Since it is Self-Righteous Wednesday...Cleaning products!

AnneShirleyBlythe · February 2011

What kind do you use?

Are you a slave to the paper towel, paper plate, and the chemical cleanser, or are you a vinegar and old-tshirt rags type of gal? Have you changed since becoming pregnant? Do you buy vinegar and baking soda in bulk? Do you have a closet full of Clorox wipes? Do tell.

ETA: Andplusalso, be sure to tell us why your method is superior and give lots of anecdotal evidence as to why we should do it your way. It is the only way to go!

LisaFrank2011 · February 2011

Wait, you actually clean your own house?? Wink

I do love me some Clorox wipes. We are a no-paper-towel household, but Clorox wipes are my one vice.

pandi02a · February 2011

I usually clean with vinegar and baking soda or salt but I also have Clorox wipes on hand. Those are used sparingly because you can't get them here. I use old rags to clean and we don't use paper plates, but we do use paper towel like it's going out of style. Embarrassed

Nothing has changed since I have been pregnant.

tokenhoser · February 2011

I'm a total organic-cleaning hippie with my old socks and vinegar.

Unfortunately, DH still likes his Lysol, and as long as he's cleaning I'm not going to boss him around as to with what.

pinkpear · February 2011

I use vinegar, water, baking soda, and good old-fashioned elbow grease. For the tub and sink though I use dish soap (I read this somewhere a year or two ago and have loved it!).

I do keep Clorox wipes in the kitchen though. I like to wipe down my counters right after I handle raw meat.

ETA- we use old t-shirts and socks to clean.

jc51723 · February 2011

Bring on the Clorox!!! A bleach scented house is a clean house in my opinion!

MandyPandyBear · February 2011

I swing both ways. I use vinegar and water to mop the back half of the house where we keep the ferrets (Charlie is sensitive to anything scented) but I use pine-sol in the rest of the house. Our clothes are washed in Gain but the ferret bedding is washed in dye free fragrance free detergent (whatever is on sale.) I try to buy the green works cleaners but I also have Clorox wipes and use almost a roll of paper towels a day. Yay for Viva! I imagine that we'll use the same products I currently use now once Davy is born. If he can tolerate my normal products great, if not I guess it'll be fragrance/dye free detergent for everyone.

snoopy5512 · February 2011

Wow, so green ladies! I am impressed. We use paper plates sometimes, and I do use paper towels. I love clorox wipes... I have no idea what the housekeeper uses when she comes. However, I do recycle, use green energy, and conserve on water.

deo · February 2011

I rarely use paper towel... we go through maybe 2 rolls a year. I keep it in the house in case there is something really gross to clean up and for cleaning the bathroom mirror ( I know you can use newspapers, but I don't get the newspaper).

I like Lysol for cleaning the kitchen counters/disinfecting. I hate the smell of vinegar so I don't use that much.

jazzyag · February 2011

I'm mostly a "vinegar and old-tshirt rags type of gal" but there are a few things that merit paper towels: cat sick and dog sick. Also since I've discovered the "magic eraser" my bathroom has never been cleaner. Any other cleaning products I/we use are all natural. We don't like all the chemicals, but also we are on a septic system so we really shouldn't use them anyway.

MaybeBaby2 · February 2011

I'm a mix of vinegar and baking soda and Clorox bleach/wipes. I'm weaning off of paper plates, but my DH would go into shock without paper towels.

elisbu · February 2011

We have a mess of cleaning supplies, but when ever we need to buy something new I buy the natural cleaning supplies.

I clean with rags, but we still use a TON of paper towels (to cover plates in the microwave, to dry fruit...etc) Embarrassed

DH is better at being natural than me, but I am trying.

Edit: we NEVER us paper plates, a roll of paper towels last us about a week, so maybe we don't use them too fast, and we use dye free laundry soap. We also buy the concentrated natural cleaners and mix up our own batches.

tokenhoser · February 2011

I can't even fathom that people use paper plates at home.

That's just crazy.

We do have paper towels, but I think a roll lasts about 6 months. It's so easy not to use them, I can't quite figure out why people do.

Pythia1022 · February 2011

We use clorox bleach, lysol, wipes, paper towels to eat (but not paper plates), rags to clean, and I'm kind of obsessive with fabric softener...I even put it on my carpet after we clean it...then I clean it again.

Callidryas · February 2011

About the only commercial cleaning products I can use is Windex and Clorox wipes, so those are my go to's. I don't like the smell of vinegar, even thought I know it dissipates quickly. We use paper towels for mirrors and glass, but I like my bar mops for counters and dusting. Swiffer for the floors. Toilets get bleach to clean them but DH has to do that. Bleach activates my asthma.

I am looking for a different way to get hard water build up off of glass if any one has an idea. I can't stand to be in the shower for hours with CLR or Limeaway! Is that what you use the Magic Eraser for,Jazzyag??

muddin_lil_sis · February 2011

I'm just curious, for those of you NOT using papertowels, when you eat, what do you wipe your hands/face on if they get dirty? (and IMO, a paper napkin is the same thing as a paper towel).

