Need To Get Rid of Toxic Cleaners... Help!

[chely7425]

I need to get rid of the toxic yucky cleaners in my house. I am sure there are threads about it but being pregnant and having 2 toddlers is sapping my brain power so I hope it is ok to ask in a new thread I am sick of having to be SO careful to make sure the rags don't get around any other clothes so the yuck and chemicals stay on the rags. I need new cleaners for:

-windows
-kitchen
-bathroom
-glass top stove

I am ok with buying cleaners or making my own. Thanks!

[MonP'titBoudain]

I use 100% vinegar for windows and also for the stove top and toilet.

For sinks & tubs/showers I use a squirt Dr Bronner's and baking soda to make up a sort of soft scrub right onto the surface.

For an all-purpose type spray I use 50/50 vinegar and water. I use this on walls, counters, some things with grout (too much acid will actually eat the grout, so don't use 100% vinegar on tile). I also clean the kitchen floor with this. Sometimes I'll clean the wood floors with this, but I tend to prefer Murphy's Oil soap for that.

Really, vinegar, baking soda and Dr Bronner's make up almost all of my cleaning cabinet. It's a bit more scrubbing sometimes, but I haven't really noticed it to be a lot more work. And it smells 1,000 times better to me than the nasty chemicals in most cleaners that linger and linger in the house. hth!

[chely7425]

Does using the vinegar to clean make the whole house smell like vinegar? Cuz I really don't think DH would be ok with that one...

[ThisCat]

Originally Posted by chely7425

Does using the vinegar to clean make the whole house smell like vinegar? Cuz I really don't think DH would be ok with that one...

It does smell vinegary for awhile after but you can use some essential oils to make it smell better. Peppermint or lavender work well but there are tons of options really.

Personally, I don't mind vinegar smell and would much prefer it over chemical cleaner smell, but it took my DH a little while to adjust. He got over it though.

[MonP'titBoudain]

Yeah, what ThisCat said. And I've never noticed the smell to linger for more than maybe an hour or so at most. Way less than the smell of chemical cleaners lingers on.

[chely7425]

I actually have some lavender essential oil so maybe I will give that a try My other question is this... we cloth diaper and I don't use pail liners, just the pail, so will 100% vinegar kill the germies like bleach spray does in the pail? I guess by extension, will it kill it in the bathrooms and stuff too?

Also... usually I use Clorox Anywhere spray (bad, I know) to do the sinks and counters and as an all purpose spray, that would be replaced by a half vinegar/half water spray?

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

Originally Posted by chely7425

I actually have some lavender essential oil so maybe I will give that a try My other question is this... we cloth diaper and I don't use pail liners, just the pail, so will 100% vinegar kill the germies like bleach spray does in the pail? I guess by extension, will it kill it in the bathrooms and stuff too?

Also... usually I use Clorox Anywhere spray (bad, I know) to do the sinks and counters and as an all purpose spray, that would be replaced by a half vinegar/half water spray?

how about just dishwashing liquid? I use it to clean the counters . You could use some non-toxic kind like 7th generation unscented.

I am almost threw with my non-toxic cleaners, but i do have quite a bit of more eco friendly cleaners to move on to. But honestly i am not a germophope so often times i will wipe the counters with plain water, and once a week use soap and water or a spray cleaner to clean it or after i cook meat or eggs and before and after we have company over. But really most the time the counter just needs a wipe with plain water and a rag.

I know i used soap and water many times to clean the diaper pail when ds was cding.

[chely7425]

Hmmm good thought on the dishwashing liquid... my DH is kind of a germaphobe, so that plus the fact that the humidity here makes us get mold really easy is why we use bleach but it seems like vinegar but accomplish the same thing!

