I already use white vinegar and baking soda to clean my kitchen, and for my washroom I have a local Aussie product..completely Green :) so I think I am good :)

I've never understood why one needs so many cleaners - green or not.

I use SIMPLE GREEN (dilute or full strength) for about everything. The toilet, the floors, the shower, the car, a stain remover for laundry, etc. I basically have one full-strength spray bottle and one dilute (1:4) spray bottle.

Then, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, hand soap, and good ole white vinegar are the only other cleaners I have.

Love the videos, though.

I'm in a unique position to buy green since I've become a solo renter again and amd stocking my apt.

I'll also admit to to a love of paper plates and plastic utensils for ease of cleanup. This time around I splurged on two colorful place settings rather than the cheap, but often large 16 or 20 piece sets.

Some things I still have a problem with is paper towel and disinfectant wipe addiction plus frequent use of swiffer cloths. I plan to try a microfiber, washable duster, but the other habits are hard to break since I'd have to mantain an extra category of laundry for wash cloths and rags and I don't even have a microwave to zap sponges with.

That said, I really appreciate the links in these cure posts because they've been uber handy :)

I hate to say this, but after using eco friendly dishwasher gel, our dishwasher clogged and started throwing gunk out. I mean when the repairman completely opened it, there was tons of soap clogged underneath. He cleaned everything and charged us a pretty $$ bill. So I am back to Cascade, everything else I use is green. But in the back of my mind, I am scared for my washer hope that does not turn against on me for being green.
Did any body else had this kind of trouble.

I've been doing the vinegar and baking soda thing for a while now. It never ceases to amaze me how amazing it can be, but I may have to break down and buy some soft scrub, cause my tub is beyond it right now. I don't really know when it happened, but it's yellowy around the drain. I scrubbed it forever last night and you can't tell a bit of difference. Anyone have a suggestion on a green version that works well? Bon Ami is gonna be my green cleaner to buy today, because I've never used it before. I'll try that before soft scrub I guess.

I also use microfiber cloths for all my cleaning and have bought maybe 2 rolls of paper towels in the past year and a half. We're redoing the kitchen and I was trying to avoid paper products, but the whole washing in the bath sink is just not working...so I'll try to find a good recycled version.

Also, I love the video today. It seems like you guys had fun with this one. It's cute.

Maxwell,
I read the book a year ago and I've kind of been living by it as I decorate my apartment. You're much funnier than I imagined good job on the video.

I used to work at Whole Foods, so I'm no stranger to eco cleaners. been using them for years.

In Denmark, Ecover, has actually not been proven to be very Eco friendly. It contains perfume that is highly allergenic and has bronopol in it as well which is very polluting.

This means that it did not receive the Nordic eco-label, so I would really think twice before buying this again, if I were you.

This is perfect timing! My husband went to the store with me the last time I bought all my cleaning products and he's not so much into what he calls "hippy" products. Today is my chance to switch some of these chemicals out for green ones! Hooray!

I really dislike this format! The videos are cute, but really--an assignment every day? It doesn't matter if it's short, I have neither the time nor the energy to do all of this every day. I can do dishes and my basic 10 minutes of tidying before bed, and that's it. So I am COMPLETELY behind on the Cure. Isn't anyone else having this problem? I really hope you guys go back to a regular format next time. I get that a lot of people want it to be shorter and more manageable, but couldn't you have done 4 or 6 weeks? And WHY is it at the same time as the kitchen Cure?

loved the vid today! made me smile... and luckily, i keep my cleaner's as green as I can. I have never tried the white vinegar and baking soda trick though! I'm definitely giving it a try!

Highly recommend the book, NATURALLY CLEAN HOME by Karyn Siegal-Maier which includes over 100 herbal formulas for nontoxic cleansers. There are concoctions for kitchen, bath, laundry, wood, walls carpeting, metals, air, and the garage and basement. Here is one of the recipes for Whitening Scouring Powder:
1 cup baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 cup borax
1/4 cup grated lemon, orange, or grapefruit peel
Combine all ingredients in a recycled plastic container, preferably one with a shaker top. Shake well. Sprinkle small amount into sink and scrub with damp sponge or cloth. Rinse well with plain water.

