Over the last year I have been changing a few things in my home to a more natural way. I have been cooking more naturally for several years now, although I have to admit that I am not head over heal for it all.
I am in the process of changing over the way I clean us and our home. I have made my own soap which is actually less expensive per bar, and better for us. I love the way it feels as well. I have recipes on making my own dish washer detergent, and laundry soap as well.
I have been using vinegar and water for cleaning the mirrors, glass and a few other things. I keep a spray bottle ready. Although it is not green and I know it has chemicals, I have been replacing my bathroom cleaners with a spray bottle of bleach and water. i clean my drains by using baking soda and then pouring vinegar over it.
I am surprised at how much money this is saving me, as well as the benefits to our health. I am interested in anything you may be doing as well. I have a book full of recipes for various things but I am more interested in what other women may be doing. If you are doing this type of thing, I would love to hear about it. I am not as interested in the premade cleaners, as much as the ones that I can make myself.
I did not expect this many responses so soon, I wanted to thank everyone. You gave me some things to think about, I am not sure I can give up my bleack completly, I like to use it to keep things from turning yellow. But I will probably use it less often and use of the suggested items in place of it on a regular basis.
Those of you who wanted recipes, I can tell you that they are plentiful. You will need to get a book on making soap to begin with, because there is an understanding that has to go on before the recipes should be used. I do not use lye because I do not want the hazards in the house. i buy my soap base already made, there are many organic suppliers out there. Once you have made a batch of soap and understand it then you can make some of the other soap based cleaners that I talked about.
I had no idea there were so many other women interested in this type of thing, thanks again!
I have been asked privately by several moms to share my soap recipes. I have nothing exclusive to share. There are several hundred websites that sell organic soap bases, shampoo bases, and other items. Once you have a book from the library on soap making you will understand that this by passes working with the lye. The base is actually ready to use if you choose to just chop it up and use it as is. I add other ingredients like olive oil, or oatmeal, lavender, that type of thing to make it into what I need. The books explain all of that. There are various recipes available for sensitive skin, or healing agents to add to the soaps. Again, I buy my bases and add the various ingredients that fit my needs. By reading up on it, you will find that there are so many different ways to make this happen. The soap base is the first step to any soap cleanser, then you work with it adding the items that create what you need. What each family may nee, or choose to add would vary greatly on what that family needed. Happy soap making.
Did you know you can replace the bleach with vinegar as well ?
It won't "bleach" things, if that is what you are looking for, but it will disinfect as well as bleach.
You can also use baking soda for many things you would have otherwise used Ajax or Comet on.
furniture polish recipe:
3/4 cup oil (mineral, olive,jojoba-a liquid wax) i use olive
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil (optional) i don't use this
mix ingredients thoroughly
put into a spray bottle
shake well and spray on furniture or a cloth & rub into wood
I use this on leather too! Do Not Use On Suede
this mix will settle in between uses so shake well before each use.
Mirror cleaner
1 cup isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
mix, spray, wipe. the alcohol will dry fast --nice shine.
window cleaner
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap (dishwashing)
2 cup water
combine in spray bottle and shake to blend. spray and wipe. the dishwashing soap will cut grease.
I know you said you wanted to make things yourself, but I wanted to mention I've been using straight hydrogen peroxide as an after shower spray to keep the mildew on the grout to a minimum (without the bleach fumes) and a diluted castile soap spray in the tub as a daily spray...it has slowly gotten rid of dark areas that only bleach would touch before. Then I just use full strength Castile soap (I use the trader Joes brand but you can get dr. bronner's anywhere now) on a scrubby when I want to really clean.
Yay for you on going green!!! Mama nature thanks you greatly!! :)
One of the best things you can do for the enviornment is becoming vegetarian, vegan or at least minimizing your meat intake. http://crazysexylife.com/resources/go-green/ This website gives you a LOT of good tips on going green. Also, I'd try to stay away from the bleach as much as you can. Germs are GOOD sometimes, they help build the immune system. Stuides have shown that children that grow up in 'messy' households tend to have much stronger immune systems because they are exposed to more germs. Note the exception if you live in a hospital or something where exposure to superbugs would be commonplace :)
Actually, spraying surfaces down with the vinegar water, then pouring baking soda on it let it set and wipe it down. When you need to clean your over, sprinkle the bottom with baking soda, then wet it, let it set and wipe it out. Some poeple use fine steel wool, I just use a rag. It may take a few goes at it, but no chemicals. I have heard some people mix soap with the water to help break up the grease. Vinegar is really the perfect cleaning agent. Can be used for anything really. I also like to use it in the laundry. Helps preserve colors, kills odors and acts a bit as a fabric softner. Good luck!
