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re- tea tree oil cleaning

i realized after seeing this that i wasn't thinking when i posted- tea tree oil is super concentrated so you need much more water than oil in your spray bottle. the recipe i actually use is 4 tsp of tea tree oil to 4 cups of water. sorry for the confusion!!!

What is the best thing for getting rid of the black mold that starts to grow in between tiles in the shower. I have tried Vim and some sprays that are say they work for this (and don't).

For the bathroom tile mold, I make a paste out of ajax and bleach and use a brush to scrub it onto the walls and into the grout. Then I open the windows and leave for an hour. Then I apply more, scrub again, and wash it off with very hot water.

Those bleach pens are good for that, too.

Kaboom is probably super toxic -- it certainly has fumes. But it's great stuff -- when I used it to clean my tub, it also opened the slow drain better than any real drain opener.

I thought the whole point was to recommend non-toxic stuff? Mixing Ajax and bleach is a sure- fire stain blaster *HOWEVER* it is highly toxic and the fumes are harmful to the human body & liver. Folks, please take care of yourselves with these products. I will tell you the absolute BEST non-toxic cleaner -- Soapworks. This stuff was featured on Oprah years ago by the inventor. Trader Joe's used to sell it, but no longer does (there was some sort of supply problem). It is a damn shame because nothing cleaned my floors, counters, bathroom or walls like their All Purpose Cleaner (not even Seventh Generation). They do have a website and sell their products online. Honestly, Soapworks RULES! Everyone, please stay away from toxic products, esp. ones with fumes (Pine Sol, Lysol, Carpet Cleaners, etc.). They are incredibly debilitating to the human body and destroy from the inside. Get educated and take care of yourselves. Peace.

Thanks for all the useful information! I never knew that Tea Tree oil could be used for household cleaning. I usually add a few drops of it to shampoos to curb scalp itch and dandruff, and to body washes to maintain clear skin. I also put a few drops of it into witch hazel (sometimes with a teeny bit of aloe vera gel) and use it as an astringent.

I'll also vouch for baking soda, too. No matter what I do to my white enamel pan (usually used to make baked ziti, or other things in the oven which can burn on), it cleans it without scratching it. It works far better than traditional scouring products. I occasionally make it into a paste with lemon juice for especially tough stains.

Any tips for the soap scum/calcification stains/marks on the tile itself (the milky white glaze of sorts). I have great original blue tile with a pink border but it's marred from the dullness.

Also, I had a horrid experience with Kaboom. It stained my old tub and the only thing that could get it off was one of those Mr. Clean Magic Sponges. (Which ROCK by the way.)

The last time I was at Bed Bath and Beyond I was suckered into buying some of those "magic" cleaning micro-fiber cloths. I tried one out this weekend, wetting it and wiping up the counter and sink in my bathroom, and it seemed to do no better a job than a paper towel would. I know some of you swear by these (or a similar product). What's the best use for these cloths? Should I use them with cleansers, as a sponge substitute? The box says you don't need anything except water, but I think they're full o' hooey.

NEVER MIX Ajax and bleach (or any other commercial household cleaners, for that matter)!!! That's what creates the super-toxic fumes.

Debl: I use those microfiber cloths (dry) for dusting, and they catch and hold the dust like nobody's business. Then I throw 'em in the wash. I wouldn't use them as general wipe-ups, but if you've got grime stuck somewhere, they get it up (if you rub hard).

Check out the whole Ecover (http://www.ecover.com/) range, it's great.

What about mold on painted ceiling in the bathroom? (It's a shower steam problem.) Used bleach. Goes away for about 4 weeks, then comes back.

Have thought about re-painting and adding that mold-blocker additive to the paint can. But, want to make sure mold is dead first. Any ideas on this problem? Any products to suggest other than bleach?

(My 2 cents on good products -- Citrisolv or Citri Clean is good for everything when you don't dilute it. And Liquid Gold is a great twice-a-year, restore junky wood in a flash, furniture polish. I'm also partial to Bar Keeper's Friend instead of Bon Ami for cleaning metal sinks, etc.)