Some staples for your house should be castile soap (Dr. Bronners), baking soda, borax, and vinegar. I love Lavender scented Dr. Bronners in my laundry (with baking soda). It smells great.

And, yes, I'm having trouble keeping up with the 20 minutes but I haven't given up yet...the weekend is almost here.

didajosh: I've tried several green dishwasher detergents and haven't found one that works, so I use Cascade, quite guiltily. But, I read that they are removing phosphates from Cascade and other cleaners, so that's changing too. I'm glad for that and really don't want to use phosphates or buy Cascade, but what to do? Has anyone found a green dishwasher detergent that really works?

I LOVE this format and love the videos! Even if I don't do something everyday, it's so easy to catch up. I look forward to watching the videos every morning and stay in the groove with the Cure as a result.

I use Method Smarty Dish tablets (the free and clear version) in my dishwasher, and I think they work great - finally was able to kick the Cascade to the curb! I buy them at drugstore.com but they are also available at Target.

This is my first Cure, but I find the format really manageable. Why is this so much fun??

Today I am making a home made version of febreeze with vinegar, water, baking soda and essential oils. Lots of recipes online.

Use Method Brands or make my own.

What I hate the most are the chemical wood furniture cleaners and room sprays.
So for the last 10 years I have been making my own natural beeswax polish. It works wonders on your woods and also makes the room smell delicious!

If you want to make your whole house smell clean and fresh naturally. Boil a pot of water with several drops of pure eucalyptus and orange and lemon oils and once the water begins to boil, turn the stove off and just let the steam fill your home with the natural vapors. Note: do not use FRAGRANCE oils only use pure essential oils.

How eco-friendly are Mrs Meyer's products? A few reviews on Amazon have called them out over questionable ingredients...

@didajosh I had a similar problem. I used Seventh Generation but none of them dissolved during the wash and the entire gel tablets just stuck there. So I had to go back to Cascade. But I'll take @LaneC's advice and buy Method next time.

LOVE this video. I'm also behind but even as a working mom, I think this is totally manageable.

Dishwashing Detergent question:
I have tried so many of those green products(which smell so nice!), but I always go back to the non-green kind because none of them seem to give me enough suds.
Any green dishwashing detergent with lots of suds?

I really love Method, but I find many other green cleaners to be ineffective or have a harsh "wrong orange" smell that I detest.
My new favorite green cleaning products are by babyganics; they are mostly coconut and palm kernel suffactant based. Babyganics' version of a stain spray (stain, stain, go away) is fabulous! I also LOVE their all purpose cleaner and, for those of you with little ones, the high chair and toy cleaner is unbelievable!
As for a green dishwashing liquid with lots of suds, I personally like Seventh Generation.

loved the shot of drinking the cleaner! I only use green products because my cats walk everywhere and lick their paws and I don't want them ingesting the residue. I also love using Better Life products, they rock! http://www.cleanhappens.com/

Uuuh... I don't really care how "green" Mrs. Meyers products are because I am in love with the geranium scented products. I use the dish liquid and counter top spray. I don't like having too many cleaners around, so in addition I use borax (great for kitchen and bath) and white vinegar for my windows.

Wow, I wish there was a GreenDepot in my city!

I use Method products except for dishwasher detergent and laundry soap. I haven't tried vinegar for cleaning, but will do that over the weekend!

I'm just swamped right now, so doing something every day is not possible...but last night was my "free night" so I dusted, vacuumed and mopped the living room, brought home some tulips and removed a lamp I've been meaning to get rid of. It didn't take me that long either.

Haven't set up an outbox, but will tackle that tomorrow as well (another 'free day'). I also have a friend coming tomorrow who does interiors on the side, for a brainstorming session about how to make my place work better for me. SO excited!

Great video, and comments lots of helpful info: will buy Bon Ami today as well as some 7th Generation laundry soap.

What is the a proportion of white vinegar to baking soda in the mixture you all use? Is it a paste consistency - pleases inform the non-informed -- that would be me -- Thanks.

