What do you use to clean the tub?

Telyco

DS is still in the infant tub because I have this thing about him swimming around in the chemicals that may or may not stick to the tub after I clean it. He still fits in it fine, but obviously not forever...

What do you use?

Alexandra*sMom

I ordered and will get Friday an antibacterial cleaning mitt from Norwex.  Just use water!  I like that better to bathe my kids in.

JAM2000

if you are worried you can always use a little dish detergent (like Palmolive) and baking soda. You squirt a tiny amount of Palmolive in the tub (trust me- thats all you need) then sprinkle the baking soda until it makes a paste then scrub with a sponge.

I've done this before and it works great.

jacksjerseygirl

I have a tub scrubber mix. I use one of my old body scrubbing jars with a lid (2 cups baking soda, 1 cup castile soap - mix together well then 10 drops of bergamot which has good antibacterial properties. You can also use tea tree/lemon/orange oils as well). 

So I scrub the baby tub out once every two weeks. In between I wash out with soap/water and sometimes use a vinegar/lemon spray.  

tmrtink

jacksjerseygirl:

I have a tub scrubber mix. I use one of my old body scrubbing jars with a lid (2 cups baking soda, 1 cup castile soap - mix together well then 10 drops of bergamot which has good antibacterial properties. You can also use tea tree/lemon/orange oils as well). 

So I scrub the baby tub out once every two weeks. In between I wash out with soap/water and sometimes use a vinegar/lemon spray.  

Questions....oh the questions! First, what in the heck is castile soap and bergamont and where would one go about buying them?

Second, where did you come up with these concoctions and do you have other ones that you use for regular household cleaning? 

Lastly, are they just as effective as chemical sprays and what not? Would love to know more!

GeminA1

I use Comet!  I know it's strong, but that is the only thing I will use to scrub out my tub,

jacksjerseygirl

tmrtink:

jacksjerseygirl:

I have a tub scrubber mix. I use one of my old body scrubbing jars with a lid (2 cups baking soda, 1 cup castile soap - mix together well then 10 drops of bergamot which has good antibacterial properties. You can also use tea tree/lemon/orange oils as well). 

So I scrub the baby tub out once every two weeks. In between I wash out with soap/water and sometimes use a vinegar/lemon spray.  

Questions....oh the questions! First, what in the heck is castile soap and bergamont and where would one go about buying them?

Second, where did you come up with these concoctions and do you have other ones that you use for regular household cleaning? 

Lastly, are they just as effective as chemical sprays and what not? Would love to know more!

haha - you sound like me when I started researching and learning about natural/non-toxic cleaners. I wish I had my blog up (I'm working on it).

First. Castile soap is not a brand but a type of soap (it is made from vegetable oil as opposed to synthetic/toxic substance or animal fats). It comes in bars or in liquid (I use liquid for my 'potions')

Second. Bergamot comes from a citrus fruit (in India - maybe). The essential oil from this has antibacterial properties (it also has a beautiful uplifting scent and when well deluded is in many moisturizes, body scrubs, etc).

You can buy them online or in many stores. Even just going to amazon you will get a feel for brand names and what you are looking for. 

I have switched my household over to 80% non-toxic/homemade cleaning solutions. 10% store-bought non-toxic cleaning solutions and 10% are still in the 'toxic' category.

- I was skeptical at first about whether a non-toxic product could kill bacteria as well as .. say bleach. But after much research, I discovered that in deed concoctions such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, grapefruit seed extract, tea tree essential oils, bergamot essential oils all have bacteria killing ability (such as salmonella, shigella, staphylococus, ecoli, influenza virus, and inhibiting their growth/spread).

Some essential oils like tea tree and bergamot also have strong antiseptic/biotic properties. Orange and lemon oils also add a small amount of anti-bacteria properties. Plus, they make any solution smell nicer ;-) You can also use any other scent you love like lavender essential oil (though some may not have the same bacteria/germ fighting properties). 

Grapefruit seed extract is very potent, the disinfecting properties are stronger than most commercial hospital grade cleaners. Killing haemophilus and influenza.

BEST of all ... non-toxic residue, better for the environment/eco-system (when you use toxic cleaners they go down the drain and eventually may impact fish- their habitat: the eco-system).

AND IT IS CHEAPER! While the bottles of grape fruit seed extract/essential oils are small - they last a very long time.

I started on this path because seeing Grant lick the hardwood, suck on the furniture, carpets, rugs, etc I wondered what residue he might be taking in. I wondered, when I sprayed lysol or even febreeze - what that was doing to his lungs and body - even if he wasn't in the room at the time of it being sprayed. 

ANYWAY - I hope I didn't bore you - while I don't consider myself hard-core green mama - I have been very enlightened to make my own little home a more natural, non-toxic environment for my family first and foremost.

I would love to share all of my cleaning solutions including homemade air freshener spray (in place of a febreeze type spray). But don't want to drive people mad or bore people.

 

Mrs.Reem

I use a spray bottle with 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water and a little soap with orange essential oil. If it needs scrubbing, I use baking soda.

jen5-03

Baking soda. It really works as well as a scouring powder in almost all cases. 

Sometimes I add tea tree oil to it. I used to add some Dr Bronner's soap (which is castille soap), but I didn't really feel it was needed so I stopped.

