When it comes to the world of green cleaners, none of us are strangers to the idea. We've made our own, we've seen them in stores and chances are there are both versions sitting under your kitchen cabinets right now. Which do you prefer?
Although there's no contesting the idea that homemade cleaners are usually less expensive, there is something oddly comforting about using something pre-made from a bottle. If the company is green in their production and you're ok with their methods, there shouldn't be any shame in picking up cleaners from a retailer — so which do you choose?
Do you find it easier to make your own, or is your time better spent chasing after the kids and saving the laundry soap making to those with a less busy schedule?
(Image: Flickr member go_greener_oz licensed for use by Creative Commons)
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Right now we use store bought, but one day I would like to get into making my own.
With the exception of the spot spray for the carpet (yay dogs!) I use homemade. It only takes 5 to make them all. I have 3 bottles: mirrors/windows - straight vinegar, kitchen - mix of vinegar, water, Dr. Bronner's soap, dust/wood - vinegar/olive oil. For the bathroom (counter/tub/toilet) I make a paste of baking soda and Dr. Bronner's soap, plus some essential oils to make it smell nice, that I keep in a big jar.
leslie2000 - what proportions do you use for your cleaners?
I want to start using homemade stuff. But with so many options and sources out there, I sometimes get overwhelmed. You seem to have it simplified.
I stock up on Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds and make my own cleaners. In the article you seem to be talking about making your own laundry detergent with the whole grating a bar of soap recipe thing. My way is to use a liquid soap concentrate and add a bit of the other ingredients right in the washer. The extra time it takes to add a 1/2 tablespoon of borax and washing soda is small, so there is no need for it to be a large investment of time like you imply. I like the simplicity of making my own cleaners...Shopping for a few ingredients and customizing formulas is so much easier for me than remembering to buy a multitude of different items at the store or dealing with having run out just when I need something. Sal Suds, borax, washing soda, vinegar, baking soda, a stack of micro-fiber towels and tap water...that's pretty much it.
Mirror/windows - straight vinegar
Kitchen - 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water, plus 1-2 tablespoons soap (depending on size of bottle) I use Dr. Bronner's, I've tried adding essential oils to make this smell better but the vinegar pretty much negates anything added. Shake before each use.
Wood/dusting - 1/3 olive oil to 2/3 vinegar, shake well before each use as it will keep separating. I suggest spraying onto rag and dusting versus spraying directly on wood.
Bathroom - start with a cup of baking soda and start adding soap, stirring as you go, until it becomes almost the consistency of frosting, I also like to add some peppermint essential oil, but lemon or lavender would also be nice. To use scoop some out onto a damp rag and apply to surface (tub/sink/toilet). Bonus, can double as a body scrub. =)
Total ingredient list: white vinegar, olive oil, baking soda, Dr. Bronner's soap, any essential oils you want to add for smell.
Also, if you have an area that you feel needs to be SUPER sanitized (you've just moved into an apartment where the previous tenants had questionable hygiene), you can spray with hydrogen peroxide followed by the kitchen cleaner I mentioned. Just make sure that you store the peroxide it in an opaque bottle, you can use the bottle it comes in or I got a little stainless steel spray bottle from the laundry section of the Container Store, which is also where I got my regular spray bottles. You don’t want to make homemade cleaning stuff only to store it in a bottle that used to hold toxic chemicals, kind of defeats the purpose.
My resolution this month (partly inspired by AP) is to make my own household cleaners and products. I am still looking for a good recipe for a dishwashing liquid!
I make all my own. Which reminds me. I'm out of baking soda...
I buy Method all purpose cleaner and wood polish, and dish soap. The rest i usually make at home.
I've made my own surface cleaners and been using them in the bathroom and kitchen for about a year, and find it to be just as good as store-bought, if not better. I do buy Dr. Bronner's for handwashing my dishes (some of them don't do well in the dishwasher) and deep cleaning the greasy oven, plus dishwasher soap and laundry detergent, but someday I'd like to switch at least the last two to homemade too! Just have to convince my boyfriend that it works as well as store-bought... ;)
I tried making my own but the truth is I just don't have it together enough to do that. The only thing I can manage to keep in supply I make at home are the concoctions I put on my plants.
I use plain baking soda for some things (sink baking soda + vinegar), dog messes, linen powders, drain cleaners and I use vinegar to help brighten and whiten laundry. I also make my own wood oil for the cutting board and salad bowl set.
I buy most of my stuff. I use the Method bathroom products - because they work great on my bathtub's "rough stripes" and they smell good. I also have the Method wood cleaner/oil stuff.
I have some stuff that was a gift I've been using for a long time now called "I can see clearly now" for glass/windows and some kind of floor cleaner. I don't know if I would buy them but they work okay.
I use Citradish in the dishwasher -which I've heard is not particularly eco friendly but it works the best out of the "greener" cleaners I've tried. and Caldrea dish soap and counter clearns or Mrs Meyers - depends on where I was shopping when I ran out. Mrs Meyers and 7th Generation for laundry.
I admit my cleaning products rotate to which "green" brand is on sale and I stock up. To disinfect stuff I generally use peroxide since unless it says "sanitizes" I always assume the product does not. But I don't have kids and unless one of us is sick I don't worry too much about it.
Ah I forgot: Bac-Out for dog messes and the occasional stain in clothes.
In most cases I make my own body and cleaning products. I find it more empowering. I chronicle some of my recipes in post and videos on my Granola Tendecies blog on my website. Some links are below.
Natural Products vs Homemade Products
http://sheenalashay.com/2009/10/natural-products-versus-homemade-products/
Shopping for Witch Hazel
http://sheenalashay.com/2009/10/shopping-for-witch-hazel/
The Price of Convienence
http://sheenalashay.com/2009/10/the-price-of-convenience/