I totally used Soft Scrub last weekend on my tub per the book's recommendation. Oh my, but if my bathtub and shower aren't gorgeous now. I also got new shampoo and conditioner (Amazon Organics Lemongrass and Lavender http://www.amazon-organics.com/ingr/ingr225000.cfm) and I'm finding that I'm showering more often! Which is not eco-friendly, but is people friendly ;-)

I otherwise use all 7th Gen and Mrs. Meyers products. Does anyone have links to the dubiousness of Mrs. Meyers natural claims? I guess I always figured that if they sold them in Whole Foods...they smell so, so good. We don't have Trader Joe's in Boulder where I live (sadly), but I used to use their detergent when I lived in Chicago.

Glad to know about an eco-floor cleaner. I just bought Murphy's Oil Soap for my floors, so maybe that is what I will replace.

I LOVE this version of the Cure. So easy to accomplish, plus I just love having something to look forward to every day.

I don't know how I missed the first couple days! I guess that's what I get for being lax in my AT following!

Thanks for featuring this, I'm definitely going to have to go pick up that book.

We have an old cast iron tub that we had re-enameled (to freshen it up but mostly to protect our son from the lead that can leach from those old tubs).

To protect the finish all abrasive cleansers or scrub brushes were out and since we went non-toxic years ago... well, the tub was starting to look pretty bad.

Then I remembered (20 Mule Team) Borax. Sprinkle in the tub and wipe away. Works like a dream! Tub, tile, sinks, toilet - works beautifully. You'll never buy the nasty stuff again.

Thanks for the push. While I was at it, I went green for all the cleaners for my kids, too.

Love the videos and the format! I clean as much as I can with vinegar, baking soda and lemon - smells great and it's rather fun. (Recently cleaned up my copper bottomed pots by dipping half a lemon in salt and rubbing them back to life - amazing.)

I have a couple products from Green Works and some non eco-friendlies that I will not replace once they are empty. This inspires me to do more research before I buy...I'm hoping to find an eco cleaning bar in my area - I think it is genius to be able to reuse containers like that!

I was going to skip this one, as I was thinking I already use green cleaners (and we have plenty!), but then I saw the comments about dishwashing detergent. We are still using Cascade because we've been unable to find a suitable natural substitute, but I see that some people like the Method one, so I am going to give that a try.

And how convenient that we just ran out of dishwasher detergent!

The Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook has a great information about how to make healthier choices when it comes to cleaning products. A few excerpts:

"Choose products with specific claims, rather than general ones. The term environmentally friendly...is only meaningful if accompanied by an explanation, such as 'This product has no air-polluting potential.'"

"Many products are prominently labeled 'phosphate free' even though phosphates haven't been used in household products, except automatic dishwashing detergent, since the mid-1990s." (My note for those of us using our trusty Cascade dishwasher detergent: According to their web site, as of July 2010, all phosphates have been removed from their products).

The MSHH also has a great universal cleaning kit chart which enforces *always* using the least toxic cleaning product possible first before moving on to something stronger (her example is cleaning a particularly dirty oven with baking soda and water before trying a commercial spray cleaner). I have been making my own eco-friendly cleaning products for over a year based on the suggestions in this book. General purpose cleaner is a solution of mild dishwashing liquid and 2 cups water in a spray bottle and a glass cleaner of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water in a spray bottle.

Cheap ingredients and I've never run out of supplies to make my cleaners. FWIW, I've also found that using "natural" dishwashing detergents didn't cut it on my dishes, so I use Cascade. I figure washing my dishes once using a phosphate free detergent is better than than running the load through again (an often eventually resorting to washing them by hand) because they weren't clean.

As far as laundry detergent goes, we cloth diaper, and the original Tide is what works (and we tried quite a few cloth diaper-specific formulas), so that's what we use.

Hi, for the frugal amongst you there are plenty of super green cleaning products you can make yourself. After all, the idea is that they have to be made with natural ingredients. One thing that I find really effective and use all the time is a mix of water (about a pint), 20-30 drops of good quality tea tree oil, some esential oil of your choice to give it a nice smell (I use lavender), white vinegar and a nice drop of dish detergent (since it is only one drop I actually use the regular one). It is great for cleaning kitchen surfaces, cuts grease and disinfects. Recommended for everyday cleaning though, as it does not cut through thick grease, etc. But it smells delish, it is really green and costs only a few pennies. There are loads of other ideas online as well!

maxwell, you crack me up!