Kaboom might be what ruined the tub spout in an apartment I used to live in. What a drag. The chrome instantly looked very old and damaged. It was like when Margot left Shangrila. I probably cried. No. Not in the movie, I didn't cry; when the spout got spoiled.

Another vote for the scrubbing power of Baking Soda here. And if you use it to clean your tub, you don't have to worry about icky cleaner residue in your next soak. Jan, it'll work well against soap scum & hard water spots. Either use a ton of it & scrub hard, or, if you're dealing with quite a buildup, you can break down & use Soft Scrub (and a stiff bristle brush) to clean it off & then use baking soda for weekly maintainance.

Debl, I use those microfiber cloths (sort of like low-nap washcloths, right?) on nonporous surfaces. A damp one works well for dusting. I will often use them with hot water & maybe a bit of vinegar on windows & mirrors & such. I wouldn't call them a necessity, but it does seem that they help reduce the amount of cleaner I need to use.

I have, sadly, never found anything that works on mold except bleach. I consider it a necessary evil in the bathroom (bleach, I mean. not mold). And y'all know that you *never* mix bleach and ammonia (or bleach-based & ammonia-based cleaners) right? You'll make chlorine gas. NOT GOOD.

My tip for windows, mirrors, chrome faucets, tile, etc.: After cleaning & rinsing, wipe 'em dry with a cloth diaper. Yep, go get yourself a pack of cotton cloth diapers. They're woven to be absorbent & quick-drying. They're perfect for streak-free glass, shiny chrome, etc. No streaks, no water spots, no need for tons of paper towels.

aj said: "And y'all know that you *never* mix bleach and ammonia (or bleach-based & ammonia-based cleaners) right? You'll make chlorine gas. NOT GOOD."

Actually, it's mustard gas--as in, chemical weapon gas. Yeah, no good.

I don't know if peroxide is toxic or not, but I've successfully used it on mildew. It's like a much less dangerous version of bleach. I admit, though, I pull out the clorox when the going gets rough.

I hated kaboom. I didn't understand what it's supposed to be doing, but it didn't seem better than any old cleaner.

I echo the baking soda and vinegar recs. Together they make a mean drain cleaner too. (though, once again, when the going gets tough, the tough gets draino)

I like method cleaning products, too. I especially love their lemon/ginger floor cleaner for tile and their almond scented "wood for good" squirt and mop wood floor cleaner. Trader Joes also had a good spray cleaner I used from time to time.

I don't know if I heard about it on AT or elsewhere, but I just recently got some Method Flushable Wipes from Target and I love them. I got the eucalyptus mint scent--smell so good-- and use them for high speed cleaning in the bathroom when I don't have time to do the regular stuff and then they flush down the toilet. It says "safe for septic tanks, flushable and biodegradable." So, until someone bursts my bubble, these rock.

Christine-- I think hydrogen peroxide is safer than bleach (unless you're a germ) and I will definitely try it the next time I attack the grout. Good idea. Plus it won't make the bathroom smell like a public pool.

On the chemical weapons front, chlorine gas is definitely on the list. I've forgotten most of my organic chemistry, though: I thought you needed a sulfur for mustard gas.

Side note: I had an aunt who accidentally mixed ammonia & bleach while cleaning her bathroom. She passed out. My uncle found her & carted her off to the hospital, but her lungs never really recovered. Be careful out there, everyone.

Yeah, aj, organic chemistry not my strong suit either--but we're in agreement: bad nasty gas that could burn your lungs! No mixing of cleaning products people! Unless it's your natural baking soda and vinegar! Or baking soda and peroxide.

Oh, and Desk--re your mold--I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have heard that it is possible that the mold is inside of the wall.

Okay, I was curious about the gas definitions...aj was right. Chlorine gas is what's created with a combo of bleach and ammonia. My little web search however explains why I probably confused this--both gasses were used as chemical weapons--and several "cleaning tips" sites called chlorine gas mustard gas, which is incorrect. I can't believe I'm looking this stuff up, but reading about chemical weapons has been very informative...

