Friday, January 18, 2008

Mrs F's Green Cleaning Tips

Hey just because I don't like to clean doesn't mean I don't know how!

For all of you who are trying to switch to "Green" Cleaners here are my recommendations. We've tried them all so you don't have to! These products work just as well if not better than their toxic counterparts. I promise!

Toilet Bowl: Earth Friendly Products™ Toilet Kleener (what?!...that is how they spell it)

Dish Soap (I use this to clean the stove too): Planet Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, or Method™

Dishwashing Detergent (hands down best we've ever used Green or not!!): Ecover™

Tile Floor: Method™ All Floor Cleaner, I don't use their special mop... not necessary

Wood Floors/Furniture: Method™ Wood For Good, I just use the spray even on the floors and wipe it with a rag

Scrubbing Powder (skins, bathtub, counters): Bon Ami™ Cleaning Powder

Daily Shower Spray: Method™

(Yes I am a big fan of the Method™ products they smell great and they really do work...plus you can get them at Target!)

23 comments:

Vanessa said...

I love the EcoOver and the Method cleaners too. I also make my own out of white vinegar. You can find the recipes on the net and its much cheaper too.

MommyTime said...

Any thought on Simple Green? I like the smell but haven't tried it.

Also, as a general scrubber and stain remover for the kitchen, I recommend baking soda. Gets the brown mist off of the coffee pot, the cooked-on stuff off pots, and mixed with white vinegar it kills mold and mildew, gets rid of small sink clogs, and makes a great science experiment.

katieo said...

Like Vanessa and mt, I try to use a lot of baking soda and vinegar, but yeah right, like that's going to touch our shower. We LOVE the Method shower cleaner!! (Do you mean the one you just spray and leave? That's our fav. Let's hear it for lazy!) And I feel so much better when the kids take a bath after.

I *wish* we would've started using this stuff before I was prego with the first 2. I always felt like they were mutating inside me when I'd clean.

Mrs Furious said...

Vanessa,
Yes I need to do that. I don't love the Method window cleaner and know I can just use vinegar and water. I'll try it.



MommyTime,
I actually have a bottle of SImply Green Lyme Scale remover... it is not biodegradable. It says it is the "safer" choice. No bleach or ammonia but it doesn't look like it is actually "green". That is what is so freaking tricky about the cleaners... marketing!

emmyjw said...

I use the baking soda too.I am trying to go all natural as much as possible because Rainee(14yr old) breaks out in hives from a lot of things with scent or dye and it is impossible to tell exactly what the culprit is or if it is just one thing.It is bad sometimes,once the dryer sheets made her react and she had to go on prednisone to get rid of them.I have to tell you,I actually went to the YMCA this morning EARLY and did 60 minutes of Mrs F style intervals YAHOO! and I called the treadmill company and the part that should fix it will be here by Thursday and was only 29$ shipping included YAHOO again!

MommyTime said...

I haven't seen the lyme-scale one...there's some giant bottle of concentrated Simple Green you're supposed to mix with water that I'm pretty sure is biodegradable...But frankly, if people here swear by the Method stuff, I'll just get that instead. Why fix what ain't broke? Thanks.

Mrs Furious said...

Katieo,
Yeah the daily shower spray.
They might have a heavier cleaner for the shower too I should try that for the mildew.

The things we would have done differently if we had known... like NOT microwave those little pooh bear melamine bowls (that say Do NOT microwave) with Kid's food in it... kind of regret that one!

Mrs Furious said...

MommyTime,
I just saw the baking soda mixed with vinegar kills mold and mildew... I blew right by that the first two times I read it (tired). Seriously?!? I'll have to try that!

Mrs Furious said...

Oh and MommyTime,
I meant to say that it could be that the lyme scale remover is harsher (for obvious reasons) and that the regular cleaner is fine. But yes Method works and it smells GREAT.

Mrs Furious said...

Emmy,
I have a crazy water filter attachment for our washing machine that allows us to wash our clothes with no deterget. NONE. It treats the water with ions (like an ionic air filter) and really it does work. It wasn't cheap but it lasts forever and in the end does pay for itself. It is called the Laundry Pure. Let me see if I can get the link. Might be helpful for Rainee.

katieo said...

they do have a heavier duty one, I tried it am not crazy about it. But I honestly think our hard water is harder than everyone else's (usually while scrubbing and nothing's coming off).

