For Luz....

[rebeccajo 14]

Ok, I'm seriously not poking at Luz for what happened earlier this week.

I told my friend at work about what happened with the PineSol/hair color. My friend is nearly 70, been keeping house for that long, but she's very young, up to speed about the world, and also very eco-minded. She was not really shocked when I told her what happened, and relayed to me a story about mixing bleach and ammonia one time while cleaning, with some near-toxic results.

She has tried these cleaning products and loves 'em.

http://www.mrsmeyers.com/

If you order $25 worth there is no shipping. My friend was placing an order today and convinced me to give the dish soap and concentrated cleaner a whirl.

I personally don't know if this stuff is any good or not. But I'm gonna try the Basil.

[Dan J 277]

Ok, I'm seriously not poking at Luz for what happened earlier this week.

I told my friend at work about what happened with the PineSol/hair color. My friend is nearly 70, been keeping house for that long, but she's very young, up to speed about the world, and also very eco-minded. She was not really shocked when I told her what happened, and relayed to me a story about mixing bleach and ammonia one time while cleaning, with some near-toxic results.

She has tried these cleaning products and loves 'em.

http://www.mrsmeyers.com/

If you order $25 worth there is no shipping. My friend was placing an order today and convinced me to give the dish soap and concentrated cleaner a whirl.

I personally don't know if this stuff is any good or not. But I'm gonna try the Basil.

Seventh Generation, you can usually find them at Target, at least here in MN. http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

[Cassie 8]

I have heard great things about Seventh Generation as well.

A quick google search will probably list all the tips I have heard about using vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide in cleaning around the house.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Wow! Great finds, guys!

Now I just have to find a way to suggest this to my wife without it sounding like: "Hey, honey, I found some better cleaning supplies for you to use!" Yeah... that'd go over big.

Edited February 20, 2008 by DeadPoolX

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I too recommend the Mrs. Meyer's stuff. I've been meaning to mention it in the Luz thread (Luz, I'm glad you're OK!). I think I posted something about Mrs. Meyer's toilet cleaner a few months back, in the old blue boxes thread, I was so impressed with it. And I'm really picky about what I put in my toilet!

[Jasman0717 9]

Could be considered a TOS violation

No Solicitation. You shall not distribute on or through the Service or to any persons or entities identified via Visajourney.com any Content or material containing solicitations or advertising of any kind without the express prior written permission of Visajourney.com. Lawyers and law firms are prohibited from soliciting employment from prospective clients through the Forums or any of its interactive features. In the discussion forums you may discuss or recommend third-party Web sites, goods or services, so long as you have no financial interest in and receive no direct or indirect benefit from such Web sites, products or services, or the recommendation of such.

[rebeccajo 14]

I too recommend the Mrs. Meyer's stuff. I've been meaning to mention it in the Luz thread (Luz, I'm glad you're OK!). I think I posted something about Mrs. Meyer's toilet cleaner a few months back, in the old blue boxes thread, I was so impressed with it. And I'm really picky about what I put in my toilet!

When you clean it or when you sit on it?

Could be considered a TOS violation

No Solicitation. You shall not distribute on or through the Service or to any persons or entities identified via Visajourney.com any Content or material containing solicitations or advertising of any kind without the express prior written permission of Visajourney.com. Lawyers and law firms are prohibited from soliciting employment from prospective clients through the Forums or any of its interactive features. In the discussion forums you may discuss or recommend third-party Web sites, goods or services, so long as you have no financial interest in and receive no direct or indirect benefit from such Web sites, products or services, or the recommendation of such.

I'm not selling it. I don't think I've done anything wrong here.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I too recommend the Mrs. Meyer's stuff. I've been meaning to mention it in the Luz thread (Luz, I'm glad you're OK!). I think I posted something about Mrs. Meyer's toilet cleaner a few months back, in the old blue boxes thread, I was so impressed with it. And I'm really picky about what I put in my toilet!

When you clean it or when you sit on it?

Oh, I only float boats and rubber duckies in the toilet. I usually take a ####### out in the shed. (Shhh, don't tell the neighbors!)

[GaryC 7]

Could be considered a TOS violation

No Solicitation. You shall not distribute on or through the Service or to any persons or entities identified via Visajourney.com any Content or material containing solicitations or advertising of any kind without the express prior written permission of Visajourney.com. Lawyers and law firms are prohibited from soliciting employment from prospective clients through the Forums or any of its interactive features. In the discussion forums you may discuss or recommend third-party Web sites, goods or services, so long as you have no financial interest in and receive no direct or indirect benefit from such Web sites, products or services, or the recommendation of such.

Recommending something isn't the same as selling something.

Thanks Becca, if it avoids another day like sunday even I would go green. I will check it out!

[rebeccajo 14]

I too recommend the Mrs. Meyer's stuff. I've been meaning to mention it in the Luz thread (Luz, I'm glad you're OK!). I think I posted something about Mrs. Meyer's toilet cleaner a few months back, in the old blue boxes thread, I was so impressed with it. And I'm really picky about what I put in my toilet!

When you clean it or when you sit on it?

Oh, I only float boats and rubber duckies in the toilet. I usually take a ####### out in the shed. (Shhh, don't tell the neighbors!)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We could do away with most of those cleaners sold in stores - they are unnecessary overkill, not to mention toxic.

There are cheaper, healthier alternatives... (Does anyone here remember, Ask Heloise?)

