Non-toxic cleaning

[miasmom]

Hi, You all have taught me a lot about cleaning without chemicals. I found some more recipes.

Carpet Cleaning

Mix 2 Parts Cornmeal with 1 part borax sprinke liberally, leave,
vaccum after 1 hour

Though baking soda works great for a freshener too

Scouring Powder

1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax
1 Cup Salt

Furninture Polish

1 cup Veggie oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

Dishwasher Cleaner

Run Tang through the cycle

Dishwasher detergent
1 T Baking soda
1T borax

add vinegar to rinse cycle every few loads

[MCR]

I have a question about the carpet cleaning. We need to shampoo the carpets, do you have a recipe I can use with a store rental cleaner?
I cleaned all the rust and well water stains from the dishwasher using 3 packets of unsweetened Kool-Aid (lemon) put into the detergent dispenser and run it on a pot scrubber cycle. It works on any stained coffee cups or dishes too.

[miasmom]

I wonder how Vinegar and hot water would work on carpets? Maybe test a peice in a closet or something. I know that Olivia Newton John is an advocate on Natural cleaning maybe I can find her wed site and it might have ideas. I will have to look at nap time

[lynn_n]

Can anyone tell me a recipe for cleaning tubs, toilets, sinks and floors?

Thanks

[valeria_vi]

Baking soda also works great for dishes. I use it quite often and it never fails. Even the burnt-on stuff that would otherwise take forever to scape off with dishwashing liquids, come off easily with baking soda! I use it for my dishes, stove top and kitchen counters too.

[elnachick]

lynn_n, I have been having pretty good luck cleaning the bathroom sink by putting in a little warm water, a little dash of liquid Dr Bronners, and a good sprinkle of washing soda (since I made the laundry soap I've been hooked on the stuff). The soda works well as a scrubby "grit" to get the scurf off the sink, handles, etc. We have hard water so it takes some elbow grease to get the mineral deposits off, but this works well, I swipe the counter off with it, even dust on the windowsill and other bathroom surfaces. You just need to wipe/rinse well or the soda leaves some white marks - just swipe them with a damp sponge and they go away. I've heard of using a couple of tabs of alka-seltzer and a shot of white vinegar to clean toilets, but haven't tried that yet.

[miasmom]

All I like to use in the bathroom is baking soda and water. Even my 2yr old helps scrub the tub. I just make a nice paste and scrub away. For knobs and such I sprinle BS on and then pour the vinegar over it and it bubbles up and rinses the area really well. I love that when I am done I don't have a horrible headache.
Why do they make all the cleaning supplies so potent and smelly?

[steffi]

I used vinegar and hot water (and a little essential oil) on the carpets with a hot water extraction cleaner and it worked great. I sprayed the solution on the carpet, scrubbed it a little with a scrubbrush, and then sucked it all up and they really brightened up!! My carpets are essentially a huge placcemat, so if it cleaned these, it should work for you. I'm scared of what is in the commercial stuff!!

[Jazmommie]

essential oils

I have been using tea tree oil ,about 10 drops,lavender or spearmint or lemon or peppermint,10 drops,& a few drops of thyme oil.I add water to a spray bottle,add the oils & clean everything with it ,walls,floors,counters,sinks,tubs,etc.
For the toilets I use Bar Keepers Friend & a brush.Sometimes baking soda.
Thanks for all the great ideas,I used to be a bleach person,I do not miss the smell!

[panda]

Speaking of baking soda and stubborn pans, my grandma gave me this tip:

When I've burnt something badly to the bottom of a pan and can't get it off, I put water and a generous dash of baking soda into the pan and boil for a few to ten minutes. I never think it's going to work but the burnt stuff usually flakes right off. I once boiled my crusty stainless steel oven burner trays in a larger pan, and they cleaned up beautifully.

[veganmamma]

I just used the carpet extractor with HOT water, 5 or so drops of tea tree oil, shaken not stirred, and an 8th cup of hydrogen peroxide and my carpets have NEVER been so bright! The HP got out some old blood stains and really brightened it all up nicely. I always run the extractor over the floor on empty at the end to suck up extra fluid. I go over it 5 or so times to really get all the extra water up, and my carpet dried SO fast this time!! I took down my barriers to keep the dogs out by dinnertime. It was FANTASTIC!
Love,
Lauren

edited to add: My extractor shampoos and sucks the juice back out, I just fill up the tank with *really* hot water. I think some of them you have to put the cleaner on the floor and then shampoo, but mine I just fill it up and get to driving it.