We've all got favorite go-to products we perpetually stock in the broom closet, right? If you're like me, when you find a good tool or cleaning agent—be it a home remedy, a new and improved green product, or an old standby—you're likely to keep it around. So what's in your cleaning kit these days? Check out my own favorites after the jump.
These are the cleaning products and tools I just can't live without:
PRODUCTS
• Bon Ami powder is amazing stuff, and it's eco-friendly. I actually think it works better than toxic Ajax or Comet.
• Murphy's Squirt and Mop is perfect for doing the floors quickly. Great for in-between cleaning weeks and harried pre-party cleaning.
• For cleaning glass, I love a homemade vinegar solution. About a cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water with a squirt of dish soap makes enough to do tons of windows.
• Method dish soap is definitely the best "green" dish soap out there, in my humble opinion. Seems to me it works just as well as Dawn (which used to be my favorite). I like the subtle cucumber scent best.
• It drives me nuts that I've never found an eco-friendly dishwasher soap that seems to work as well as Cascade Complete. This product is expensive and obviously not "green," but it really does the job. If anyone's got a (tested!) recommendation for an alternative, will you share below?
TOOLS
• Those of us with sensitive skin need good quality rubber gloves. Flimsy cheapies just won't cut it, unfortunately. Casabella Water Stop gloves are slightly pricey (about $5 a pair), but they're the best and most comfortable I've found, and they last for months, even with lots of hot water use.
• I used to be a big Swiffer fan, but then I kind of became an addict, ripping through those boxes of wipes at an alarming rate. In search of a less wasteful solution, I found the Bona microfiber dust mop. The furry microfiber mop head velcros on and off and it's machine-washable.
• I've posted about this handheld vacuum in the past, but I just couldn't leave it out of a "favorite tools" roundup. The Shark Pet Perfect Hand Vac is, true to the name, an amazing tool for a pet owner. It really does a remarkable job of picking up the fur, even off of my mohair couch (which might as well be made of masking tape for all the pet hair it traps). But this is also a great small vacuum for crumbs and spills.
Okay, so there's my list. There are other products and tools I like, of course, but these are my top choices. How about yours?
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Rubbing alcohol soaked paper towels in a plastic (tupperware-like) pop-top container. (They are more or less home made wet-wipes like these http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/2010/03/homemade-organic-baby-wipes.html.) If you use the kind of paper towel that tears off in smaller sections and cut that roll in half you get towelettes that are about 4" square.
What are the pros and cons of powder versus liquid? Is powder for the dishwasher more economical than gel? I've also heard that it's more effective. I find this problem humbling! Just can't figure out which is more efficient!
I try not to use harsh chemicals or products. Steam cleaning is the best :)
For dishwasher detergent I use the following recipe:
1 c. Washing Soda
1/4 c. Table Salt (not course salt!)
1/4 c. Citric Acid (found in the canning department)
Mix and store in an air tight container. Add 1 tbl for prewash and 1-2 tbl (depending on load) for regular wash.
After trying many of the "green" dishwasher detergents I've found that the best is Ecover dishwashing tablets. Of the other well known brands- Method tablets left a white powdery coating on glassware and discolored my stainless flatware. 7th Generation does not consistently get dishes clean, I've often had to re-wash. Ecover works as well as Cascade and is unscented.
I love Method's Ylang-Ylang Daily Shower Spray. Fabulous.
I have to admit, though, that I am a big abuser of Clorox Cleanup Spray with Bleach for tough and stinky jobs. Kitchen bin getting smelly? Bleach spray. Mold in tough-to-reach crannies in the bathroom? Bleach spray.
Vinegar. Gallons of it under my sink cause I clean everything with it... I have too many pets all over the place to try anything else.
love vinegar and in general, find that all of the ecover cleaning products and soaps are excellent. i also like the sun and earth dish soap that can be purchased at trader joe's.
