Perfect for Spring Cleaning Month — The New York Times explores the growing number of people eschewing store-bought, big name brands and making their own cleaning products at home. In addition to cutting down on harsh chemicals and costs, the practice can be helpful to those suffering from various allergies to unlisted chemicals and fragrances...
Do It Yourself Cleaning Products
The New York Times 5.22.08
Because companies are "not required to list all ingredients and usually do not"... it's reassuring to make cleaning products with simple, familiar ingredients like baking soda, borax, Castile soap, lemon oil, vinegar and glycerin. Check out Raiding the Pantry to Add Sparkle and Shine. The Times has even published a number of easy recipes for some basic cleaning products: Whipping Up a Batch of Furniture Polish.
We'd like to remind everyone that uneducated mixing can be extremely dangerous! Do your research and read labels carefully!
(Pics: Lars Klove)
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Interesting article.It did not have any tips/recipes so I looked the organization up online. Apparently they ask for $5 for a recipe booklet...Commmmeee onnn!!!! If this group is serious about saving the earth/keeping everyone healthy, whats all the merchandising (they have tote bags too!) about???
Shouldn't they be trying to reach out to everyone by listing stuff on their website/spreading the word. Looks like its just another fashionable albeit meaningless attempt at cashing in on "green". I should have guessed right at "cleaning party". Puhleeez!
view oldsplice's profile
Watch BBC America's "How Clean is Your House?" Not only are the ladies very funny, but they give all sorts of tips on cleaning with basic and green products. Took me a while to figure out what bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and washing up liquid (dish soap) are. Great stuff.
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/how_clean_is_your_house/index.html
view jennag's profile
I have an office near a Ralph's grocery store and every time I walk in there, I think, there is nothing here I want to buy. There are 47 different types of toothpaste, but not disclosing tablets to make sure you brushed your teeth completely. There are 97 types of Tide, some with Febreeze, some with Downy, etc. ad nauseum. None of the refill cartons to just reuse the darn bottle you have. It drives me NUTS! I am one class short of having a minor in chemistry (and this is how I'm gonna use that knowlegde!) and like to cook which is like chemistry. So I am going to make my own cleaning products, except for the stupid Tide, because I have a Hi-Efficiency washer, and I've called about washing soda and Arm and Hammer said don't use it in my machine. The rest of the stuff is pretty easy to keep clean--my problem is mostly dust and the carpet.
view kaanswfm's profile
"how clean is your house" also got me started on making my own. also, there are plenty of crunchy sites which have free recipes/tips.
view pinko's profile
We've got a new way to clean with just tap water. A company I work with makes a product called the Lotus Sanitizer. It converts water into an ozone spray cleaning solution that you can use anywhere around the house. Ozone is made from 3 oxygen molecules bound together by an electrical charge. It is incredibly safe - there are no fumes or residue. It is almost as safe as normal tap water. But it is also a more powerful germ killer than bleach. You can use it anywhere - countertops, carpets, windows, bathrooms. And you can make an unlimited supply from ordinary tap water. Check it out at www.tersano.com.
view gamechanger's profile