[MonP'titBoudain]

Vinegar is a disinfectant. However, if you need a stronger disinfectant (like bleach) you can spray 100% vinegar and then 100% peroxide. The reaction of the two is actually a stronger disinfectant than chlorine bleach (of course, now I can't find the link to that study... anyone else have it handy?). I also spray 100% peroxide on my white plastic-composite sink to help keep it white. For regular counter use, straight vingegar or vinegar and water has always been enough for me

[MonP'titBoudain]

Found it! Look here for more info on the vinegar/peroxide combo. I can't dig up the actual study though....

[chely7425]

Peroxide, like the normal peroxide that you buy in the grocery store? That sounds like it would work really well, and thank you so much for finding the link for me!!

[MonP'titBoudain]

Yep, just regular, at the pharmacy, hydrogen peroxide. The one thing I've learned is that it keeps longer if it stays in a dark bottle. I took the sprayer off a new spray bottle ond screwed that onto the brown bottle. It fit fine.

For whitening with peroxide, spray and leave it to dry. It's pretty effective!

[chely7425]

Thank you so much! Once I get my hands on some spray bottles I think I will do one half vinegar/half water, one full vinegar, and then screw a top onto a bottle of peroxide. Someone had mentioned it would be ok to add some essential oils to the vinegar? I have lavender and tea tree oil... which would be better and how much would I add?

[MonP'titBoudain]

YK, I never really got into using the essential oils cause I don't mind the smell of the vinegar much. Maybe start with 20 drops? If that's not strong enough add more? I'm totally guessing. TTO would give some more disinfecting/antimicrobial qualities, but honestly, the vinegar is a strong enough disinfectant that if you really prefer the lavender scent, go for it! Maybe someone else will have a more specific answer for you. Have fun! It's really pretty straightforward, but there's room for perfecting to your own habits and household.

[luv-my-boys]

I try not to use vinegar as much as I dont really care too much for the smell even though it dissipates over time. I use a mix of tea tree oil and water I also have another bottle that I add a few drops of lemon EO, TTO and water that I use that smells so clean and fresh.

[Pepper44]

I mix 1/3 water, 1/3 vinegar, and 1/3 hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. It cleans amazingly well! It takes the filth right out of my bathtub and leaves it sparkling white. It works great on dirty windows too. It gets the crusty stuff out of the microwave if you spray and let it sit for a second, and also gets the nasty old food off of dishes that DH takes to work then forgets in his car. I use it for almost everything!

I'm interested in that vinegar/peroxide link...off to check that out...

[Pepper44]

From that link...

Author's note, updated February 2008: The question I get asked most by readers is, "Can I mix the hydrogen peroxide and vinegar into one sprayer?" The short answer is: EEK - No! The longer answer is: never mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together in one container. The resulting chemical, peracetic acid, can harm you when mixed together this way if you accidentally create a strong concentration in this fashion. Peracetic acid also has entirely different characteristics and properties than either hydrogen peroxide or vinegar. Additionally, we don't know if peracetic acid kills the same group of pathogenic food-borne bacteria when used this way as a spray - it very well may not.

Hmm...maybe I should stop mixing the two? I've been doing it for awhile and nothing bad has ever happened.

[chely7425]

Hi Amy! Glad nothing has happened with mixing the 2 yet.. though maybe I won't try it!! My luck something horrible would happen

[AKislandgirl]

I mix baking soda and dish soap together to make soft scrub. Just add and stir until you get the consistency of frosting. I use this to clean the tub and sinks.

For everything else I use a mix of vinegar and water in a spray bottle with a few drops of dish soap or Dr Bronners. I never add essential oil and the smell of vinegar is gone really fast.

I recently started using Rockin' Green laundry detergent which is working great for us. I used to scoops diluted in water in the dispenser of the carpet shampooer to clean the carpets the other day (after my dog puked all over, yuck!) and it cleaned it beautifully without the nasty smell of carpet shampoo.

Another option is to purchase this cleaner. CJ's all purpose is really a great cleaner. I think its fun to be able to choose your own scent. Green and non-toxic. While I've been happy with my vinegar cleaner I find that this is a good option too.

[chely7425]

Thank you for the tips! I have been wondering what to do with my carpets...