Method dishwashing tabs are my current fave - actually gets my dishes clean (only minus is that white powdery coating remaining on a few pieces.) Mrs. Meyers lured me in with the fabulous packaging and great scents (basil!), however my dishes are NEVER clean now:( I will definitely have to try Ecover.
-ecover dish washing liquid
-goodbye detergent! spaghetti scrub
-resolve carpet foam
-soft scrub
-steel wool
-simple green (diluted in various levels)
and with that i can clean everything in my home.
Boiling-hot water, baking soda, vinegar, salt, lemons, and elbow grease. Maybe some bleach in the toilet.
So wary of all the nasty chemicals in everything else. Also, I have a cat who gets into everything...Plus, I think it just makes my home smell nicer to use actual real products.
"Boiling-hot water, baking soda, vinegar, salt, lemons, and elbow grease."
Yes! I also use tea tree oil diluted in water in the shower and laundry room, brommer's peppermint castile for the tiled floor, murphy's oil for the hardwood. I'm getting ready to tackle making my own laundry detergent, and I've been babying a tea tree plant for a month or so now in order to make my own oil, but it takes a really long time to produce flowers.
I would love for my whole house to smell like Basil and Rosemary...
Baking soda (go through tons of it), Murphy's Oil Soap, Vinegar, casabella microfiber duster, castille soap, Miele Vaccuum, borax, essential oils for fragrance and antibacterial properties. My guilty sin would be Magic Erasers, I know they're carcinogenic but they just work so well on the occasional tough spot.
Oh, and a great dishwasher detergent if you live in Canada as I believe it's only available here is the Bio-Vert brand -- I've tried a great many and I find it cleans by far the best.
I use Borax, vinegar for everything. I do use Method wood floor cleaner and it smells super great.
I am a big fan of baking soda and vinegar for almost everything in the bathroom and the kitchen sink. And I love me a Magic Eraser.. though i usually cut them in half so I use less but they realy are magical.
I have a (sort of) related question!
My boyfriend recently bought a condo-this is the first time he'll be living away from his parents and I'm trying to make a list of the basics he'll need to get started.
What would be the essentials for a basic cleaning kit?
He's really not interested in using eco-cleaners (in fact, he's against it because he's under the impression they cost more and don't do a great job), but I am, especially as it's a small apartment without much ventilation.
@Meganfm: I'm cheap and I hate to clean so it better work right the first time! Here's my kit--and a price comparision!
General all purpose spray: 1c rubbing alcohol or cheap vodka, 1c vinegar, 2-3c water and essential oils to smell. (love lemon, orange and cinnamon) Use for mirrors, granite counters, bathroom, etc. Disinfects most nasties too. Just shake before spraying.
Scouring powder: baking soda. Sometimes I add cinnamon for the nice smell. Nice to keep in a spice jar for easy sprinkling.
Carpet freshner: baking soda, essential oils, cinnamon. Sprinkle over carpet, let sit 5-10 mins and vacuum.
Toliet bowl: dump 1/2c baking soda into bowl. Scrub with brush. Spritz bowl and seat with spray cleaner from above. Wipe outside, flush to rinse inside.
Tub cleaner: Dump 2c baking soda into tub. Drizzle dish soap over top. Using wet microfiber cloth, rub mix onto tub, then enclosure walls. Rub tub again and rinse clean. (Our washing machine drains into the bathtub so we get some seriously nasty rings in there. This scrub is better than soft scrub or scrubbing bubbles at getting it sparkling again!)
Have him go to the store and gather what he thinks he needs to clean the house while you gather the above list. Add it up and compare differences. This worked on my husband!
IE: Commercial Products, prices from local safeway in Bay Area:
Windex: $5.99
Formula 409: $4.28
Soft Scrub: $6.37
Scrubbing bubbles: $6:74
Carpet refresh powder: $9.99
=$33.37
Homemade, prices from local Safeway and CVS in Bay Area:
Baking soda, 16oz: $4.89
Rubbing alcohol: 2/$1.00
Vinegar, 1 gal: $2.37
Essential Oils of Lemon: $4.37
Dish soap: $1.98
=$14.61 (and will last a Looooong time more than the above!)
