Child-friendly cleaners for home?

[SollysMom]

I've finally mastered a back carry in my mei tai, so now I'm thinking I have no excuse not to clean my house more frequently. I currently use pretty "mainstream" cleaners.... Lysol all-purpose spray on the kitchen surfaces and Pine-sol on the floor; Scrubbing Bubbles, Clorox wipes, and Comet in the bathroom; Pledge for wood. I want to start using cleaners that will be safe around my 7-month old. TIA for any recommendations!

[ctdoula]

Vinegar!!!!!!!!!! That's all I use to clean my house.

Mix w/water in a spray bottle for general cleaning, kitchen, etc. Mix in hot water to mop floors.

Besides, a little dirt doesn't hurt & is good for the immune system (unlike scrubbing bubbles... shudder).

[SarahGuinn]

We have one spray bottle of water and vinegar, one bottle for tea tree oil and water, a bottle of all purpose Seven Generations Cleaner, one bottle Seven Generations dish soap I use for pots and pans and hands, one box of 365 (whole foods store brand) dish washer detergent, one bottle of Seven Generations washing machine detergent, one spray bottle of Naturally Clean tub and tile cleaner.

None of these cost too much, especially the tto and vinegar. I have to reign in my vinegar and tto because my mayun hates overly scented cleaners. Even natural ones.

We only recently completely switched over to ecopeoplefriendly products and I can't let go of my bleach. Just for white clothes and the white rags I use instead of paper products so it evens out. I just can't.

[AddysMom]

Yep vinegar. Its "Green" and its cheap!

[SollysMom]

What ratio of vinegar : water should I use? And can I use it on everything?

Also, we have a poop stain on the white strap of our bouncy seat (borrowed from my sister). Do I have to use bleach or is there anything else that will get it out?

[alysmommy2004]

I use 50% water and 50% vinegar in my spray bottles. For poop stains you can try either hydrogen peroxide (or oxiclean if you have it) or Bacout. Bacout is a little pricey, but well worth it IMO. It has saved plenty of items around the house for me.

[vm9799]

this is what we use in our home.....

- seventh generation free & clear all purpose cleaner (kitchen)
- seventh generation dish soap (our fave is lemongrass & clementine zest)
- seventh generation free & clear glass cleaner
- baking soda/vinegar (bathroom sink, toilet, bath)
- biokleen bac-out (awesome for stains and just about everything else!)

i must say, just READING the list of the mainstream cleaners you use gave me an instant headache, as the memory of the strong smell and fumes came rushing back. i seriously don't miss that at all.

any of the above cleaners (or what pp have said) are MUCH safer to use around your little one.

[SollysMom]

vm9799 - what ratio of vinegar, baking soda, and water do you use for bathroom?

alysmommy2004 - thanks for the hydrogen peroxide idea. I'll try that and if it doesn't work I'll try Bac-out.

[vm9799]

Originally Posted by SollysMom

vm9799 - what ratio of vinegar, baking soda, and water do you use for bathroom?

alysmommy2004 - thanks for the hydrogen peroxide idea. I'll try that and if it doesn't work I'll try Bac-out.

i actually don't mix my stuff up. i have a shaker bottle (clear glass with a silver top......like for sugar) filled with baking soda that i sprinkle in the toilet and in the sink and bath. then i have straight vinegar in a spray bottle that i spray over the baking soda and let it "react" and then i grab my wet rag and start scrubbing. although i've been know to use my bac-out in the bathroom as well. i honestly don't think that you can mess this up. there are many many sites that have actual recipes too. this site is an EXCELLENT resource!