You can buy Tea Tree oil at Target. It's with the vitamins. You can also usually find it and other essential oils in the health food or vitamin section of bigger grocery stores. Some people don't like the smell but I think it has a medicinal/clean smell.

I've never read up on Bergamot oil, but if you've ever drunk Earl Grey Tea, Bergamot is what gives it its distinctive flavor and scent.

blynn03

Lurker chiming in with a question....

jacksjerseygirl - what do you use as a Febreeze substitute? I use mostly vinegar/water, baking soda and Seventh Generation surface cleaner in my home, but I haven't taken the time to research air/fabric refreshers. I would LOVE to know what you use!

jacksjerseygirl

blynn03:

Lurker chiming in with a question....

jacksjerseygirl - what do you use as a Febreeze substitute? I use mostly vinegar/water, baking soda and Seventh Generation surface cleaner in my home, but I haven't taken the time to research air/fabric refreshers. I would LOVE to know what you use!

I create a large amount - so I don't have to make it as much.

I have a 32 oz spray bottle (you can buy one for 99 cents or so at home depot - of course, if you can find recycled plastic or a free-cycle one that is better).

I fill it with (give or take) 20 oz of witch hazel (you can buy at the dollar store too) + 10 oz water + 1 tablespoon of baking soda + 40-60 drops of what ever essential oil you like ( currently I have a lavender mixture). SHAKE WELL - and then shake well before each usage. BE CAREFUL not to put too much baking soda in this mixture as it can leave a film. SO you really want to stick to the 1 tablespoon or less. IME

I know some people simply use water and do not add witch hazel. However, the witch hazel causes the solution to evaporate quicker so that you don't have prolonged wet floors/sofa/carpets. Some people do not add the baking soda - but I do because baking soda is a natural bad-odor absorber (so that the solution is not just masking odors).

You can also create a carpet cleaning solution with 25 oz of water + 1/4 cup of baking soda + essential oil and only spray it on your carpet - let dry and then vacuum.  

tmrtink

jacksjerseygirl:

tmrtink:

jacksjerseygirl:

I have a tub scrubber mix. I use one of my old body scrubbing jars with a lid (2 cups baking soda, 1 cup castile soap - mix together well then 10 drops of bergamot which has good antibacterial properties. You can also use tea tree/lemon/orange oils as well). 

So I scrub the baby tub out once every two weeks. In between I wash out with soap/water and sometimes use a vinegar/lemon spray.  

Questions....oh the questions! First, what in the heck is castile soap and bergamont and where would one go about buying them?

Second, where did you come up with these concoctions and do you have other ones that you use for regular household cleaning? 

Lastly, are they just as effective as chemical sprays and what not? Would love to know more!

haha - you sound like me when I started researching and learning about natural/non-toxic cleaners. I wish I had my blog up (I'm working on it).

First. Castile soap is not a brand but a type of soap (it is made from vegetable oil as opposed to synthetic/toxic substance or animal fats). It comes in bars or in liquid (I use liquid for my 'potions')

Second. Bergamot comes from a citrus fruit (in India - maybe). The essential oil from this has antibacterial properties (it also has a beautiful uplifting scent and when well deluded is in many moisturizes, body scrubs, etc).

You can buy them online or in many stores. Even just going to amazon you will get a feel for brand names and what you are looking for. 

I have switched my household over to 80% non-toxic/homemade cleaning solutions. 10% store-bought non-toxic cleaning solutions and 10% are still in the 'toxic' category.

- I was skeptical at first about whether a non-toxic product could kill bacteria as well as .. say bleach. But after much research, I discovered that in deed concoctions such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, grapefruit seed extract, tea tree essential oils, bergamot essential oils all have bacteria killing ability (such as salmonella, shigella, staphylococus, ecoli, influenza virus, and inhibiting their growth/spread).

Some essential oils like tea tree and bergamot also have strong antiseptic/biotic properties. Orange and lemon oils also add a small amount of anti-bacteria properties. Plus, they make any solution smell nicer ;-) You can also use any other scent you love like lavender essential oil (though some may not have the same bacteria/germ fighting properties). 

Grapefruit seed extract is very potent, the disinfecting properties are stronger than most commercial hospital grade cleaners. Killing haemophilus and influenza.

BEST of all ... non-toxic residue, better for the environment/eco-system (when you use toxic cleaners they go down the drain and eventually may impact fish- their habitat: the eco-system).

AND IT IS CHEAPER! While the bottles of grape fruit seed extract/essential oils are small - they last a very long time.

I started on this path because seeing Grant lick the hardwood, suck on the furniture, carpets, rugs, etc I wondered what residue he might be taking in. I wondered, when I sprayed lysol or even febreeze - what that was doing to his lungs and body - even if he wasn't in the room at the time of it being sprayed. 

ANYWAY - I hope I didn't bore you - while I don't consider myself hard-core green mama - I have been very enlightened to make my own little home a more natural, non-toxic environment for my family first and foremost.

I would love to share all of my cleaning solutions including homemade air freshener spray (in place of a febreeze type spray). But don't want to drive people mad or bore people.

 

Not boring me at all! Thank you so much for all the info! If you have any more I'd personally love to hear about it, and am sure others would too! Please post a link to your blog once it's up and running-I'd love to read it. Thanks again!

LiLnikkiMe

i use soft scrub for our tub.