Jenny asks…
I’m looking for an all natural household cleaner…?
I would like to start using all natural cleaning products. I’ve heard there are several homemade recipes for cleaners as well but don’t know how to mix them. Any ideas???
AndrewTraub answers:
Vinegar and water has been the oldest remedy for alot of things. try that.
Michael asks…
Would it be safe to mix a teensy bit of Mr. Clean with vinegar as an all purpose cleaner?
I used to use vinegar based natural homemade cleaners but both me and my husband couldn’t stand the house smelling like vinegar all the time – my husband is a mechanic and we have four cats, so I do a lot more cleaning than the average household. I tried adding EO’s but found it barely masked the vinegar and didn’t mix well in the solution anyway. I also found it may disinfect, but didn’t clean as well as I would have liked for an all purpose cleaner. (yes, I’ve tried baking soda, but it’s a pain to use on all surfaces because of the residue it can leave if you don’t get it up perfectly.)
I fell back on Mr. Clean Multipurpose cleaner and it cleans much better and much more pleasant smelling, but I know it’s not antibacterial. I don’t want to switch to a real antibacterial cleaners due to more harsh chemicals than whats in Mr. Clean.
I was thinking about a compromise that would safe AND effective- in a 24 oz spray bottle I was thinking halfs vinegar/water with one tbspn Mr. Clean…?
My question is, would this be a safe mix? I’m not positive of ALL of the ingredients in Mr. Clean’s multipurpose cleaner…..
just an FYI – I’ve heard of using alcohol or peroxide, but with the amount of cleaning I do those would be much more costly than vinegar- trying to keep it cost effective as well!
AndrewTraub answers:
You should never, never I repeat NEVER mix chemicals unless you are a chemist. For your own safety and probably others.
Mandy asks…
New moms, do you go for clean or green?
I used to use harsher cleaners, like Lysol with bleach for example, because I felt like they would really get things clean and get rid of germs. But now that we have a little one on the way, I’ve been trying out new all-natural cleaners. I like them better because they don’t have that harsh smell, but I’m not sure if I believe that they clean as well.
Which do you prefer around your kids? Also, what are your favorite green household cleaners or homemade recipes?
AndrewTraub answers:
The brand Natura makes a line of eco-friendly cleaning products, and that’s what I’m a fan of. You can buy it from Home Hardware.
Natural ingredients like lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, etc. are as effective as the harsher chemicals most are used to using.
You can even use things you find in your kitchen. Vinegar is an ‘all purpose cleaner’. You can use it to wipe down household surfaces (dilute one part water to one part vinegar). It doesn’t smell once it dries, either. The best streak free shine for glass/windows is using pure vinegar (in a spray bottle) and wiping it with a crumpled newspaper. You can use pure vinegar on bathroom surfaces, soap scum and rings, stovetops, counter tops, appliances, etc. You can mop with the 1:1 vinegar/water solution. You can even add 1/2 cup to your rinse cycle when you do laundry for a natural fabric softener.
Lemon juice will shine metals, and get rid of soap scum and hard water deposits.
You can use baking soda like you would a product like Comet. It also removes odors. You can sprinkle it in carpets, leave it for a while, and then vacuum it up. You can also stick a whole box in your fridge or freezer. If you have hamsters, sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom of their cage (especially in the corners where they pee).
You can mix lemon juice with either the vinegar or the baking soda, too. Just don’t mix the baking soda with the vinegar!
You can use a white toothpaste to gently polish silver (it doesn’t work as well as silver polish, but doesn’t smell as bad either). Rub it on with a soft cloth, and then rub off with a soft cloth.
I’ve run a few laboratory tests testing the natural products vs. commercial products, and they clean as well as any other. Plus, they don’t’ have noxious fumes or leave behind that chemical smell.
I use Natura products when I clean, save for the very handy Lysol wipes that I stash under the bathroom and kitchen sinks. Way easier to do a ten second tidy and know it’s germ free that way.
You can use kitchen things for your beauty regiment, too!
Add olive oil to baths for extra dry skin days.
A slice of tomato rubbed across the skin is a great cleanser and will get rid of acne.
A dollop of shampoo mixed with raw egg whites is a fantastic way to moisturize your hair and add shine. Lather, sit five minutes, rinse with lukewarm water.
You can use yoghurt as a natural hair mask.
You can also mash 1/2 a banana and mix with 2 tbsp honey for a natural face mask.
An antipersperant deodorant applied ‘down there’ will eliminate razor burn/bumps in the bikini area.
Raw sugar and a soft toothbrush are a great exfoliant for dry lips. Scrub gently while in the shower and let the gritty sugar and soft bristles slough away dead skin.
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