favorite cleaning products :) because this is an ongoing theme for me!

[Nicola]

i like anything with a eucalyptus smell to it

 

[justuschickens59]

I don't use chemicals either. There is very little that you can't clean with vinegar, baking soda, salt, lemon juice, and olive oil. Much cheaper, much healthier for you and Mother Earth. Also, since we need bacteria, I am not obsessed with getting rid of every little germ and bacteria as society seems to be these days.

 

[shortstaque]

Quote:
I agree. Storey has a great book The Naturally Clean Home. I have whittled down my home cleaners to Lavender Soft Scrubber for all ceramic and stainless steel surfaces in kitchen and bath, Lavender Anti-Bacterial Spray cleaner for doorknobs, outside of the toilet and a quick clean for any painted or ceramic surface, Citrus Floor Cleaner for tile or linoleum floors and window and door frames, Pine Fresh Floor Cleaner for hardwood flooring and wood trim, and Mirror Fresh for any shiny surface. Essential oils leave a fresh scent without synthetic perfumes that give me an immediate headache.

I used to sell homemade cleaning products at our local farmers market. The Lavender Soft Scrubber was far and away the consumer favorite. Years later I still see former customers and they ask when I'm going to start selling it again. Here is the recipe:

Mix together 3/4 c. baking soda, 1/4 cup liquid castile soap, 2 crushed vitamin C tablets, 5 drops lavender essential oil and enough water to make it flow a little. I put it in an old plastic honey squeeze bottle.

Scrub surface with a bit of cleanser on a rag or green scrubbie and then rinse well. Makes porcelain and stainless sinks shine!!! Smells great.

 

[Whispering Winds]

I use Melaleuca products, their Melamagic with a drop of Solumel in it is one of the most amazing cleaners I have ever tried, on anything hard surface. It comes in concentrate, so if you use their products like this one, you save enough plastic to make 600 clothes baskets a year. I thought that was pretty impressive. 80% of their products have tea tree oil from Australia in them, and that oil is the most healing amazing stuff I have ever seen in my life. Their salves are just astounding on cuts and sores, it disinfects and heals all at the same time. I order once a month, and of course its like a pyramid (but so is Wal-Mart, no one just looks at it like that, as is every major store, industry or otherwise in this country) but I don't hassle a soul to join through me. I just love their products so much, I do it for me.

 

[justuschickens59]

Quote:
I agree. Storey has a great book The Naturally Clean Home. I have whittled down my home cleaners to Lavender Soft Scrubber for all ceramic and stainless steel surfaces in kitchen and bath, Lavender Anti-Bacterial Spray cleaner for doorknobs, outside of the toilet and a quick clean for any painted or ceramic surface, Citrus Floor Cleaner for tile or linoleum floors and window and door frames, Pine Fresh Floor Cleaner for hardwood flooring and wood trim, and Mirror Fresh for any shiny surface. Essential oils leave a fresh scent without synthetic perfumes that give me an immediate headache.

I used to sell homemade cleaning products at our local farmers market. The Lavender Soft Scrubber was far and away the consumer favorite. Years later I still see former customers and they ask when I'm going to start selling it again. Here is the recipe:

Mix together 3/4 c. baking soda, 1/4 cup liquid castile soap, 2 crushed vitamin C tablets, 5 drops lavender essential oil and enough water to make it flow a little. I put it in an old plastic honey squeeze bottle.

Scrub surface with a bit of cleanser on a rag or green scrubbie and then rinse well. Makes porcelain and stainless sinks shine!!! Smells great.

The recipe sounds great. I will have to try that. I grow a large variety of herbs and I make my own essential oils (including lavender). I also make my own soap, so I'll have to try your recipe. THANKS !! I mop my floors in hot water and vinegar, and I usually toss in some herbs for scent. All my floors are hardwood. I use baking soda to clean most every surface and I also use baking soda for fabric softener. For wood furniture, I use olive oil and lemon juice. I cannot bear the smell of those chemical cleaners - they are suffocating, and no matter what they advertise the "scent" to be, it all smells like nasty chemicals to me. I only spend a few dollars yearly on cleaning supplies now, whereas I used to spend HUNDREDS !!! In addition to the money I save, I'm also saving my health and this planet we all call home.

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:
x2

 

[Ewe Mama2]

Red Juice from the Clean Team

 

[Candiss]

Crest-o-mint mint oil and Dr. Bronners Tea Tree Oil Liquid Soap. Both very good products..

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Exactly. Throw in a natural soap for grease. We probably all have a favorite cheat, mine being Easy Off, though the overnight baking soda soak did work.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Did anyone mention "elbow grease"? It works really well too.