I have used natural products on and off too. I have a book, 'Clean and Green,' that has recipes like the ones you are using. Most recipes have similar ingredients: vinegar, bakingsoda, sometimes borax, and glycerin liquid soap. I don't have anything new to add to what you've said, but I am interested in learning from you! What are your recipes for dishwasher and laundry soap??
I have a book about soap making. Did you use lye? That always scared me away, since it seemed dangerous to handle...
Sorry I couldn't help, but I hope to hear from you!
Hey C.
I went totally green about 3 years ago. I am with a 23 year old company that has toxic free products (400 items) that you use everyday in your home. It has made a big difference in our lives health wise and plus I am saving money at the same time. Here is my website go to it and see the products and you can request more information. The products are very concentrated so you don't them buy every month. It is a different way of shopping but I like it because their is NO risk 100% satisfaction on all products.
take a look www.livefamilydreams.info
My mother used to put hedge apples (you can usually find them in grocery stores during a certain time of year) in corners of the house (hidden behind the TV stand/couch/etc.). They are supposed to keep away spiders, etc -- rather than spraying.
I would be very interested in your soap, dishwasher detergent and laundry soap recipes if you don't mind sharing as I have run into some health issues myself and am interested in finding things with very basic ingredients.
Hi C.,
I am glad to hear about your move into going green. It is important for us and our children to use to get rid of the harmful chemicals in our homes and live healthier lives. I have been using green cleaning products for over a year now and love them. I can't stand the smell of chemical cleaning products in the home. They are harmful to us and our children. I have a son who was born with bilateral club feet. He has sensitive skin and I am not sure if it is because of all his castings and bracing or if he is just super sensitive. I tried a lot of different cleaning products, soaps, and laundry detergents. I tried chemical free, fragrance free, etc. Nothing seemed to work. A friend told me about Shaklee. I tried and it loved. I use their cleaning products, soaps, and detergents. They save a ton of money and they truly work better than anything else I have tried. I loved it so much I did become a distributor. I am asking you to look at the site and check it out. I love the Basic H2. It comes concentrated and it literally has over 1000 uses. A 16oz. bottle makes over 48 gallons of cleaner. One bottle of Basic H2 equals the cleaning uses of 5824 bottles of Windex. So you can see with Basic H2 less bottles in the landfill and it will save you tons of money. An average family using the Get Clean line of Shaklee saves over $3000 annually. If you would like a free sample of Basic H2 I can send one out to you. Here is my website. Check it out. http://www.shaklee.net/K.-thomas/prodHou
Shaklee has been on Oprah's favorite things, Self magazine, Time, Rachel Ray, and others.
Shaklee has been in business for over 50 years and have a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
If you have any quesions don't hesitate to ask.
Talk with you soon,
K.
i would like to know more from you couse i am trying to get cleaner.. in a less exspenive way.. plus be good to our land. what book do you have and what soap.. i would like to know more if posible.. thanks
I don't have any of my own but would be truly interested in some of your recipes. I want to start getting my kids involved in the going Green process and sounds like some of the ideas (making own soap and laundry soap, everyone has sensitive skin in my house) would be a great family project, something that they can use on themselves when we are finished and a great help to the environment (not to mention our bank account!!)
If you can part with them please email me at ____@____.com
Tks T.
That is great that you are doing that. I wish everyone would!
We use Shaklee at our house. It's so easy. Just using Basic H2 alone will save money over using vinegar. You dilute it with water to the concentration of what you are cleaning. Two drops of H2 in 16oz of water for window cleaner. Love it!
I just had a call about this from someone who I gave a sample to. She had been using vinegar, but absolutely loved H2 better & now wants to get the Get Clean Starter kit.
