i am trying to make a total switch to natural cleaners. this is my goal by the new year. when i started to think about it, i could not believe how many chemicals i was coming in contact with each day. so far i have used vinegar to clean windows, works great. also add it to clothes wash, they turn out really soft. soda bicarbonate to scrub kitchen counters and bathroom surfaces. i am also using coffee grounds to fertilize my plants now.
anyone else do this?
RE: safe household cleaners
Starfish,
Good for you! What a great idea. So much better than all those chemicals we use.
Uve made me feel so ashamed when i think of all the bought products i use to clean the house[:'(][:o]
Im not sure of any others but im sure someone will come up with something.
RE: safe household cleaners
that's great! i read a statistic somewhere that said a very high percentage of all chemical pollution is domestic, not industrial. i am trying to make my own products too. its safe, usually more effective and definatly cheaper then buying chemicals in the store. i highly recommend the book '1001 Natural Remedies' by Laurel Vukovic. it has amazing receipes and ideas on how to make and use alot of natural products in all aspects of your life. right now i'm in the process of steeping my first batch of facial toner, and am trying to track down a couple ingredients for home cleaning. here are some easy receipes:
glass cleaner - vinegar and water, and use newspaper to wipe the glass (lemon juice and water works too)
kitchen grease cutter - 30g baking soda, 125ml distilled white vinegar, 1 tsp natural liquid dishwashing soap, 5L hot water and 5 drops lemon essential oil (i think squeezing a lemon would be good too instead).
also, i'm just moving into a new flat, and the oven was filthy! i did use a chemical cleaner to eat away the huge build up of grease and burnt food, but now i can keep it clean by - spraying inside with warm water, sprinkling on baking soda, spray with warm water again, leave over night, wipe clean with hot water.
and my new flat has a garburator which had a terrible smell coming from it. i solved that with 1 lemon (cut in half), a good couple pinches baking soda (will bubble on the lemon) and about 125ml of vinegar. turn garburator on and use lots of hot water to wash it all down. the bad smell was gone almost instantly, replaced by a nice lemony smell.
sorry to babble on so much, but i'm really inspired right now and excited making all my new batches of household products. i hope others have their receipes and tips to share.
RE: safe household cleaners
Hi
I get all my non chemical cleaners from QVC the shopping channel it is so easy and they deliver straight to the door!! Good for busy people like me:)
I use Simple Green Kitchen Cleaner non-toxic this is a multi- cleaner for the floors, toilet, kitchen etc, safe for use around animals and children.
I also use Astonish Anti-Bacterial Cleanser too. Also baking soda and white vinegar mixed together works as well as bleach and non toxic.
Hope this is helpful
QVC: 0800 504030 (Free phone order line number)
Sue
x
RE: safe household cleaners
Hi starfish,
A good natural fertilizer for your plants are tea leaves and crushed egg shells.
Good luck with changing over, we all have to do our bit to cut out the chemicals we use.
I recycle all my household waste and rubbish, and it is nice to know there are other like minded people out there.
L & L
DC
RE: safe household cleaners
Hi Starfish
I thought 
MMmmmmmmm she's been reading 'the book' 
until I read on and noted that you've been going GREEN for some time now :D:D:D
Well, if you look at the back ... you'll find loads of natural recipes [:-] and for body & hair cleansing too ... not that I can bring myself to do without my face wash, shampoo & other shower delights 
I studied the lady who presented the seminar I attended yesterday, & must admit that I'd love to look like her ... @ 42 she looks 22, with porcelain skin, thick glossy long hair & just a picture of health hard to believe she had 2 cancers & a multitude of other ailments [:'(] & was either wheelchair or bed bound not so long ago:D
GOOD LUCK;)
@nnie.
RE: safe household cleaners
starfish, i use vinegar to de-scale my kettle. it works really well. you have to leave it for a while though, i have found if you add some water to it as well, say 50/50 mix it works better.
RE: safe household cleaners
vicky, can you tell me what type of vinegar you use and where you find it? I've been looking for plain distilled white vinegar to use in cleaning, and can't find it anywhere (i've looked in big and small supermarkets). does distilled malt, white wine or cider vinegar work just as well? thanks!
RE: safe household cleaners
Tinkerpuppet,
I have used cider vinegar, but now i just use plain old malt, they all seem to do the same job. i never heat up the kettle and i add just cold water to it and leave - depending how scaled it is obviously, for about an hour, but you may need to leave overnight if its really bad.
vicki