Inlimbo, if you are asking about white vinegar and soda to clear drains, I usually just go for a cup of soda, as far into the drain as it will go, followed by vinegar (makes a great chemical reaction that bubbles away your clogs) followed by a kettle full of boiling water.

It is so funny - I just partnered up with my friend who has an eco blog, so I have all #lowimpact cleaning products right now! I did a twist on today's DIY exercise... see the video here http://bit.ly/aUHmxY ... I hooked up my Time Warner Cable phone modem. Oh yes I did. #ATCure is forcing us all to make it happen in the home!

LOVE this new Cure format!! It's fun, motivating and more doable at 20 minutes a session. Seeing and hearing Maxwell talk to us is also more personal (and funny!) Plus, get to see more of wonderful NYC!!

I do wish you guys would stagger the Kitchen and Home Cures, though. Tough to keep up with both with a full time job and family. Maybe for the Spring??

Wish there was a Green Depot near me - looks like an awesome place!

I use GreenWorks, Method and Orange Clean for almost everything. My husband gets a rash if I use any laundry detergent, so I use Dreft (the one for babies!) I recently started using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (the bathroom version) I use it mainly for the tub and shower doors (we have hard water - so tons of spots all the time!) It's works amazingly well, so I got rid of my Soft Scrub type cleansers, thinking it was also a greener product. Not sure if it is... any thoughts?

I use Mrs Meyers All Purpose spray cleaner. I've had the same concentrate bottle for a long, long time (Like a couple of years??) And I clean my kitchen daily with it. I like that I don't have to keep buying new product, just add a few drops to water in the spray bottle.

this one is near + dear to my heart as my husband owns an eco-friendly shop + online store, The Green Life! (http://www.thegreenlifecostore.com) We sell green cleaners for dish-washing, home cleaning + laundry: http://www.thegreenlifecostore.com/52.html

we swapped out allllll our products 2.5 years ago + it shocks me that others haven't done the same. all my green products are as good, if not better, than conventional, toxic products. except perhaps toilet bowl cleaners + soft scrub replacements, which require a little more elbow grease!

my personal favorite green brand is Ecover, especially for laundry detergent!

@Kinky Gazpacho - i use microfibers to dust my entire home. they can be used dry or wet then shaken off + reused. once they need to be washed, i don't separate them from laundry. they go in with clothing, but if i can toss them in on a towels + sheets load, i do try to do that.

@amandakbw - i mop my floors with a bucket + reusable rope mop. i use Ecover Floor Soap + Ecover All Purpose Cleaner together in water. it works on my wood + tile!
[http://www.thegreenlifecostore.com/m8/182--ecover-all-purpose-cleaner-natural-lemon-32-oz-.html] + [http://www.thegreenlifecostore.com/m8/189--ecover-floor-soap-32-oz-.html]

@VictoriaOC - Mrs Meyers makes a great powder scrub that I use on tub + tile.
[http://www.thegreenlifecostore.com/m8/324--mrs-meyers-surface-scrub-11-oz-2-scents.html] Ecover (my usual favorite brand) makes a white, creamy one that looks like SoftScrub, but i honestly don't feel it is as effective! i still use it over SoftScrub though, because we don't have any non-green cleaners in our house (not worth it, personally, to me.)
.
for anyone not sure where to start or what products will really do the trick, i blogged about which brands i use for cleaning, dishwashing + laundry, with lots of tips on how to use these over conventional products:
http://jessohbee.blogspot.com/2010/06/you-haven-moved-inch.html

I love the format...today's assignment has inspired me to go and assess the cleaning stuff, we have way too many bottles containing heaven knows what! The sound didn't work on the video for the section where you visited the store..did anyone else have that problem?

Has anyone tried Soap Nuts for their laundry? The co-op I belong to sells it now. Once my detergent is gone I will try it and let you know.

Last week I had a moment with the peppermint oil and used half a bottle, undiluted. I heard it kept mice away and REALLY wanted it to work. It did!

Peppermint was the first item replaced. I then proceeded to replenish the Bon Ami and splurged on a 7gen surface cleaner.

