corn Starch
-91% Isopropyl Alcohol

I do keep bleach on hand, but not liquid bleach. Liquid bleach looses it's effectiveness quickly, and since I don't use it very often, I store Evolve - Ultra Concentrated Bleach Tablets (available at Wal-Mart). Now I can make a small amount of liquid bleach with a tablet and water when needed.

*Bar Keepers Friend – used to clean our 39-year old stainless steel cookware and the stainless steel sink.

Recipes:
Hand Sanitizer:
2 T. aloe vera gel
1 T. 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
5 drops Thieves Oil

Disinfectant Spray:
In a 4-oz. glass bottle (brown or blue glass) mix:
20 drops Thieves Oil
½ t. sea salt
fill with DISTILLED water

BRAUN Shaver Cleaning Cartridge:
Shake out used cartridge. Add:
91% Isopropyl Alcohol
½ t. light machine oil
10 drops lemon oil
a couple drops of L.O.C. (Amway product)

Stainless Steel Cleaner:
1 part cream of tarter
1 part hydrogen peroxide

Window Cleaner:
This is a recipe from a friend who does professional window cleaning.
Mix 1-2 T. cornstarch into ½-gallon of hot water. Swab windows with a sponge and squeegee off. Clean up any drips or the corners with a dry cloth towel/rag.


CAUTION: 6 Things You Should Never Clean with Vinegar
1) Granite and marble countertops – acid will etch natural stone.
2) Stone floor tile – avoid acidic cleaners.
3) An egg stain – acidity will cause it to coagulate.
4) Steam iron – may clean, but it may also damage the iron.
5) Stains in fabric – vinegar can set stains.

SteveinMN
2-8-15, 6:09pm
DW and I have this little running battle over cleaning products. I could live with just vinegar; Bon Ami; salt; Seventh Generation dish soap, dishwasher detergent, and toilet bowl cleaner; and some essential oils. I really cannot express how much I hate the smell of bleach, nevermind its effect on the environment.

DW is buying the Windex and the bleach wipes and bathroom-tile scrubbers. Since I'm usually the one cleaning the house, though, those items sit until I declutter them to either the haz-mat recycling (or, in some cases, one of the local thrift stores which will take such stuff). And DW, not finding them on the rare occasions she cleans the house, then goes and buys more. >8) Not our finest moment....

markcuban
3-8-16, 8:22am
I agree with Lessisbest, the cost of commercial and chemical based products can be high. There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products. Here is a list:

Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.

Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.

Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.

Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.

White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.

Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.

Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant.

Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.

Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)

Float On
3-8-16, 11:51am
Bar Keepers Friend
Dawn
multi-purpose cleaner (husband bought it)
windex (husband bought it)
vinegar
baking soda
borax
still have 1/2 a bottle of the free sample of flat top stove cleaner that came with the stove
my husband bought toilet bowl cleaner (I'd just use other stuff)
can of carpet cleaner (probably 10 years old)
laundry detergent
peroxide
isopropyl alcohol
can of pledge (mom bought it for me on one of her visits)
jar of wood oil

ToomuchStuff
3-8-16, 3:45pm
Here is to hoping Mark didn't just join to spam product.

beckyliz
3-8-16, 6:10pm
I've bought a few Norwex products - they're sold "direct sales" or MLM, but I like them. The cloths can clean a lot of stuff with just water, which is nice.

Gardnr
3-9-16, 7:34am
Nearly everything I clean uses vinegar and baking soda.

I have 7th generation dishsoap.

I have ECOS laundry detergent.

And I use whatever is cheapest in our bad dishwasher as we essentially have to clean it off as it goes in. We run on average,2-3 X/week so it can sit for up to 4d.

I think there is a bottle of bleach on the shelf-likely 7+ years old as I rarely use it.