How can I clean my house, be as environmentally friendly as possible, and still save money (in other words, not buying the fancy "eco" version cleaners you see at stores).
L, you are right to be skeptical about the price & claims made by the "eco" version cleaners at the store. There are no restrictions on products for the use of the words "natural," "environmentally-friendly," or "green." In fact, if you notice next time you are in the store, many of the products that you recognize as natural cleaners actually don't make any explicit claims on the packaging. Instead, they might place a prominent picture of a nature scene or a recycling image on the front. If you are sensitive to chemicals, you will be surprised to find that you are sensitive to most of these cleaners as well.
The one exception I have found is Dr. Bronner's liquid castille soap. It is the tall, narrow, round bottle in the natural cleaning section that has bizarre writing all over it. Don't let the bizarre writing freak you out--it's one of the things that makes Dr. Bronner's unique (and fun). This soap is great for all kinds of cleaning projects. It cuts grease & grime from sinks & bathtubs. It makes a great all-purpose kitchen cleaner. It cleans hardwood & linoleum floors with no dullness or streaking. You can use it on dishes or in your laundry, as well. You can buy a generic version at Trader Joe's, if there is one in your area.
Another great all-purpose cleaner is a spray bottle full of diluted vinegar. Vinegar is a natural anti-bacterial, which makes it perfectly suited to be a kitchen counter & toilet seat cleaner (try to use different rags for these two jobs, please). Dilute the vinegar to a ratio of 2/3 water to 1/3 vinegar. I love using diluted vinegar since I can give a bottle & rag to my 3 year old and let her clean cabinet fronts, the refrigerator, spots from the floor, and anything else she wishes.
Baking soda is one of the cheapest gently abrasive cleaners you can buy. I use it to scrub burnt-on foods from my stovetop & to scrub off rings in the toilet or bathtub.
The last two items you might need are a window cleaner & a furniture duster. I love this recipe of vinegar, dish soap, & water for window cleaning. I often just wipe my furniture with water, but if you like the slick look of a polish, try this furniture polish made of vinegar, oil, & optional lemon.
Tea tree oil & grapefruit seed oil are both anti-fungals and diluted forms can be used in place of bleach for mold control.
If the smell of your cleaners is important to you, try adding some essential oils to create the fragrance you like best. Personally, I'm now used to the smell of vinegar, so the smell of it equals "clean" to me.
With just five items in your arsenal: vinegar, baking soda, oil, Dr. Bronner's, and water, you will be able to tackle any routine household cleaning job. Add in some tea tree oil & a few spray bottles and you can clean like a pro with no hazardous chemical exposure, even on a bare-bones budget.
Get Moving: Add two inexpensive items to your grocery list this week: a spray bottle & a bottle of plain white vinegar. When you get home, fill the bottle with a solution of diluted vinegar using a 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water ratio.
Thanks for writing, L.M.! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
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