Looking forward to testing some of the recommendations for a soft scrub alternative.

re: Mrs Meyers "greenness"

ok, so i asked my husband, scott, (who owns The Green Life - see post above) + he said Mrs Meyers products are environmentally friendly for the most part. the fact that they are biodegradable (liquid products) + eco-conscious in so many factors, makes them far, far better options than any traditional line (lysol, clorox, tide, etc). as a whole, their line is not the most eco of all those that he carries, but he stands behind most all products.

the two main concerns he pointed out is that their powder products do not completely biodegrade. again, they do break down much better than traditional products.

secondly, their dish/hand soaps + hand lotions list "fragrance" as an ingredient. for bath + body products, "fragrance" is a major ingredient to avoid because it can refer to so many hidden, toxic chemicals. while they most likely use essential oils, they aren't completely transparent in their listings. because scott does not allow any of his bath + body products to have "fragrance" listed as such + not further explained, he doesn't carry mrs. meyers soaps + lotions, which similarly would be in contact with skin.

hope that helps!

you really have to find out what is important to you (the planet, your health, social/labor practices, etc) when going green + find products that match those concerns. though trader joes, whole foods, etc are great resources, many carry products that scott doesn't allow at The Green Life. it's good to know what you care about so you can do research on your own or ask in smaller, green-minded stores.

but bottom line: any green cleaner is better than a non-green cleaner! period!

No problemo! I already use only green cleaners at home and it was no difficult task. I have a question though: are those magic erasers bad for the environment? I can't really figure that one out.

Also, loved your cute jokes in this video!

sometimes what i care about most is how well a cleaner kills pathogens in the environment without creating resistant strains of pathogens (so, i'm generally not in favor of anti-bacterial products unless the sole anti-bacterial agent is alcohol).

and, most 'green' cleaners do not do this kind of cleaning, but things like lysol, bleach, etc. do. for mold/mildew outbreaks, for preventing spread of athletes foot and similar fungal infections, for cold/flu season, for stomach virus, for pink eye outbreaks and the like, choose an effective cleaner.

i think bleach is the recommended cleaner for kitchen food safety (to clean cutting boards, clean after preparing poultry/pork, etc.)

but i bought some cute, nice smelling cleaner for all purpose cleaning for the cure:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/-home-/discuss/72157624943068375/#comment72157625221373652

@SanDiegoAT - i don't use antibacterial products in any place in my home! we don't eat meat so i know that reduces our need, but hand soap is just plain castile soap + for mildew / mold i use a green version that has no harsh chemicals or toxic fumes. gotta find the name of it...

since stopping my use of anti-bacterial soap + hand sanitizer, i've been sick *less*, even in "cold/flu season". i really urge people to reconsider their use of anti-b products.

Very much enjoying the new 20/20 format even though I'm a couple days behind. I will be able to catch up quickly!!!

Though I do love the idea of staggering home and kitchen cures ... Would be so lovely to focus on each :-) whatever is great though -- having this cool free thing is a total gift!

Wide awake at 3 am. Think I'll go do my assignment!

re: soap nuts, the water you use when washing clothes has to be above 30 degrees Celsius or 86 degrees Fahrenheit for the saponins to be able to do their work. My problem with these is that they aren't a very green option when considering their full life span; transported across oceans before arriving at their destination. Actually I've read that some other nuts that grow naturally in both North America as well as Europe have the same cleaning function, so it's worth looking into. Chenopodium bonus-henricus:
http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyv%C3%A4nheikinsavikka (in Finnish, but use Google Translate to see the part about soap nuts, as it's not mentioned in the English wiki)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenopodium_bonus-henricus

It doesn't seem like the truly green options of cleaning are used frequently here in Finland - baking soda and vinegar - because up until yesterday I haven't been able to find baking soda in other than really small packages, containing less than a cup at the most. However, with a 15-% off coupon we did some major grocery shopping and went to a bigger store that has more storage room and therefore a greater selection with not only smaller packages as well. And I found my baking soda! It might sound completely silly but I'm over the moon, especially since I was running out on my Nordic Swan-marked general cleaner anyway. Perfect timing!

sigh, why don't certain web pages allow the use of other letters than those occurring in the English language...

The name is Hyvanheikinsavikka with two dots above the first a.