Learning to clean from scratch—making homemade recipes—can truly work if you take time to understand a bit about the chemistry behind how the materials work. Here are the five ingredients that I find to be the safest, most effective, and useful for cleaning.

SIMPLE SOLUTION:

Baking Soda

A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda is made from soda ash, and is slightly alkaline (it's pH is around 8.1; 7 is neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in water, and adsorbs odors from the air. Sprinkled on a damp sponge or cloth, baking soda can be used as a gentle non-abrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, and fiberglass. It will eliminate perspiration odors and even neutralize the smell of many chemicals if you add up to a cup per load to the laundry. It is a useful air freshener, and a fine carpet deodorizer.

Washing Soda

A chemical neighbor of baking soda, washing soda (sodium carbonate) is much more strongly alkaline, with a pH around 11. It releases no harmful fumes and is far safer than a commercial solvent formula, but you should wear gloves when using it because it is caustic. Washing soda cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does. Don't use it on fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors—unless you intend to remove the wax.

White Vinegar and Lemon Juice

White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic—they neutralize alkaline substances such as scale from hard water. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces.

Liquid Soaps and Detergent Liquid soaps and detergents are necessary for cutting grease, and they are not the same thing. Soap is made from fats and lye. Detergents are synthetic materials discovered and synthesized early in this century. Unlike soap, detergents are designed specifically so that they don't react with hard water minerals and cause soap scum. If you have hard water, buy a biodegradable detergent without perfumes; if you have soft water you can use liquid soap (both are available in health food stores).

Mold Killers and Disinfectants For a substance to be registered by the EPA as a disinfectant it must go through extensive and expensive tests. EPA recommends simple soap to use as a disinfectant There are many essential oils, such as lavender, clove, and tea tree oil (an excellent natural fungicide), that are very antiseptic, as is grapefruit seed extract, even though they aren't registered as such. Use one teaspoon of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle (make sure to avoid eyes). A grapefruit seed extract spray can be made by adding 20 drops of extract to a quart of water.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/five-basi...c-cleaning.html

[Lou Lou 1]

Mrs Meyers dish soap just doesn't do it for us I'm afraid, nor did the hand soap. The counter spray is good for last minute cleaning, but not for big jobs. We prefer Method for cleaning the kitchen and their dish soap is excellent. We also use Method for the washing machine. For the bathrooms we use Seventh Generation. Really cleans them up nicely. Ecover also have a great stain remover for clothes if the dish soap can't get at it.

Oh, and meant to add that drugstore.com always have a sale on either Method, Seventh Generation or Mrs Meyers if you can't get them locally.

Edited February 21, 2008 by Lou Lou

[Jasman0717 9]

I too recommend the Mrs. Meyer's stuff. I've been meaning to mention it in the Luz thread (Luz, I'm glad you're OK!). I think I posted something about Mrs. Meyer's toilet cleaner a few months back, in the old blue boxes thread, I was so impressed with it. And I'm really picky about what I put in my toilet!

When you clean it or when you sit on it?

Could be considered a TOS violation

No Solicitation. You shall not distribute on or through the Service or to any persons or entities identified via Visajourney.com any Content or material containing solicitations or advertising of any kind without the express prior written permission of Visajourney.com. Lawyers and law firms are prohibited from soliciting employment from prospective clients through the Forums or any of its interactive features. In the discussion forums you may discuss or recommend third-party Web sites, goods or services, so long as you have no financial interest in and receive no direct or indirect benefit from such Web sites, products or services, or the recommendation of such.

I'm not selling it. I don't think I've done anything wrong here.

I know but a long time ago I posted a similar link to a site selling stuff and was yelled at

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm reading about this borax/washing soda experiment:

http://www.greenhome.com/info/magazine/001/soitriedit.html

http://www.greenhome.com/info/magazine/002/soitriedit.html

http://www.greenhome.com/info/magazine/002/borax2.html

Sorry but ya gotta follow all the linkies to read the whole story.........

I too recommend the Mrs. Meyer's stuff. I've been meaning to mention it in the Luz thread (Luz, I'm glad you're OK!). I think I posted something about Mrs. Meyer's toilet cleaner a few months back, in the old blue boxes thread, I was so impressed with it. And I'm really picky about what I put in my toilet!

When you clean it or when you sit on it?

Could be considered a TOS violation

No Solicitation. You shall not distribute on or through the Service or to any persons or entities identified via Visajourney.com any Content or material containing solicitations or advertising of any kind without the express prior written permission of Visajourney.com. Lawyers and law firms are prohibited from soliciting employment from prospective clients through the Forums or any of its interactive features. In the discussion forums you may discuss or recommend third-party Web sites, goods or services, so long as you have no financial interest in and receive no direct or indirect benefit from such Web sites, products or services, or the recommendation of such.

I'm not selling it. I don't think I've done anything wrong here.

I know but a long time ago I posted a similar link to a site selling stuff and was yelled at

By whom?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm reading about this borax/washing soda experiment:

http://www.greenhome.com/info/magazine/001/soitriedit.html

http://www.greenhome.com/info/magazine/002/soitriedit.html

http://www.greenhome.com/info/magazine/002/borax2.html

Awesome info! Thanks! I had no idea that Borax was Sodium Carbonate. I remember Borax when I was a child - the name 'Borax' always sounded poisonous to me.