Ammonia and bleach equal chlorine gas. The chemical reaction that takes place when the two mix releases ("liberates") chlorine gas from the liquid. Definitely a thing to avoid.

I believe that mildew is actually a fungus, rather than a mold. As such, it extends deeper into your grout than you can see. When you put bleach on it, you might bleach out this mass (so it looks clean) without killing all of it. So it grows back. That's why those toxic products like Tilex work so well. No living thing coexists with Tilex.

I use both bleach and detergent cleansers on mildewed grout. The most effective thing for really getting rid of the "black stuff," though, is a scrub brush. You need to work the fungus out of the grout, rinse it thoroughly, let that dry completely, and treat it with a grout sealant. If you keep sealed grout clean, mildew won't come back. You should seal once a year.

Vinegar might work on mildew because it changes the PH. Changing PH is a common way to prevent fungus in the garden (baking soda sprays, for instance). Vinegar will certainly remove the scale (that filmy haze) that builds up on tiles.

Method products are wonderful, as are the Soapworks ones. Trader Joes has a good Next To Godliness all-purpose spray that I use to clean the bath.

Ceiling mildew will usually wipe off with a damp sponge moistened with diluted bleach or any other cleanser. It comes back in the same spot either because you haven't gotten all of it off, or because that's where you have a condensation buildup. Regular wiping with a vinegar solution should keep it down. If it's really bad, scrub the ceiling with a strong detergent, then vinegar, and then paint it. I have not found that the bathroom paints (treated with mildewcide) do any better than regular paint over the long term.

Someone mentioned on another thread that Oxyclean works on mildew. I wonder how strong a solution (or paste?) you should use.

Anyone know?

Ah, a topic near and dear to my heart!

As for microfibre cloths -- Debl this is for you -- I have been using the same 3 + a microfibre mop and duster set -- since 1999 and swear by them. They clean my stainless steel appliances, glass, counters, sinks, taps, wood furniture, EVERYTHING. My only issue with them is that I do not have enough of them. I NEVER use any products on them; water only. I think the key is to buy Swedish-made ones; they are much more expensive than the imitators, but they really work.

As an aside, we went through the Athens airport a couple of weeks ago, and they were using MY Swedish microfibre mop to clean the floors!

These are the ones I have - http://www.actnatural.net/product/main2.htm . Another good Swedish brand is Tergo.

As for the other cleaning stuff: I was a loyal user of Amilya's Soapworks, but they have stopped producing my faves -- Sunshine Dish Soap (the white ginger was a mild scent that smelled just like...sunshine!) and Gentle Shower; both of them were good for a range of cleaning situations.

I use baking soda and vinegar to clean the grates on our Wolf range, and Bar Keepers Friend for polishing up pots and pans (not entirely eco-safe, but better than the alternatives) and touching-up the aluminum ends of the dualit toaster.

For laundry and diapers (we cloth-diapered our daughter), nothing beats Sport Wash.

Also, one of the best general-purpose cleaning products -- good for floors, tiles (especially mold and dirty grout), walls, as well as laundry -- was a hydrogen peroxide bleach in a very thick gel form. Apparently it is a commercial product targeted at hospitals, but I bought it at a Canadian diapering store (which still exists, but the one in my city is closed). They don't list it on their website, but they do still carry it -- www.hipbaby.com. It is particularly effective on grout because of the gel form -- it sticks until you wipe it off, so you can really let it penetrate.

I have found that I don't need much more beyond these products -- they can clean just about anything safely and effectively. My only regret is not being able to get a product that the Queen of Clean used ot recommed -- I forget the name, but it was something with "Shield" in it. You would apply it to things like shower doors, tiles, mirrors, appliances, etc., and it would repel water and other marks, which cut down on cleaning considerably, especially when you have super-hard water like we do. If anyone knows of this or a similar product, I'd be really interested in finding it.