Slate.com article on whether "green" cleaners are effective in eliminating various pathogens. (Answer, generally No.)
http://www.slate.com/id/2213259/

Completed a declutter of our under-the-sink cleaning area. Lots of specialized cleaners we haven't used a lot. And we already have some nice green stuff -- Method and Mrs. Meyers. I'm not going to buy anything right now since we have duplicates. My thought is just knowing about what we already have and having it arranged so it is accessible is BETTER than a trip to the store!! I did merge some half-used 7th Gen dish soap duplicates and will be making very good use of those!

Oh! And found some cleaners I wasn't sure about keeping v. tossing. So I set them out to test run them. Which also feels like getting something new!

As long as the germs are gone, I don't care how they go. Washing your hands isn't really about killing germs, it's about removing them. Soap just makes it easier for the germs to be rubbed and rinsed away. There's a reason there's a suggested length of time for hand washing--if you rub your hands together under running water for that length of time, the majority of germs will be rinsed away, even if you did not use soap.

Just rubbing your hands while putting on hand lotion removes a lot of germs. Just rubbing your hands together, no added soap or sanitizer, removes some of the germs. That's why surgeons wash their hands so thoroughly--it's not enough to use the special soap they use, they need to wash for a certain length of time to ensure the utmost sanitation.

Same thing with scrubbing a counter or sink or whatever. Just the action of scrubbing removes some of the germs. Unless you know you are dealing with something like athlete's foot, is it really necessary to disinfect your bathtub?

Certain surfaces do have to be sanitary--germs all gone. But the average surface in the average house just needs to be clean. My kitchen counters are clean. My cutting board that I reserve for any meat-related cooking--that gets run through the dishwasher to make sure it is as clean and sanitary as possible.

Just because a few germs are present doesn't mean you are going to get sick. Your immune system can usually handle them just fine.

If we focused on keeping just the needed areas sanitary and on keeping the rest of our homes clean, it'd go a long way to helping the environment.

Maxwell, I love love love the videos... next on the cards should be a TV show methinks!

I have plenty of green cleaners and some in reserve because I'm an active couponer too. I've got some Iowa Pine Mrs. Meyers in reserve from after last Christmas that I can't wait to break out in November. I'm near the end of my Method Grapefruit which is my favorite summertime scent. I also have Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena as my "regular" for things that don't come in seasonal scents like surface scrub. (Which I just used on my sink.)

I'm off to go through some kitchen drawers for the Kitchen Cure!

I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil and today I found a green line of cleaners and I am so happy! Ecobril.
Amazing tips!

I already use vinegar and Bon Ami, so may have answered the survey incorrectly.

I'm hesitant about this one. I don't have a dishwasher, so I bought something that is both perfume-free, borax-free, "based on vegetal ingredients" (whatever that means), and has a 100% recyclable bottle. I guess that's the best I can do. The product is called "Rainett" and it has been eco-certified by the European Union (I'm French). I'm keeping the bleach bottle I have bought 2 years ago, because I use it twice a year, plus an oven cleaner I use on desperate cases. The rest is pretty much standard stuff, and a lot of white vinegar !

I love the Cure ! It's my first time doing it, so I guess I don't have a basis for comparison. However, I'm kind of frustrated because it stops on week-end. Let's face it, that's when most of us have time for our home. Let's have week-end assignments !

haha, maxwell, you're a dork for fake drinking that! :P

on top of green cleaners, how about some advice for how to make some green diy smells for our home. method left us all in the lurch on that one.

Perfect timing! I just bought my first eco dish detergent earlier today. I looove the videos and you just crack me up! Keep it up! :)

i'm a fan of the method products (kind of green?), especially their all purpose spray and floor cleaner. i invested in the O mop with wood & tile mops that can be washed in the washing machine, and some microfiber cloths for cleaning glass & mirrors. and i just use Comet on my old sinks and Bon Ami on my new one (Bon Ami just doesn't get the stains out the old sinks).

Love the video format - great daily reminder to keep working on the home! Thanks Maxwell!

I love this 20/20 cure. I am actually keeping up. And don't change a thing about the videos. They're inspiring!