We use the clorox or lysol wipes or spray with papertowels. Which ever is cheaper when I buy. I swiffer the floors. And use Scrubbing bubbles in the bathrooms with an old rag.

kacelle · February 2011

DH and I both use Lysol wipes and Swiffer dusters like nobody's business. I should probably reconsider this, since we're using CDing to avoid chemicals, save money, and be more sustainable. Right now, I still buy them because I assumed it'd make DH more likely to help out with chores, but whenever he wipes down a surface, he just grabs a rag and some cleaning spray.

meghanchrisaz · February 2011

elisbu:
We have a mess of cleaning supplies, but when ever we need to buy something new I buy the natural cleaning supplies.

I clean with rags, but we still use a TON of paper towels (to cover plates in the microwave, to dry fruit...etc)

DH is better at being natural than me, but I am trying.

Edit: we NEVER us paper plates, a roll of paper towels last us about a week, so maybe we don't use them too fast, and we use dye free laundry soap. We also buy the concentrated natural cleaners and mix up our own batches.

This is pretty much us. We do use paper plates when we have people over for BBQs and such. And I am the one that tries to be more natural.

AnneShirleyBlythe · February 2011

muddin_lil_sis:
I'm just curious, for those of you NOT using papertowels, when you eat, what do you wipe your hands/face on if they get dirty? (and IMO, a paper napkin is the same thing as a paper towel).
We use the clorox or lysol wipes or spray with papertowels. Which ever is cheaper when I buy. I swiffer the floors. And use Scrubbing bubbles in the bathrooms with an old rag.

Cloth napkins

tokenhoser · February 2011

muddin_lil_sis:
I'm just curious, for those of you NOT using papertowels, when you eat, what do you wipe your hands/face on if they get dirty? (and IMO, a paper napkin is the same thing as a paper towel).

It's called a "cloth napkin".

LovelyLou23 · February 2011

muddin_lil_sis:

I'm just curious, for those of you NOT using papertowels, when you eat, what do you wipe your hands/face on if they get dirty? (and IMO, a paper napkin is the same thing as a paper towel).

cloth napkins.

like pp said, i use paper towels pretty much only for if my puppy has an accident. otherwise, i have a basket of old cut up/sewn up tshirts for wiping up regular messes.

i recently switched to using all baking soda/vinegar to clean. i may try some kind of mix with dr bronners here soon though. it takes a little while to get used to it not smelly bleachy (because somehow we associate that smell with clean), but it just feels so much fresher and i feel like i can breath easy. also, it will be a plus whenever my kids are old enough to start helping with cleaning...no worries whatsoever about them ingesting some.

muddin_lil_sis · February 2011

tokenhoser:
muddin_lil_sis:

I'm just curious, for those of you NOT using papertowels, when you eat, what do you wipe your hands/face on if they get dirty? (and IMO, a paper napkin is the same thing as a paper towel).

It's called a "cloth napkin".

I'm not knocking it, but doesn't that just add to the laundry you have to do?

AnneShirleyBlythe · February 2011

muddin_lil_sis:
tokenhoser:
muddin_lil_sis:

I'm just curious, for those of you NOT using papertowels, when you eat, what do you wipe your hands/face on if they get dirty? (and IMO, a paper napkin is the same thing as a paper towel).
It's called a "cloth napkin".
I'm not knocking it, but doesn't that just add to the laundry you have to do?

I would rather add to the laundry than to a landfill. That is just me. Plus it is way cheaper to wash/reuse than to go through that many paper towels. I also use rags for all my cleaning, it adds at most one load a week. When you have a kid, that isn't a whole lot in the scheme of things.

mzsparklepdx · February 2011

As we've used stuff up, I've only bought environmentally friendly products. We started with laundry detergent and dish soap a couple years ago, because we were pretty sure it was draining somewhere into the backyard. I use a spray bottle of vinegar water for mirrors because it works well. We mostly use old towels and cut up t-shirts for cleaning, but I will use paper towels or toilet paper on cat puke. We mostly use cloth napkins.

We just bought a steam mop and are loving that. Cleaning and sterilizing with nothing but water! And one pass instead of three or four to get all the water and soap residue.

I do use Comet in the bathtub though (or rather DH does), because it works better and I can get it at the dollar store.

pinkpear · February 2011

muddin_lil_sis:
tokenhoser:
muddin_lil_sis:

I'm just curious, for those of you NOT using papertowels, when you eat, what do you wipe your hands/face on if they get dirty? (and IMO, a paper napkin is the same thing as a paper towel).

It's called a "cloth napkin".

I'm not knocking it, but doesn't that just add to the laundry you have to do?

They really aren't that big. I don't think I've noticed a difference in my laundry load since we made the switch. Honestly, unless something crazy happened we each use the same napkin from breakfast for dinner so that is 14 total per week for DH and me. Obviously that will change with a child but it's not that big of a deal.

everam01 · February 2011

I use vinegar, water, & baking soda for the kitchen. DH cleans a lot and won't use those, so I at least buy "green" products for him to use. He thinks they stink, though.