Thanks for the tips on the cloths, everyone! I think I just made a mistake in getting lured into buying the super-cheap ones. I think I got four, plus a lens cleaning cloth, for ten bucks... They also seem to leave a lot of lint, so I might try machine washing them and then trying again.

And I second Citra-solv (or similar). Smells good, and really works great on almost everything.

I am a vinegar, baking soda, tea-tree oil & Dr. Bronner's user too. all are great. but i am stumped in one area. my landlord had unfortunately put down wall-to-wall carpeting in my apt and it needs deep-cleaning besides the regular vacuuming. i'd like to avoid calling in someone from the outside to do it due to expense but the do-it-yourself products don't thrill me. does anyone know of a non-toxic carpet cleaner? i was thinking probably baking soda again but maybe there is something else out there ?

Re: non-toxic carpet shampoos...there are a bunch of them out there -- EcoOne, SafeChoice, SafeCarpet, etc. Some of them even claim to help lessen off-gassing. I would hazard a guess that a good eco-friendly store or department would carry one of them.

Kaboom is NOT fume free. Sure, it doesn't smell like your typical cleaning fluid (i.e. bleach, etc), but it sure smells like something! Everytime I used it, I had to leave the room because my nose, throat and eyes burned, like I had downed a shot of bad whiskey. Their indegients may be "organic acid salts," but I wouldn't go spraying that stuff around your house.

Oh, and it made my dog sneeze for the next three hours. Poor guy.

Monika thank you!

Kat, I've actually used diluted ammonia in the past. As long as you don't have pets, it seems to work pretty well, and most importantly, it rinses out easily. Pets may take it as a challenge, though: the ammonia can give them the desire to "mark" their turf.

Debl, Citra-solv is great, but I learned the hard way to be careful when using it on/near certain plastics. I spilled a drop (full strength) on a bathroom sink and it "curdled" the surface! It's strong stuff. But smells oh so much better than bleach. As does Simple Green.

Do you carry " Soapworks-landery soap " at the Long Beach store ? They said their not going to carry it anymore. Need to know if other stores will carry it, if not is there a 800 #. Thanks, Kathy.

METHOD products are awesome. They are great in every way, eco-friendly, they really work (the dish soap for example actually makes suds like any "bad" petro-based dish soap), beautifully designed packaging and amazing scents - like pink grapefruit, ylang-ylang and lavender. I use and love the shower spray, cleaning wipes, dish soap, laundry soap, and general cleaning spray. Available from Fresh Direct.

You all may want to avoid tea tree oil. It has been linked to hormonal fluctuations in children (e.g. breast development on young boys, check out the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for more info). Just another example of why we should acknowledge that everything we use is a chemical, and just because it comes from a plant with leaves rather than a plant with storage tanks doesn't mean it's safe.

I use castile soap, baking soda, and bon ami.

I was a big fan of Method products, but no more.

Their glass cleaner wrecked the finish on my eyeglasses, and I had to spend $400 for a new pair of glasses (I need special narrow lenses).

Their laundry detergent got condensed and gummy in our brand new washing machine, and it destroyed three loads of laundry by depositing non-removable gunk on the clothes and bedding.

Finally, the "wood soap" removed all the finish from two antique dressers that had been in my family for 70 years.

You would think I would have caught on, but I was such a Method fan that it wasn't until the dressers were ruined that I finally realized that their products are not gentle and earthfriendly.

Additional research and a consultation with a friend who is in the environmental health field revealed what I should have known: Method markets itself as eco-friendly, but it contains the same toxic chemicals as any cleaners. They just use more appealing packaging and scents, but the cleaners are not ecological.

Plain water is the most enviromentally friendly. Use a microfiber cleaning cloth and water to clean just about anything including mirrors and soap scum.

I forgot the magic eraser white sponge and plain water will clean shower tile and grout just fine. You can use pumace powder for hard water spots.