I have enough eco-cleaners for now, mostly Seventh Generation, so today I substituted a related cure. In :20, I surface-cleaned part of the master bath and put both baths' shower curtains in the washer with distilled vinegar, an eco-cleaner I buy by the gallon. Naturally, I'll finish that today in however much longer it takes. I've been using a kitchen timer to help me focus on each day's cure. The time worked averaged out doably this first week, so I want to continue. Thanks for the motivation, without which my baths and office shreddable papers would have continued to slide.

I was using all eco-friendly (mostly homemade) cleaners for a while and found that they just weren't as effective as the "bad" stuff. I do have a box of Borax and vinegar/baking soda at home so maybe I'll experiment some more. I'm way to cheap to go out and buy those over-priced eco-cleaners like Mrs Meyers and Seventh Generation.

Is Mrs. Meyers green? I'm using that in Lavendar because 409 was killing my head. I LOOOOVE it but if it's not green I'll cry, I don't want to replace it. :(

Maxwell this is my first cure with AT, I'm loving it, you make me laugh. THANK YOU!

Interesting factoid: Monica Nasser, who created Caldrea, also created Mrs. Meyers as a lower-priced line.

Maxwell: Bar Keepers Friend. Really. great. stuff. In all its forms -- powder, liquid, ceramic cooktop.

Check this out:

http://www.themanlyhousekeeper.com/2011/03/11/solved-soap-scum-and-hard-water-stains/

It doesn't market itself as a green cleaner, but it is non-toxic and really, REALLY, works. One thing I particularly like is that it is not a spray; if you use the thick version (the ceramic cooktop formulation), it is very effective and there are no vapours, so you don't make yourself sick when cleaning your bathroom.

(the manly housekeeper did a follow-up challenge, but Bar Keepers Friend continues to rule as champ!)

I use a fantastic product called Arm & Hammer Essentials Cleaner & Degreaser. It is plant based, and grease will slip off sprayed surfaces. I use it on everything except mirrors.

For clogs, in the sink, in the dishwasher, for any slow moving drains, I use Hydrogen Peroxide. It will dissolve biological gunk, like hair and skin and nails and food. Just pour the HP slowing down the drain, listen for the hiss, and don't use the drain for a while. It often takes repeats to completely clear a drain, but at fifty cents a bottle, with four applications per bottle, it is a cheap alternative to anything else.

I discovered it by accident after knocking an open bottle of HP into a slow draining sink. That night when I washed my face and brushed my teeth, the water practically raced down the drain. It took me a minute to remember the accident, and I have used HP religiously since. It's best for use on slowing moving drains before they become clogged, but in my new condo, I clogged the kitchen sink and the dishwasher, and to my surprise, it worked on both, through the clogs. I poured a whole bottle through water into a completely clogged sink drain (with a disposal), and a bottle into the bottom of the dishwater, and it worked! The dishwasher was a complete surprise. It saved me a huge plumbing bill.

I am highly allergic to practically everything, so I can't use harsh chemicals, and it's so convenient to have only one cleaner. It also works on cars. Completely spray the entire car, and then wash off. Gunky stuff stuck to the car, like bugs and goo from trees, will slide right off. It's practically magic to me.

Meant to add Maxwell -- if you get some BFF, you won't need any Soft Scrub with bleach. BFF contains oxalic acid, and is considered non-toxic.

I love Method products. I use their all purpose spray (lavender smells wonderful), dish soap, hand soap, granite polish and their stainless steel cleaner. I highly recommend all of them especially the stainless steel cleaner for those of you who have stainless appliances. It works great!

Sadly, this 20/20 Cure isn't working for me--I don't find 20 min. on many, many days, and have worked in bigger time chunks when I've done the Cure during AT Cure season.

I finished my substitute for today's cure to my satisfaction by working two hours beyond the :20. The shower curtains of course will dry and unwrinkle in place. Although I repeatedly lurked this is the first AT cure in which I've participated. I take breaks as needed during the daily cures so as to reach graduation. I plan to take Maxwell's hint about beginning Monday's cure during the weekend.

hmm. @mschatelaine, did you really mean BFF? i feel warmly towards my preferred cleaners (baking soda and vinegar), but they are still not quite BFF worthy:)

Thanks for keeping it fun!

