Natural Cleaning Brands/Products that Really Work?

[katesk]

Hello,
I finally (!) realized I really want to make the switch to using natural cleaning products.

Anyways - I'm new to most of the products/brands - and started with Seventh Generation. So far, I like them, but have been a bit disapointed with some of the results - specifically the laundry detergent and the dishwashing gel. Maybe I'm just assuming that the results should be the same as the toxic versions? Maybe I shouldn't hold the natural healthier options to the same standards? A little dirt doesn't hurt??

Does anyone have any brand reccommendations for best natural cleaning products/brands? Those that are natural, but still really get the job done?

THANKS!

[Amydoula]

I really have very good results with the Seventh Generation products. If you have stains that you have a hard time with you can soak the laundry in some white vinegar ahead of time. I like biopac bathroom cleaner the best, and I like the seventh gen powder dishwasher detergent, never tried the gel. Citrasol makes a nice glass cleaner. I do notice that I need to scrub a little more with the natural cleaners but if I have a stubborn mess I mix some vinegar and baking soda and that does the trick. I also like Sun and Earth for a multipurpose cleaner.

Amy

[Artisan]

Have you tried The Method products? I don't know if they qualify as super-crunchy, but they are much better than a lot of stuff out there. I particularly like their mandarin orange multi-purpose spray (and their grapefuit spray as well). You can buy them at Target.

[hubris]

I've never liked the 7th Generation products, but LOVE Mrs. Meyers. Dr. Bronner's soaps are also great for a lot of cleaning purposes.

The Method products say "natural" but I'm not sure what Target considers "natural". People I know who use them are happy with their cleaning powers, I'm just uncertain about how legitimate their natural claim is, espectially with their scents and colors, and the fact that Target produces them. They might be fine, I'm just skeptical.

[Artisan]

Originally Posted by funshine

I've never liked the 7th Generation products, but LOVE Mrs. Meyers. Dr. Bronner's soaps are also great for a lot of cleaning purposes.

The Method products say "natural" but I'm not sure what Target considers "natural". People I know who use them are happy with their cleaning powers, I'm just uncertain about how legitimate their natural claim is, espectially with their scents and colors, and the fact that Target produces them. They might be fine, I'm just skeptical.

Target doesn't produce them... they just carry them. They were available in specialty stores before getting picked up by Target. The bottle says non-toxic, biodegradable, naturally derived.

[camprunner]

my Allen's naturally dishwasher detergent works great. Other than that I usually just make my cleaners.

[stayinghome]

I like 7th Generation products. I also just make my own stuff- an all purpose cleaner, a toilet cleaner, and a vinigar leaner for windows/glass.

[gilnikche]

Have you tried the products at Trader Joe's? I also like Ecover products.

[Melis]

Hi Kate

I just began on this journey a few months ago and have found that there are some natural products that I LOVE, but others that have had me running for my old stuff. With the high cost of organic/natural products, I have found a balance that I can live with and am fairly happy about. I highly recommend Karen Logan's book, "Clean House Clean Planet". I think she did a great job and is very honest about what does work and what doesn't. I use her Earth Scrub (shower and tub), Alice's Wonder Spray (all-purpose spray for just about anything, but I mainly use it in the bathroom), and a few scented vinegars and baking sodas. I wash my hardwood floors with hot water and a splash of vinegar with TTO. I also switched from Windex to Club Soda for my glass cleaning. I use lemon scented baking soda to clean my SS sink and it really does shine! I love cleaning my wood with her "Dust to Dust" furniture polish. I still have a ton of hand soap and dishwashing detergent and soap. I think I will switch to Dr. Bronner's for hand soap and dishwashing, but I'm unsure of what I will do for the dishwasher. I don't do a ton of loads in the dishwasher, but my conscience really wants to find an alternative to the "yucky stuff".

The greatest challenge that I found along the way to natural cleaning was....LAUNDRY!!! I just couldn't live with the Seventh Generation laundry products. I have been a faithful Tide/Downy gal for years. I gave it a fair shot and tried using borax, vinegar, baking soda and EO's, but sadly, nothing compared for me. I now use the Tide "with a little touch of Downy" and find myself using only a teeny-tiny bit of it for a large load. Previously, I was only using 1/3 of the cup that they give you, and now I am using half as much as before and skipping the Downy ball that was filled to the suggested line. I know it's still not ideal, but for the meantime, I am satisfied with the many other changes that I have made. I may try Ecover in the future...who knows!

Good luck with your journey and I hope this helps
Melissa

[yitlan]

I love Allen's and have good results with 7th Generation, too. But many experiences are very heavily dependent on the water in your area, so I would suggest asking some local folks. Some detergents just don't seem to do well in some areas. Good luck!

[momto l&a]

www.oxyboost.com has some stuff I really like

I like their oxygen bleach, works very well for my laundry.
Their orange cleaner is wonderful
Their stuff for removing hard water stains is also good.

[LaLa]

baking soda
vinegar
liquid castile soap
hydrogen peroxide

that is all you need!

But if you want more simplicity then that (although I recommend you try it)
check out
www.kokogm.com

The dishmate is a fantastic dish soap
the Enviro Rite tub and tile is GREAT for bathtub
and they have all purpose orange and pine concentrates that will clean almost everything else and they last for EVER!

BioKleen is a fantastic laundry detergent that you can buy from kokogm in bulk at a very reasonable price

HTH

[soladeo]

I just tried Mrs. Meyers all-purpose cleaner on my floor (Lemon)- and loved it! The smell is heavenly, and it cleans real nice.

Usually, I use baking soda and vinegar on most everything. I just started using fleece as a rag, and really like that too! I found heating up the vinegar helps.

I use rubbing alcohol a lot too, esp. on kitchen appliances.

[leomom]

Does anyone else use baking soda in the dishwasher? I read about it somewhere..I use about 2T. of it where the soap goes and vinegare in the place where the rinse aid goes...I've had great results...

Has anyone tried just baking soda and vinegar in the washing machine? I haven't done that yet...but I'm almost out of detergent and am not planning to buy more, so I need to figure something out soon...maybe a laundry ball?

[stayinghome]

leomom- I did baking soda in the dishwasher for awhile, but over time my glasses got a cloudy film over them. Maybe the vinegar helps with that?

[yitlan]

I didn't have much luck with baking soda in the dishwasher. But I didn't try vinegar with it.

[leomom]

Ok, well what are your favorite/cheap dishwashing detergents?

[momto l&a]

I use to use baking soda with borax ( 1 T of each) in my dishwasher, worked well IMO. I used vinegar as a rinse aid and ended up etching my brand new dishwasher. Because of that my dishwasher is permantly stained.

I now use the bucket of Kirkland dishwasher soap. those buckets :LOL

[peekyboo]

Here's the stuff I've used and liked

Seventh Generation -

Kitchen spray
Dishwashing liquid
Bathroom spray
and their diapers are great! If you must use disposables, buy these!

Did not care for their dishwasher stuff though.

Ecover dishwasher tabs seemed to work well.

The Method fabric softening sheets (love the scents!), window cleaner, general cleaning spray...their dishwashing liquid is good, but I hate the cucumber scent of it.

I've also used Simple Green (diluted) in my carpet cleaner. It does a great job. Also does a nice job on the kitchen and bathroom floors.

[NaturalFamiLEA]

I use Shaklee Basic H, I, and G. Love the stuff!