I am shocked how many people listing toxic chemicles here thinking they are non toxic

Hey all-

Just curious if anyone knows the combo that's supposed to clear out slow tub drains? Vinegar and something? What? I don't want to use the drain-o stuff (bad for pipes) and I don't want to hire a plumber. I'm in the middle. Help?

jessica-
vinegar and baking soda, let it fizz for 15-20 minutes and then i pour very hot water (i do a teakettle full, let it sit for a few minutes after coming to a boil.)

i try to do this each week for maintenance, works great!

Two personal anecdotes re: mixing chlorine and ammonia--

1) When I was 12, we ran out of laundry detergent, and I, being young and stupid, decided to do a load of whites using dishwashing liquid and bleach. The minute the bleach hit the dish soap, suffocating fumes filled the basement, and I fled upstairs. WTF? The dishwashing liquid was Dawn, which contains ammonia. Obviously, not everyone will be so dumb as to do laundry with dish soap, but someone might unthinkingly clean a counter or something with it and bleach.

2) When I was 22, I bought a bottle of generic bleach at the IGA. When I poured it into the washer, it smelled like ammonia. On further investigation, by cracky, it WAS ammonia! Mislabeled! Of all the unbelievable labeling screwups, to label bleach "ammonia!" Luckily, this time I caught it before nearly offing myself.

Be careful out there!

Re: Method pink grapefruit dishwashing liquid--does anyone else think this smells exactly like rotten grapefruit?

Hi Maria,

What chemicals are in Method's cleaners that are toxic? I know they don't release full ingredient lists, but the Material Safety Data Sheet doesn't raise any red-flags.

They do say that the only element that will evaporate in the spray cleaners is water, so it's unlikely they've sneaked some tricky solvents in.

Wow, this is timely. I was just on this site. It is a local (in Portlnad OR) business who offers a service of "green" cleaning. But on her website is this handy list of cleaners and methods that are non- or less-toxic.

http://www.getorganicallymaid.com/resources.html

And here is her list of dangerous everyday cleaners and why they are dangerous:

http://www.getorganicallymaid.com/dangers.html

Max I agree with your thoughts on method products. I've purchased them forever and they work great. Maria, it sounds like you had some absolutely insane dealings with your method products. I've used everything you mentioned, and never had a problem. If the wood cleaner ruined the finish on the first dresser, why did you go and do the second one? The packaging does mention the fact that you should always test everything in an inconspicuous area first, just to be sure it doesn't cause a problem for special finishes, coatings, discoloring, etc. I can tell you with almost complete certainty that their products are totally non-toxic and chemical free. Just check their website and read all about it. The closest they may come to un-natural ingredients would be FDA approved coloring, and some synthetic scents (which are mixed with natural ones, hence they smell a lot better than most everything else out there.) I swear by method products, myself.

DANG IT, sorry. Had number code issues.

I want to reiterate a previous post and point out that almost everything we use, eat, wear, are... has chemical properties. One of the first things we learned in elementary school science classes was that adding two molecules of hydrogen with one molecule of oxygen results in the CHEMICAL known as water. The difference isn't in using non-chemical vs chemical cleaning products but in noting which chemicals are better for your lungs and the environment vs those which are toxic.

I like the Mrs. Meyers and BioKleen products, which I have been quite pleased with.

for non-branded products check out the "detox your home" sections of this website. it's in the menu under "activities"

Sun & Earth makes a nice line of non-toxic, eco-friendly products, too. I have used the laundry detergent, fabric softener, glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, dish detergent, and liquid hand soap. The dish soap can also be used in your dishwasher (about 1 teaspoon per load) and can also be used to wash delicate lingerie. All their products are effective and have the scent of fresh citrus.

For general cleaning, I really like the Trader Joe's all purpose cleaner with sage. Clean all washable surfaces (kitchen. bath) beautifully and has a fresh scent with no irritating fumes. I haven't tried it on mirror (i'm stuck on Glass Plus!) or wood, of course, but for everything else it just works great. Inexpensive, too!

I have stupid question. Where do you buy tea tree oil?