One additional suggestion: don't use dryer sheets. Instead, get some dryer balls instead. They work quite well.

(Enjoying this cure very much: woke this morning and opened my eyes to see our Yolo Colorhouse healthier paint samples on the bedroom wall and the petals opening on one of the freesias in a little bud vase, as my other half headed to the bathroom for a shower with a newly washed shower curtain. Fresh house!)

I work as a cleaner, and have developed a tolerance to bleach which I never had before, makes you realise the damage u do to ur senses... At home and my private house cleans I've started using diluted sugar soap with essential orange oil for fragrance, vinegar and bicarb, but alas I still use bleach for problems such as the post with the yellow in the bath tub. Oil of cloves is a good mould treatment.I buy cheap clothes washing powder and add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil for an excellent wash result. Floors I use the sugar soap solution with some eucalyptus oil for added oomph. Gawd, I think I've harped on a bit, hope some of this is of some use to somebody:p

Since I got e-cloths and a Miele, I've done away with cleaners and disposable paper towels, swiffer cloths etc. entirely. And my house is so much cleaner. The e-cloths are truly genius, you use them with water and they go in the washer and dryer. They polish everything beyond belief. My sink has never been so clean. I love the way eco-cleaners smell, and how pretty they look, but even though they are green, they are WASTEFUL. E-cloths are so much greener, and worth every penny. I discovered mine at Homegoods/TJ Maxx.

Clarification: I still use laundry and dishwasher detergent, along with dishwashing liquid, all from Planet. Plus Bon Ami in the Toilet. But the e-cloths completely eliminated my need for counter-spray, tub-and-tile cleaner, scrub-cleanser, and de-greaser. Some of them are made with colloidal silver and are anti-bacterial. The dusters, which I use instead of swiffer cloths, are good for 100 washes. They are so much easier to use that my partner, who never used to clean the countertops, now does it without thinking. They are also great for allergy-sufferers and people with sensitive skin, since they just pick up all the dirt and bacteria with water. I know I sound like an add, but I think the really important message here is not simply to replace cleaning products with green ones, but to eliminate as many disposable and wasteful ones as possible.

I love Bon Ami!
And Maxwell, you are just a complete delight to see and experience in your videos .....your spirit is radiant and wonderful.
Thank you for being you!

If my roommate and I weren't poor college kids, we would totally go out and buy some green products. Sadly, none of the green ones are cheap though we did invest in Mrs. Meyer's dish soap and hand soap, but not sure if they're green enough. They do have the loveliest scent and they aren't so hard on our skin like other dish soaps.

For those looking for an alternative to soft scrub, I highly recommend Method's "Le Scrub." I have found it as effective as Soft Scrub for removing soap scum from the tub. Plus it has a eucalyptus mint scent that makes your bathroom smell like a spa.

We've been using Seventh Generation dish soap for years now and recently purchased a steam mop to do away with our Swiffer. I'm IN LOVE with my steam mop (the Eureka EnviroSteamer) - it's easier than mopping and cheaper over time than the Swiffer.
I'll admit to using Scrubbing Bubbles in the shower. Other than that everything else is eco/natural! But you don't even have to buy these cleaners, you can make your own with vinegar, baking soda, etc.

I was going to skip this step, since I already use a lot of white vinegar and baking soda, but we just bought a very good dishwasher, and I was wondering what really was in those little thingies you put in it. I don't know about you, but I blue and red doesn't exactly say "green product" to me.

For those living in France, I just discovered that the brand Auchan now carries Rainett products, and not only the basic soap ones. I just got an all-purpose cleaner and dishwashers tablets. I hope they'll work.

Bon Ami is my go-to cleanser for 30 years. I make a sanitizer using a quart of distilled water, 1 tablespoon of vodka (can be cheap), 10 drops lemongrass essential oil, 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil. I like finding recipes for cleaners and making them using simple ingredients and essential oils.

Oops! A little slip of the fingers there.. :)

That would be BKP.

I mix white vinegar with water in a spray bottle and using newspapers, clean my mirrors, windows and glass shower doors to a sparkly finish! I watched my mother do the same in the 60's and it's a fail-proof green cleaning method that really works.

"By the way I know that's not lavender"...that part cracks me up.

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thanks