Now that we’re a week into our Green Cleaning series, I want to hear from you!
What questions do you have about green and homemade cleaning? Is there a certain cleaner you’ve been trying to find a natural and non-toxic replacement for? Or something you’ve been trying to clean with natural cleaners, but it’s just not getting the job done?
I want to tackle some of your questions as a part of this series, so I would love to hear from you!
Go here to read all the posts in the 31 Days to Green Clean series.
__________________________________________
If you’d like to learn more about living green and living frugally I’d love to have you as a Live Renewed reader! You can subscribe, either by email or in a reader, to get the latest posts, ideas and inspiration for living frugally green. You can also connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!
yes! I can’t find anything to tackle the toilet bowl. It’s stained at this point b/c I haven’t been willing to use harsh chemicals.
I’m with Anjanette,I have tried baking soda and vinegar,but am not happy with the results. After a while a film/layer? of something/scale? builds up and I have to empty the toilet of water and pour straight vinegar into it and let it sit to get rid of the scale/film.Also,it doesn’t smell fresh or clean to me with the baking soda/vinegar combo. Any help? Darlene
Okay, Darlene & Anjanette – I’m going to tackle the toilet bowl for you. Look for a post hopefully next week!
Here’s my question: Can you use vinegar and baking soda to clean shower tile? I have read in some places that it eats away the grout.
Also, I want a “after shower spray”. I have been using a vinegar/water solution but am not sure if that is good for the bathroom tile.
Hi Shiree,
Here’s my post on daily shower cleaner, and using vinegar and baking soda on shower tile, in case you missed it: http://www.liverenewed.com/2012/10/days-green-clean-vinegar-dishsoap-for-shower-cleaner-laundry-stain-remover.html
Hope that helps!
Have you ever tried any device that uses steam to clean? If so, in what was it more/less effective than natural products and elbow grease?
Also, have you tried any of those new mops where you can add your own cleaner or hot water? I’ve been on the fence about buying one for months now. I just wonder if it’s worth the investment for in-between more detailed cleanings. Really I’m looking for any products that can help me keep up with the messes that my 8-month old produces.
I’m a new follower, and I just wanted to say that I’ve been loving this series. I think that you’ve actually given me the confidence to finally try green cleaning. Something about this 31days series just clicked for me. Thank for doing it!
Hi Kellie,
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the series! And I hope you come to enjoy green cleaning as much as I do – if you can actually “enjoy” cleaning! ha! 🙂
~Emily
Dishwasher soap.. and glass cleaner. Water and vinegar are leaving a film. Thanks!
Hi Melinda,
Here’s my post on easy and green glass cleaner in case you missed it: http://www.liverenewed.com/2012/10/days-green-clean-easy-green-window-cleaner.html
Hope it works for you!
Yup, I saw it when you posted it, but thanks! I’m learning a few other tips along the way as well. Is there not a dishwasher liquid or powder recipe you have tried/use?
I have made my own, here’s the link: http://www.liverenewed.com/2009/09/homemade-dishwasher-detergent.html
But it stopped working for me, so I’m reluctant to highly recommend it anymore. Honestly, what I’ve experienced and read on other blogs is that it’s really hard to find a homemade dishwasher detergent that actually works for the long haul. It might work for a while, but then it stops working for some reason. I have another recipe I’m hoping to make and try. If it works, I’ll try to post it as a part of the series.
I would be willing to give it a try if you want to email me the recipe. And that’s kind of what I thought. Thankfully, there’s coupons out there for dishwashing stuff. And the cheaper stuff looks ok. I am new to having a dishwasher, so I’m still trying to figure it all out. Thanks!
Melinda – the recipe is in the post that I linked to in my previous comment. Hope that helps! 🙂
Love the green cleaning series! Have you come across a green cleaner for composite granite sinks? I haven’t but would love to! These sinks are awesome except for the sink cleaner I had to buy from the appliance store I bought the sink from. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi Emily! Have you found anything that works for a drain de-clogger? I’ve tried the baking soda and vinegar thing and it just didn’t work for me. 🙁
Hi Krissa! I think it depends on how clogged your drain is. If it’s almost completely clogged, then I agree, the vinegar and baking soda doesn’t work that well. A few things we have tried in addition to using vinegar and baking soda are to use a plunger to try to pull up whatever is causing the drain to be slow – like hair in the shower drain. It’s gross, but pretty effective. Then follow with vinegar and baking soda. Also, after adding the vinegar and baking soda to the drain I will usually put a big pot of water on the stove to boil. Rinsing the vinegar and baking soda down with boiling water (be careful!) seems to really help as well. Let me know if either of those work for you, or if you’re still having trouble de-clogging your drain.
Clogged Drains: My husband was in construction so here is his advice. If one does not do the job move on to the next step .
Step 1 – plunger. sometime gunk just needs a little extra force. Step 2 – Try the vinegar and baking soda type recipes. this will break up gunky build up. Step 3 – use a tool to remove hair from the drain. There are several kinds, some metal with a hook on the end, some plastic with hooks running up both sides. both work for me although the platic one bends so it works better in some drains. you might be amazed by how much collects even in sink drains. Step 4- remove the pea trap. that is the little elbow below your sink. look online for tutorials. sometime you cannot reach the hair with a tool or weird things get stuck in that curve. Step 5 – if you have tried all of the above and still have a problem you probably need to snake your drain (yes really).There is probably a larger clog somewhere between your drain and the sewer/septic. This is a very long tool that look like a retractable measuring tape on steroids. It can reach far into your system. Look for a tutorial, my husband always does this part so I can’t tell you how to do it, just that it works. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the tips Melissa! I forgot about the snake – my hubs has done that before with our drains too and it really helps a lot!
Thanks so much for all of this info! My question for you is about the safety of tea tree oil during pregnant. I’m 7 1/2 months pregnant and I’ve been using it in small amounts in my homemade dishsoap and I would love to use your homemade multi purpose cleaner. It just dawned on me today that some people say it is not safe during pregnancy or nursing. But I’m wondering if it is ok to use in cleaning?
Hi Jessica, Thanks for your question, but it’s one that I’m really not qualified to answer. I did use TTO in my cleaners while pregnant, it was not something that I had heard not to do. I think you should probably ask your doctor or midwife to be sure.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the series!
~Emily
Oh no worries! I know that you don’t want to say anything definite…I was mainly curious if you used it during pregnancy as well. Thanks!
What can I use to clean my computer and t.v. screens? The t.v. especially has little finger prints, but I know with the newer t.v.’s we can’t use regular glass cleaner. Is a vinegar/alcohol cleaner still safe to use on these newer screens or do I need to buy the expensive stuff at the store?
Personally I just use a microfiber cloth. I think they sell some that are specifically for electronics, but I just use my regular microfiber cloths. If you’re just dusting, you can use them dry, but if you need a little extra cleaning power you can get them just a little bit damp, and wipe off fingerprints that way. I wouldn’t spray any cleaner onto my electronics, if you’re going to spray something, spray it onto the cloth and not onto the electronics. I also wouldn’t buy the expensive stuff at the store, they just want you to think that’s the only thing you can use and then they can charge an arm and a leg for it – not worth it in my opinion. Hope that helps!
~Emily