Even if we add start up supplies, it's still cheaper:
Microfiber cloth, pack of 3: $4.99
Spray bottle: $1.59
2 Spice jars for scour and carpet powders: $5.98
=$27.87
Good luck and enjoy cleaning with ingredients you can pronounce!
This is too easy: MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER!!!
Or an acceptable generic knockoff. Don't underestimate the power of the eraser. I can knock out soap scum like a champ, take stains out of the sink and off the walls, clean grout on tiles, you name the mysterious and insane stain, it is GONE!!!
Boiling hot water, Borax, baking soda, vinegar, various essential oils, Ivory soap, washing soda, plain white terry face cloths (the texture is great for scrubbing without scratching), ammonia, hydrogen peroxide.
Like "greenroom", I agree that the best eco-friendly dishwasher detergent= Ecover dish tablets.
I tried all the others, and this one works great every time. No phosphates!
This detergent also comes in a powder form, but I like the convenience of the tablets. BTW: there is a coupon on the ECOVER website for the powder if you want to give it a try.
I will never be without my Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I use them for EVERYTHING. Luckily, my small home allows me to scrub my bathroom floor with one removing these mysterious marks left on white linoleum.
Mrs.Meyers addict here. I have 2 of the counter spray bottles (kept in kitchen and bathroom) that I refill w/ the "all purpose" liquid and water. It's REALLY economical and saves me loads of money. I also use their dish soap, which is fine- but you guys are right about Mrs. Meyers dishwasher liquid. My dishes are never right. I thought it was the dishwasher, but I'm going to switch!
- Windex anti-bacterial. Shines the hell out of the bathroom sink/tiles and makes the germaphobe in me shut down. Must be the "anti-bacterial" label.
- bottle mix of tea tree and water.
- SWIFFER WET JET RULES for floors! I never want to mop again!!! But the regular swiffer w/ wet pads? Don't bother.
- Vinegar and baking soda for serious scrub action and drain cleaning. For concrete patios and decking I use Oxy-Clean, vinegar and dishwasher liquid (less slippy). Brings up the filth w/ ease!
- Reusable cloths for cleaning. I put a hook over the sink and one in the bathroom to hang the cloths. But NEVER use on the toilet! keeps my surfaces clean without wasting paper towels and relying on bacteria ridden sponges.
I just want to thank Lizliterarius. I am just starting to concoct my own cleaning products and find that most descriptions are lacking. Yous is very good and I really appreciate knowing how to use it! Can't wait to try it out.
I'm in love with the Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes. I know they're not as eco friendly as a spray with a reusable towel, but they're convenient, and better for the environment that the Clorox variety. And the lemongrass & thyme scent is fantastic!
Anyone use Pink Solution? It's pretty fantastic - it's an enzyme solution that cleans absolutely everything.
I looooove Bon Ami. Couldn't live without it.
In my opinion, whoever invented Swiffer is a hero. They've made the world a better place to live in. I can't imagine picking up as much dust and hair so easily with any other product or device.
I hate to use bleach, but I do use it in the bathroom and kitchen sink once a week in the form of cleanser with added bleach (Ajax, Comet, that sort of thing.) Otherwise, I'm as green as possible.
I love using a mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle for the countertops (tile, but watch out, can't use it on marble or real stone. I learned the hard way when I spilled it on my travertine floor.) It does effectively kill a whole spectrum of germs which is great and it's also great on windows and glass items around the house. It only stinks for a few mintues then the smell dissipates.
I also love using a lemon half dipped in salt as a soap scum remover. It works really, really well on anything that needs to be broken down and when I'm done with it, I shred it in the garbage disposal which makes the entire kitchen smell great for a lot longer than you'd imagine.
Thems my tips!