Oh geesh! Get your mind out of the gutter. Not that kind of cheating!
Remember how I said in my post titled Recap that in my free-time you could find me learning what's best for my family as far as food and life-style are concerned? Well, I'm feeling a bit
I'm tired of blowing money on commercial products. I feel ridiculously guilty because I buy these products, though I know better. I try to buy earth/people/pet friendly but it can become expensive.
In the past I have come across and used a few recipes for homemade laundry detergent and all-purpose cleaners, but then life interrupts the flow of things and my old recipes fall by the wayside.
What I'm wanting to do is collect ideas from all of you. If you use a homemade cleaner, would you A) tell me what it is for, B) share your recipe, and C) tell me why you like it (or don't like it-- but then why are you using it)! Anyway...
Even if you just know of somebody who uses their grandmother's recipe for cleaning their floors or for getting rid of mildew--that's fine too.
I have made my own laundry soap in the past and I quit because I noticed the clothes started to look like they had powder all over them. I'm guessing I was using an unbalanced recipe.
I know vinegar is great to have in your arsenal of green cleaning. Tell me how you use it. I put it in a downy ball so that it'll release during the rinse cycle to soften my clothes and rid them of static-- thanks, Michelle!
Also, if you have any tips for saving money or energy when you do household chores, let me know. For instance, I squeegee the shower tiles and door after showers to prevent mold from growing. I also like to line-dry to save electricity (and money)-- at least when the mosquitoes aren't attacking.
You get the idea, right? Oh, and if you have a super-awesome way of mopping the floors (mine are mostly tile) that doesn't cost you an arm and then another arm, have icky chemicals in the cleaning product and doesn't take a great amount of time (I ain't got much)--well, I'd love to know your secret. I will have serious issues with giving up my swiffer mop stuff. Please convince me to give up my disposable mop pads that Velcro on to the stick that squirts out the smell-good cleaner right onto the floor, all with the push of a button.
Thanks for helping a
2 comments:
Back when Clorox made a Swiffer-type mop I cheated by sewing reusable pads out of washclothes (two strips of elastic helped them stay on) and the Clorox spray bottle was refillable! Of course, they didn't intend you to refill them, but I did! So I filled them with my own vinegar solution (okay for the kitchen and bath floors but not for the hard wood). Not sure about the Swiffer method, so I'm not sure if it's adaptable. My favorite use for vinegar (beside the Downy ball trick)? Cleaning out the microwave and refrigerator. Here's how: fill a microwavable bowl with a mixture of 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, how ever long it takes to make a boil. After "cooking," keep the microwave door closed for another 2 minutes. All that steamy vinegar goodness makes the super crusty stuff soft and, once you wipe, doesn't leave a filmy residue. Then, I use the still-hot contents of the bowl to clean the refrigerator. Same good effect with the warm vinegar and no harsh chemicals near the food.
i don't have any advice to offer, but wanted to say thanks for the post! I know I will never "be ready" for a child, but I think I am finally maturing. Having an awesome soulmate helps too! I definitely have questions about body changes during pregnancy, pushing, getting back in shape, oh and sex!
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