Oh, and how much is "wasn't cheap?" That water filter sounds awesome.

Robin said...

I will have to try the method cleaners. I always see them, but haven't tried them yet.

Off topic, I have a question about your scale. How much does it fluctuate? Last night was my fat % night, so I hopped on and it was 29% that's fine. Last week it was 28.5% but I expect it to fluctuate a little. Well, I did it again about 30 minutes later and it was 29.9%. WTF. I drank three sips of water in that 30 minutes...that is all. Would that have changed the reading a whole percentage point? Ugh, it kind of makes me feel like what's the point. (Remember, I have the scale one model down from yours, so it shouldn't be a quality scale issue.) Any thoughts?

Mrs Furious said...

Robin,
my thought is this... it was punishing you for weighing yourself 30 minutes later. ;)
Seriously. I try not to do that for this very reason. What is the point. I use it as a general guide to see where I am at. And it will reflect changes as they come... in time... I do my % in the morning when I weigh I know that it is a little higher then but I'm more trying to watch for the general trend of it going down and so it doesn't really matter to me. My % hasn't changed much in the last 2 months it fluctuates from 20. something to 22.4 %. My body % seems to be lowest right when I get my period and highest right after. My advice is to just use it as a guide. You can't expect to lose 1% a week. You need to be realistic about that. It takes more time than just the pounds lost. And weigh yourself once write it down and move on. In a month a assure you it will be lower.

Robin said...

it was punishing you for weighing yourself 30 minutes later.
Oh.my.god. I am cracking up. You are right (of course.) I wasn't expecting it to be lower, I was just curious to see if it would be the same. I'm not crazy weighing girl who weighs every five minutes looking for a lower weight. :)

I think I will start doing it in the morning, even though it might read a little high. I weigh myself (for weight) in the morning, but was doing the fat at night because it is supposed to be more accurate. At least I know the conditions are more consistent in the morning.

emmyjw said...

I would love that link if you can find it,thanks! What exact model of scale do you have and how expensive was it? I have a cheapo crappy one that is all over the map,I don't think it is accurate at all. Rainee is cracking me up right now,her best buddy is having her 16th b day party tonight,a Disney princess sleepover,Rainee made a Pocahontas costume,priceless.

MommyTime said...

Well, Mrs. F, the vinegar kills the mildew, and the baking soda helps you scrub it off. Also, the fizzy chemical reaction helps loosen it all.

For the same reason, I toss in 1/2 cup of vinegar to those loads of laundry I have to re-wash because I forgot and left them in the washer for 4 days. Totally gets rid of the smell, and you don't end up with vinegar smelling clothes either.

emmyjw said...

OK,not to offend anyone,if you don't do prayer just ignore this,but if you do I need you to pray! My 2 1/2 yr old niece Ginger was just admitted to the hospital,she has been in a lot of pain for the last 2 months,docs saying it's just myalgia(muscle pain) from a virus,but this week she can't climb the stairs or get into a chair and today she couldn't walk more than a few steps without falling down and she is waking up screaming in pain during the night.She is a tough little girl,watched and didn't cry when she got bloodwork so if she is screaming it really hurts. I appreciate any help holding her up in prayer,thanks...

Julie said...

Emmy,
I don't typically do prayer, but I most certainly will for you and your niece. I am thinking all good, supportive thoughts for you and your family. Please keep us up to date on how the little one is doing.

Mrs Furious said...

Katieo,
it is around $500. They have independent distributers or something so I don't know if that is a set price. I read about it in Mothering Magazine and they offered a 30 day money back trial. More than anything I just needed to know if it would really work.... it kind of became obsessed and couldn't stop thinking about it. anyway... it does. No detergents. Laundry Pure by EcoQuest.

Mrs Furious said...

Emmy,
My Goodness! :(
I certainly will. I hope she is okay. I know how scary having a sick is.

Julie said...

Mrs F,
How do you like Mothering Magazine? I have checked it online before and didn't know whether to subscribe.

Mrs Furious said...

Julie,
I actually have mixed feelings about it. I usually get it at Whole Foods when the cover story is interesting to me. But overall I think that they are a bit extreme and can make you feel defensive or vilified.

Kiki said...

Want to be green, know its best, but love me some Tilex. It just makes the job so easy and my bathroom smells so clean after I use it! Love your ideas and will consider trying the Method stuff, if its just as good and is better for the environment! Thanks for the good tips!

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