I want to go more green....household cleaning products!

[ann_of_loxley]

At the moment, I buy 'eco friendly' household cleaning products... So intsead of me going on buying these products that come in plastic bottles, I might as well stop - make my own and just reuse that plastic bottle! lol

At the moment, I am slowly making the switch....I love bicarbonate soda! - I use it in my bathroom, I use it for my teeth, and I am not using it for skincare (bye bye blackheads! lol)....

Now I know with vinegar, this can make a super all around the house cleaner...but lets face it...vinegar smells...welll....vinegary! lol

So - does anyone have a link to some recipes I can use to make some nice smelling natural household cleaners?

That would be ace...and I bet would save money too!

Thanks!

[jyurina]

okay no links but some personal experience. I just bought the big $30 bag of soapnuts and between daily loads of laundry and making liquid soap out of it I have barely made a dent in it. I use vinegar and water with some tea tree oil in it for all purpose cleaner(with a little baking soda for scrubbing)The smell lasts for all of 10 minutes-if you really hate it add lavendar Eo and it smells yummy. So basically I have spent a grand total of about $35 for all my cleaning, laundry, and most of my skincare and it should last for about 6 months-not bad

[koru]

I could've written your post about a year ago. I dappled in making my own cleaners but never really fell in love. Then I found Shaklee! The secret is to only buy the BasicH (and a set of spray bottles if you want the cute ladybug & sunflower & butterfly . This will make about a year's worth of All-Purpose Cleaner, Degreaser & Window Cleaner for $17 ~ $10 if you don't buy the bottles. There *is* shipping but if you convince a few friends to try it out, you can split that cost. Some of the other Shaklee products are a bit expensive but you can't beat the price for just the BasicH...and it works great. (and while you're checking out the website, look at the scour off...ground cherry pits! The yummiest way to scrub the bathroom tiles.)

I'm not a distributor, even though you'd think I was by my Shaklee-love talk. Here's a link to their website....

http://www.shaklee.net/Lapointe

[Attached Mama]

I use a 7th generation all purpose cleaner for most things (tho I've just heard they are high in dioxins ???). I also have a toilet bowl ecover cleaner. I use 7th Gen for the dishwasher and ecover for the hand dishes. For laundry I use a dash of Dr Bronner's added to some water b4 putting in laundry. If things are really dirty I'll add some baking soda or some vinegar or for occasional things some non-chlorine bleach. Ecover makes an excellent stain remover btw.

Having only 2 general cleaners saves loads. I use the all purpose on mirrors, counters, toilet seats etc. Then the more scrubby type I use in the toiilet and shower. Making my own laundry detergent from Dr Bronner's saves a ton. You seriously only need maybe 2 tsp for a load of wash as it's super concentrated.

[shay]

I also use shaklee. Vinegar works nice in the shower for water build up stains, counters, glass, cut urine smells on toilet ... I also have a spray bottle of water mixed with drops of essential oil, usually lavendar, that I use to wipe with.

[Smidge]

I just add Lemon EO to my baking soda/vinegar cleaning mix

[Best Feeling]

My favorite cleaner is 1 gall water, mixed with 2 tsp TTO and 1-2 tsp castile soap. I mix it up in a used milk jug and then pour into a spray bottle. I use it for almost everything. I use baking soda mixed with a little bit of water (to make a paste) to clean anything that needs 'scrubbing and is easy to rinse (tubs, sinks, toilet bowls).

I still use vinegar and water too but the above is my favorite cleaner.

[EkkaGrrl]

The water, TTO and castile soap is my favourite too. I use it for everything! In the bathroom I also use vinegar. Super easy and cheap.

[tracyhos]

I like Shaklee too!

I bought the Basic H and bottles. It is awesome! The window cleaner (dilution of Basic H) is just amazing. It works better than anything else I've ever used.

[SAHDS]

Are Soapnuts and/or Shaklee available in stores or only through websites?

Thanks.

[OpenHanded]

subbing :

[avendesora]

I'd like to recommend the book "Better Basics for the Home." Many great cleaning recipes for home and body.

It's way better than Clean Home Clean Planet - which recommends mixing baking soda and vinegar in the same bottle (they neutralize each other in the bottle, they do NOT give the spray double cleaning power.)

Aven

[abemom2]

For those with Shaklee: Is it all natural ingreients? I'm looking only for the Basic-H cleaner.

I'm thinking of swithching to them from Melaleuca, and want to know if it's that much better.
If not I'll try the vinegar mixes.....

Also, regarding the soap nuts: When I finish my batch of detergent about another month's worth I want to try it to swith over to them. What are the best companies, or are they all the same?

Also is the soapnuts shampoo that good? Or would the California Oraganics or other organic companies be better?

I'm not into making my own shampoo yet!

Thanks so much,
Ana

[mjg013]

I've been using melaleuca products that I get from my friend who cleans houses professionally. But now I'm looking at getting this.

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages...ontv.html?gid=

You can't really get more natural than water and Costco has it for $129.99.

[ContentMom]

Originally Posted by avendesora

I'd like to recommend the book "Better Basics for the Home." Many great cleaning recipes for home and body.

Thank you for the info! I looked this book up on Amazon and read the reviews. It looks great! I just placed a hold at my local library for this book. I can't wait to read it. I would love to make all of my own healthy, green cleaners at home. :

[chevy974]

I am a Shaklee distributor and have been for about 6 yrs. I love shaklee. There products are great and Shaklee has been in buisness for over 50 yrs. I love there cleaning line the GET clean line. Basic H can be used on everything from windows to fruit wash to laundry (stains it works GREAT) pets to repell fleas, Mosquito repellant household degreaser and on and on. The laundry soap last forever I have a family of 6 and I pay 10.95 for 32 oz that last me about 4 month. I use 1 1/2 pumps in my laundry also I will add a 1/4 scoop of nature bright if things are bad stained or even a few drops of basic H. We also sell a disinfectant called Basic G which kills for 3 days in surfaces comapred to 3 hours of bleach. I even use basic H in my house plants you wouldnt believe how they grow.

I am offering a packet of info for anyone interested in Shaklee. I have price comparison sheets to.

Shaklee is the only company to have the landmark study.
http://www.landmarkstudy.com

if there is anything I can answer for you please let me know.

blessings
amy

[gemasita]

I have the book Clean Home, Clean Planet and love it. Everything in there is so simple. I have also heard that Organic Housekeeping is good.

[jyurina]

I buy the soapnuts from Maggies Pureland. I haven't tried washing my hair with it. I switched right from Melalueca to making my own cleaner and it is MUCH cheaper.

[LolaMommy]

okay, i'm just starting to go green and this is what i've tried...

charlie's soap (get mine for $13 with s/h from http://www.naturalneighborshop.com
dr. bronners (many uses, some i like and some i don't) - just found out that you can get it cheap at vitacost.com
vinegar (i've been using it forever. love it)
california baby
just got some bac out from biokleen
just got some kd gold today - can't wait to try it

i'll have to think of what else.

i recommend the database at skindeep http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ and debra's list at /http://www.debraslist.com/

sorry, i'm in a bit of a hurry. more later!

There are more suggestions in my blog...
My Journey to Green

[wendinbill]

Ditto many of the others: homemade laundry soap (I add a splash of Seventh Generation to extra dirty loads) vinegar in the rinse, club soda on my windows (works GREAT) baking soda, Dr. Bronner's, tea tree oil. On my furniture I use water, olive oil, vinegar & lemon e.o. Love that! I scrub my kitchen sink with Borax & soap.