Archive for the 'Cleaning products' Category

July 26, 2008 | Dusting, Cleaning tips, Cleaning products

As much as I love making a nice dusting solution out of lemon juice and olive oil, I’ve found something easier - and cheaper too. Find a trusty spray bottle and add 2-3 teaspoons liquid fabric softener (we like this one), then fill with water (we used a 16-oz bottle).

If you’re a rag-duster, use a cotton rag or microfiber cloth, spray the cloth to dampen, and dust away. If you prefer a feather duster, spray directly on your feather duster. You can also spray it directly onto a Swiffer duster (we like the hardware so to speak, but not the sprays and liquids they use).

The good news? The liquid grabs and holds the dust so it isn’t being kicked up into the air. The fabric softener keeps dust from coming back too soon because a) it isn’t a chemical base like most furniture polishes (and chemicals trap and hold dust), and b) it neutralizes static so that the furniture doesn’t attract dust.

And you can also use the very same spray bottle with diluted fabric softener, spray it inside your dryer 3-4 times just before you put in a load of wet laundry. It’ll eliminate the need for a dryer sheet.  We love that.

July 11, 2008 | Cleaning products

The power of orange cleaning comes from the d-Limonene inherent in the citrus’ peel. It’s an acidic cleaner, making it great for hard water stains, to cut grease, on toilets and such. Several manufacturers have caught on to the ‘natural’ power of orange and use it to ‘boost’ their products - but unfortunately often by name only. We checked on some of the top selling orange cleaners, and here’s what we found.First off, there’s no regulation on the name of “orange” and cleaners on the market that are labeled orange may not actually have any orange oil or d-Limonene in them.  There’s also no way of telling, as companies are not required to disclose thier list of ingredients, and d-Limonene is not registered as hazardous (and therefore not required to disclose on MSDS). Every “orange” cleaner we checked was highly alkaline. That’s odd when orange oil and everything part and parcel to oranges is acidic. In other words, the power of these cleaners does not come from the orange or d-Limonene additives - it comes from other caustic solvents and surfectants. Orange is an afterthought, added to make you think it’s natural, and to boost sales. Just another example of greenwashing.

We did find plenty of other things in ‘orange’ cleaners - petroleum distillates, chlorine, and other chemicals that break down into  highly destructive chemicals over time.  A true orange oil cleaner that’s powered by nature, as many of these claim to be, would be harmless unless swallowed in large quantities or used as eyedrops (and come on people…). But in flipping through the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets, as required by OSHA), you’ll find that most of the orange cleaners you find on your supermarket shelves are harmful when inhaled, can cause chemical skin burns, or can be absorbed into the skin and make it into the bloodstream. Further, many of them use manufactured d-Limonene as opposed to naturally-ocurring orange oil. When using conventional chemical-laden products, please be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions - if it says to use protective gloves or ventilate the room when you’re cleaning, do it. They don’t say that because they want you to enjoy the fresh air when you clean or because they’re partial to cleaning with rubber gloves. There are true health concerns associated with these products.

So what can you do if you want the power of orange without the chemicals? Opt for products that list all ingredients on the label. They are few and far between, but the companies committed to healthy products will often list their ingredients. Or, purchase your own orange essential oil and learn how to use it. A few drops on a microfiber cloth will clean and shine stainless steel better than just about anything else.  If you have non-caustic cleaners around (that is, stable cleaners that won’t react - examples would be Murphy’s, castille soap, Mrs. Meyer’s, etc.) you can add a few drops of orange oil to them. If you don’t know if what you have is caustic, don’t mix it with anything!!! If you have bleach or ammonia, never, ever, in all eternity mix them with anything else, other than water.

July 8, 2008 | Water, Cleaning products

Is it just an old wives’ tale or is there really something about club soda that cleans well? As it turns out, grandma knew something. Club soda is great on acidic spots - coffee, wine, juice, bodily fluids, things of that nature. From carpet to laundry, countertops to stainless steel. Club soda really does offer a boost of cleaning power. It comes from the minerals in it - sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda, and also known for its cleaning power), sodium citrate (a sodium salt of citric acid), and others. The carbonation helps too - it gently agitates, though even flat club soda will usually do the trick for you.

What to do with it? Pour some on your stain (it works best on fresh stains, not dried), and blot away.

June 21, 2008 | Kitchen, Essential oils, Cleaning tips, Cleaning products

We love them. We admire them. They make cooking dinner more of a luxury and less of a drudgery. But how to best clean them and keep them looking all shiny and nice?

 

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June 17, 2008 | Being Green, Cleaning products, News

A Lincoln, NE home went up in flames because of the cleaning chemicals. The homeowner was mopping the floor when the fumes from the cleaning product ignited the pilot on the furnace and water heater. Third degree burns. (more…)

June 3, 2008 | Outdoors, Essential oils

Summer is here and so are the mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and other pesky biters. And apparently my 2-year-old son is their favorite snack. Really, my entire family goes outside and none of the 7 of us get a single bite - except Liam. By the time we go inside he’s covered head to toe in bites. So perhaps the best bug repellent is my son - take him with you and he’ll attract the bugs to himself so they don’t bite you! But really, what can you do without resorting to chemical-based insecticides? Simple! Lemongrass! (more…)

May 25, 2008 | Kitchen, Vinegar, Cleaning tips

And who doesn’t want a happy garbage disposal? I’ve got 2 great ways to clean and disinfect your disposal, and both are super easy.  Are you ready for this? (more…)

May 24, 2008 | Food & drink, Kitchen, Vinegar, Cleaning tips

There are all sorts of industrial methods to disinfect produce for food service programs, prepackaged produce, and the like. But what can we, as consumers, do to insure that the food we feed our families at home is free of contaminants and food-borne pathogens? We’ve found a number of studies that offer solutions to the problem, and you might be surprised how easy it is. (more…)

April 16, 2008 | Bathroom, Laundry, Kitchen, Vinegar, Essential oils, Cleaning tips

We’ve just welcomed little Owen into our home, via c-section. And when the discharge nurse came to talk to me and hubbs before we left the hospital, you can imagine my inner joy as she said “No housework for 6 weeks. And stay out of the kitchen for a couple weeks too!” No housework? What does that mean? Apparently, the typical tasks of vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, scrubbing, dusting, etc., all involve (more…)

April 9, 2008 | Vinegar, Cleaning tips

With drain cleaner known to be one of the most toxic household products on the market, what to do with a clogged drain? (more…)