Keiko - most health food stores sell tee tree oil.

Sorry, i missed the link

for non-branded products check out the "detox your home" sections of this website: www.cenyc.org
it's in the menu under "activities"

Capture carpet cleaner is great. It's a dry powder and cleans better than a steam cleaning machine (which is a pain to rent and haul up my stairs!).

Hi Everybody,
I really like Seventh Generation and Ecover products.For my wooden floors I use the Bonar system.It doesn't smell, creates no build up and the mop pads just go in the washing machine after use.

Happy Cleaning,
Sylvia

We use a lot of Ecover, Bronner's and Tea Tree Oil in our house. We also use the Bonar system on our floors. That stuff is amazing!

I found a place where I buy my Tea Tree Oil and Bronner's stuff... www.good-earth.com

They don't sell the Bonar stuff, though. My sister in law works for a flooring company, so she brought us a few bottles...

I love Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day -- the most wonderful scents(my favorite is geranium) www.mrsmeyers.com.
Window cleaner, countertop sprays, dishwashing soap, you name it.

Can't buy it in France, so it's what I always ask houseguests to bring me from the States.

i hate it when people say something doesn't have chemicals or is chemical-free. EVERYTHING is chemicals, people! WATER is chemicals! i know this is a nit-picky sematic thing, but it still drives me nuts.

Re: Method products.

Here's an article about the dishsoap, which has 1, 4-dioxane. Basically, anything with a floral or fruit scent should be viewed with suspicion, unless the actual plant is listed (like lemon juice):

http://www.nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/ecoholic.cfm?content=162183

Maria, ANY glass cleaner can wreak havoc on eyeglasses. They are meant to clean actual glass and windows, not eye glasses. The treatment appiled to the lenses can't withstand the chemicals, so it's best to just use soap and water, or a cleaner specifically made for cleaning glasses.

I use the Shark Steam Mop on my stone floors. Works GREAT with no chemicals, just steam. It really does an awesome job of cleaning up the gunk w/o sticky chemicals. Although it takes about 3 times over the floor to really get it clean, has to pick up residue from prior chemicals. With 4 animals, I'm super picky about what is used in my house!

Further to Grid's comment about Method, here's an article detailing the 1,4 dioxane in lots of cleaners marketed as "green" including the Seventh Generation brand.
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003726559

and a chart showing the amount of the carcinogen in lots of cleaners/shampoos etc on the market:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneResults08.cfm

Does anyone use a steam cleaner? I would think that it will work to lift most household grim and bathroom stuff. Just don't use it on wood pieces?

For mirrors and windows, I use a 1 to 4 solution of vinegar and water in an old spray bottle. I put a drip or two of dish soap in, which gets rid of all the chemically residue left behind by years of Windex. That, and using newspapers instead of paper towel, and they glow (no streaks).

For surface cleaning, I'm a huge fan of Simple Green in various dillutions. (The gallon jug comes with a dillution table for different cleaning applications). I also use it to clean my (sealed concrete) floors. I also love the sassafras scent it leaves behind.

I was also a huge fan of Soapworks, but it looks like they are no longer in business -- wish someone would take over their product line (which was based on soap as opposed to detergent...am down to my last drop of their shower hair/body soap...)

Another thing to remember about bleach and ammonia, is obviously urine contains ammonia, so litter boxes and of course toilets can cause problems if you're not careful. Also, if you smoke inside, cigarettes contain ammonia, so you get this unique fume whenever you clean with bleach, of ammonia, bleach, and "the way your home smells if you smoke in it." You get used to it if you smoke, but it's really a gross smell to others that tends to linger.

I am getting a lot of good ideas from this list. I am trying to minimize my usage of toxics, trying not to have to be so hassled in order to transition. I will try some of the recommended cleaners and put them on my shopping list.

I have been using Folex for years on rugs and upholstery. It claims to be non toxic and I find it is effective for cat urine stains if i get to them in time... I can get it at Target but I know it is sold elsewhere too...