I'm allergic to bleach!

pinkflipflops44 · February 2011

cleaning question... what do you ladies use to get the build up of crap out of your washer? ive heard of using vinegar/water but how much of what? mine desperately needs it but i am holding out until we finish this bottle of detergent.

i love me some paper towels but i only buy them when i ahve a coupon so if i dont have a coupon we just dont use them. i use mostly rags to clean and i use a mix of 'green' products and the 'bad' stuff and love me some windex and clorox wipes. oh and i love the smell of lemon pledge.

AMYRENEE27 · February 2011

I still use man made cleaning products (green versions). I may have to try vinegar/baking soda.

I keep some papertowels on hand just in case but have converted to unpaper towels and cloth napkins.

AnneShirleyBlythe · February 2011

AMYRENEE27:
I still use man made cleaning products (green versions). I may have to try vinegar/baking soda.
I keep some papertowels on hand just in case but have converted to unpaper towels and cloth napkins.

I just switched to water/vinegar/lemonjuice this week and I really like it. It leaves everything really fresh and doesn't leave any residue. I also have to keep paper towels around (I go through a roll of Viva about every 3 months), I use it for cat vomit.

tokenhoser · February 2011

I added a few drops of peppermint essential oil to my water/vinegar spray bottle, and now it makes me happy when I clean things. I was shocked how much it covers the vinegar smell. The smell doesn't really linger, but it's a nice pick-me-up for cleaning day. I think it's a teeny bit antibacterial, as a bonus.

Next time, I might do grapefruit. I love my grapefruit essential oil.

As for laundry, the few cleaning rags and napkins we use don't even add up to a load a week. We honestly don't use napkins unless we're eating with our hands. We never did when I was growing up, either. Little kids get wiped off with a dishrag when they're done.

IU_baby · February 2011

I use Clorox wipes, Windex and Clorox or Lysol toilet bowl cleaner. I also love Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Other than that, I'm strictly a baking soda/vinegar/water kind of girl with cloth towels.

I switched after having my son because I was worried about toxic chemicals on and around his eating surfaces and places he was playing.

At the request of my husband, we do have a roll of paper towels in the house, but a single roll lasts us almost a month. We used to go through a roll each week, if not more, so I say we're doing a pretty good job.

AMYRENEE27 · February 2011

AnneShirleyBlythe:
AMYRENEE27:

I still use man made cleaning products (green versions). I may have to try vinegar/baking soda.

I keep some papertowels on hand just in case but have converted to unpaper towels and cloth napkins.

I just switched to water/vinegar/lemonjuice this week and I really like it. It leaves everything really fresh and doesn't leave any residue. I also have to keep paper towels around (I go through a roll of Viva about every 3 months), I use it for cat vomit.

Do you mix water/ vinegar/ lemon juice?

AnneShirleyBlythe · February 2011

AMYRENEE27:
AnneShirleyBlythe:
AMYRENEE27:

I still use man made cleaning products (green versions). I may have to try vinegar/baking soda.
I keep some papertowels on hand just in case but have converted to unpaper towels and cloth napkins.
I just switched to water/vinegar/lemonjuice this week and I really like it. It leaves everything really fresh and doesn't leave any residue. I also have to keep paper towels around (I go through a roll of Viva about every 3 months), I use it for cat vomit.
Do you mix water/ vinegar/ lemon juice?

I do 1c water, 1c vinegar and a few squirts of lemon juice from the plastic lemon thingy (though, I would rather use fresh+lemon peels but it was all I had!)

jazzyag · February 2011

Callidryas:
About the only commercial cleaning products I can use is Windex and Clorox wipes, so those are my go to's. I don't like the smell of vinegar, even thought I know it dissipates quickly. We use paper towels for mirrors and glass, but I like my bar mops for counters and dusting. Swiffer for the floors. Toilets get bleach to clean them but DH has to do that. Bleach activates my asthma.
I am looking for a different way to get hard water build up off of glass if any one has an idea. I can't stand to be in the shower for hours with CLR or Limeaway! Is that what you use the Magic Eraser for,Jazzyag??

jazzyag · February 2011

Callidryas:
About the only commercial cleaning products I can use is Windex and Clorox wipes, so those are my go to's. I don't like the smell of vinegar, even thought I know it dissipates quickly. We use paper towels for mirrors and glass, but I like my bar mops for counters and dusting. Swiffer for the floors. Toilets get bleach to clean them but DH has to do that. Bleach activates my asthma.
I am looking for a different way to get hard water build up off of glass if any one has an idea. I can't stand to be in the shower for hours with CLR or Limeaway! Is that what you use the Magic Eraser for,Jazzyag??

Mostly the soap scum in my tub, and toothpaste gunk in the sink. I'm not sure how hard our water is, but it's creek water, so I don't think the mineral content is that high.

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Since it is Self-Righteous Wednesday...Cleaning products!

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