To your green health,
J.
http://www.jessicagrimm.com
good morning C.-
just a tip for the lazier(in my case), or busier moms. i use household products from betterlife. they are made here in stl. you can find them at whole foods and some smaller natural grocers, and on line. they are not as cost friendly as your home made, but i am not as creative as you.
the are all natural and safe. check out there webpage www.cleanhappens.com
The only things I clean with are vinegar, baking soda, and sometimes borax. If you want to be "green" you must stop using bleach. It is so bad for the environment (it gets into our water supply as well as the ground which then pollutes rivers and streams). The best way to go green is to go vegetarian or better yet vegan. Factory farms produce more pollution than all the cars in the country combined! It also will help out your pocketbook! Good luck!
Definitely donate the bleach or dispose of it! Here is more info. on it.
Cindy
Work At Home United
www.2abetterlife.com
www.2liveabetterlife.com
DANGERS OF USING HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS WITH CHLORINE
"A peculiar accident reported by the National Safety Council = involved two housewives in separate cases. Both were using an ordinary = toilet bowl cleaner. Not satisfied with the way it was removing stain, = each one added some household bleach and stirred with a brush. One died = quickly, the other spent a long time in the hospital."
Chlorine is a toxic, yellow-green gas that is one of today's = most heavily used chemical agents. Serious risks to our health and the = health of the environment are being caused by the widespread use of = chlorine. The use of chlorine in household cleaners has recently raised = much controversy.
Many household cleaners contain chlorine but the labels indicate = the alias names of "sodium hypochlorite" or "hypochlorite." Whether = chlorine is found alone or in a mixture with other chemicals, household = products that contain chlorine pose a number of serious health risks. = Automatic dishwashing detergents, chlorine bleach, chlorinated = disinfectant cleaners, mildew removers and toilet bowl cleaners are some = of the products of special concern.=20
The fumes of cleaners containing a high concentration of = chlorine when breathed in can irritate the lungs and be particularly = dangerous for people who suffer from heart conditions or chronic = respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. When the fumes are = emitted in small, poorly ventilated rooms such as the bathroom, the = risks are increased. Chlorine is also a highly corrosive material which = is capable of damaging skin, eyes and other membranes.=20
When using detergents that contain chlorine in the dishwasher or = clothes washer the air in your home becomes polluted through a process = called "volatilization" which takes place when the chlorine in the water = transfers the chlorine to the air. We then breathe the contaminated air. = Dishwashers are the worst offenders as they release chemicals in a = steamy mist when the door is opened after washing. In a clothes washer, = chorine mixes with the dirt in clothes to create airborne, toxic = chlorinated organic chemicals.
Overall, chlorine is a dangerous chemical to keep in your home. = In 1993, 40,000 exposures to chlorine were reported to poison control = centers which is more than any other chemical. Fragranced chlorine = bleaches are especially dangerous because the odor is disguised and = actually makes the experience of inhaling chlorines bleach pleasant.=20
Mixing household products containing chlorine with other = cleaning agents is another danger due to the fact that these mixtures = can create chlorine gas and chloramines, toxic gases that can injure the = deep tissues of the lungs.=20
Whenever chlorine is used, organochlorides are formed which are = forerunners to dioxins, a deadly class of compounds that cause toxic = health effects. A new EPA draft report on the dangers of dioxins warns = for the first time that even trace amounts can cause serious health = problems including birth defects, genetic mutations, threats to the = immune and reproductive systems, damage to the liver, kidneys and skin = and even cancer.
a.. Read labels on cleaning supplies and look for those which = contain chlorine.
a.. Avoid using cleaners which contain chlorine.=20
b.. Find safer, more natural and environmentally responsible = products to clean your home.=20
c.. Never mix bleach with acids such as vinegar, ammonia, = toilet bow cleaners, drain cleaners or chlorinated scouring powder as it = produces deadly chloramines gas which may result in the burning of = mucous membranes and chemical pneumonia.
LINKS TO RESEARCH SITES FOR FURTHER READING
Why use bleach in the shower? Vinegar and baking soda probably get the surfaces cleaner. It won't be totally sterile, but a clean, dry surface doesn't make a good habitat for germs.
I've seen steam cleaners that are said to be good and safe for a huge variety of types of surfaces, without using any product at all. Haven't tried one but I've always wanted to.
