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For the last six months or so I have been trying to ditch the toxic cleaning products in my house. I have been using mostly Method products because they are easily available at Target (and because when I say I’m going to Target and Cleatus asks why I have to travel all the way to Target when Wal-Mart is right next door I can say WAL-MART DOESN’T SELL METHOD SO I’M GOING TO TARGET! NOW GIVE ME ALL YOUR CREDIT CARDS! I NEED THEM ALL! TARGET HERE I COME! YEEHAW!)
(I love Target.)
The only problem with the Method products is that they, um, aren’t as strong as I’d like. Maybe this is because they are non-toxic and do not contain nuclear weapons of mass bacterial destruction like the bleach does, I dunno. So, I shopped around and found some cleaners online and ordered those. They were okay. Not great, but okay. But, they were fairly expensive (and by fairly expensive, I mean I will not buy them again because at 10 dollars for a small bottle I really expect it to come with a maid, thankyouverymuch). I’ve since decided DUH! Vinegar and water! Perfect cleaning solution!
Unfortunately for Cleatus he hates the smell of vinegar. I happen to love it. A little aside: I love salt and vinegar potato chips and once, back when I worked, I was heading out of town to a conference with some co-workers and I opened a bag of the chips in the car. One of the girls got a whiff of the vinegar chips and shouted WHO’S DOUCHING BACK THERE? Erm, not me!
So, I love cleaning with vinegar. It smells all fresh and clean to me. And it seems to do a good job.
I even use it to clean the oak table that my grandma gave me awhile back. I use vinegar on it. To clean it.
And, apparently, also to sand it. Or remove the varnish. Or something bad.
My gorgeous table is now all dull and splotchy and, um, kinda ugly.
I should just go back to the toxic chemicals, shouldn’t I?
LifeAsIKnowIt says:
NO! Don’t go back to toxic chemicals! I just recently started eliminating them and finding safer things to clean with…for wood furniture try 2 parts olive oil and 1 part lemon juice.
I like that I can spray my counters with vinegar and water (or other natural products) and I don’t have to worry about my kids inhaling them or touching them.
LifeAsIKnowIt’s last blog post..To Dyson Or Not To Dyson?
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
marie says:
I’ve also started using the water and vinegar. Got an empty spray bottle and put it in there. I don’t think dh even knows that I’ve changed. I usually clean during the day, and while it does smell vinegar-y while its still damp, as soon as it dries the smell is gone! Every few months or so I do still whip out the bleach and wipe down the counters and mop the floor with it, though. Just can’t totally let go of the need to “sanitize” every once in a while…
marie’s last blog post..My favorite time of day
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
nan says:
Yay vinegar! Great for cleaning glass too. But my FAVORITE cleaning thingy is my vacuum cleaner. I love when I suck spiders up and they go “NOOOoooooo! Heeeeelp!” I say “DIE, ARACHNID SCUM! Hahaha!”
nan’s last blog post..how to get your husband to listen: GUARANTEED!
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Karly says:
Life As I Know It…
Olive oil? On my table? Won’t it be all greasy and oily?
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Karly says:
Marie,
I’m the same way! I use the natural crap for awhile and then suddenly I feel all dirty and like the germs are taking over and I bust out the bleach and clean everything down and mop real good. The bleach…it is a sickness.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Karly says:
Nan…Vacuums suck. (Ha! I’m punny!) And killing spiders is dangerous. You never know when the big mama spider is watching and decides to get revenge. I make Cleatus kill the spiders for just this reason.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Chris H says:
I have never heard of cleaning with vinegar! Thanks for the heads up about the table, shan’t try it on mine then.
Chris H’s last blog post..MAKIN’ MONEY…
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Angie says:
I also like Simple Green - nontoxic as well and has a pleasant “sassafrasy” smell. Vinegar is awesome not just for cleaning your house, but gramma told me to use it on my hair every few weeks (back in the 80s, when we used a whole can of hair spray in a day to make it stand 2 feet off the tops of our heads–before your time, I know) to strip the “crap” off my hair. Makes your hair shiny and smooth.
Angie’s last blog post..Interesting
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Leslie says:
Vinegar is an awesome wonder of nature. Is there anything it does not do?
Did you know that if you drink mix a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup of hot water and drink it when you start to get a cold, it will take it away? It’s amazing.
That being said, I still use the chemical products because I’m a bad, bad woman.
Leslie’s last blog post..You Go Back, Jack. Do It Again.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
baseballmom says:
Mmmmm, salt and vinegar chips…
baseballmom’s last blog post..Couple more things…
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Suzi says:
I battle with myself over this all the time, because although I know I should be using natural stuff, I just love the harsh, sterile, antiseptic aroma of a Pine Sol, Bleach, and Mr. Clean. Do they make chemical-scented vinegar, do you suppose? For douching, I mean. Nothing like a pine-fresh gine.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Jerseygirl89 says:
Sometimes I think about going all organic and natural and everything. And then I use my Clorox wipes on something until I forget about it.
Jerseygirl89’s last blog post..Not Destined To Be A World Traveler
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Karly says:
Leslie….Did you know that you can also wet a wash cloth with vinegar and wipe it over a sunburn and it will take it away much sooner.
I love swapping vinegar uses. LOL.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Karly says:
Jerseygirl, You should see me in the Clorox wipes aisle at Wal-Mart. I stand there and ARGUE with myself. I lurve me some Clorox wipes but I only allow myself to buy them every now and then and then I go on a Clorox Wiping spree. It is heaven. Sweet toxic chemical heaven.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Karly says:
Suzi…For some reason when you say “pine-fresh gine” I imagine someone sticking a christmas tree branch up there hoo-ha and scrubbing it. Like washing baby bottles. Um, ouch.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Pam says:
AWE! Next time try the method oil wood cleaner. It smells like you could dab a little behind your ears and on your wrists and leaves a marvy shine on the wood. That is after you have Granny’s table refinished.
I don’t hate the smell of vinegar but it would make me crave something to eat so it’s a no no for me. I have my floors done in bleach water. F the environment, I have to be sure I could eat out of the grout in my tile. Hahaha.
Pam’s last blog post..Stop Tape
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Zephra says:
It is great on wood floors. I use apple cider vinegar.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 am
Candygirlflies says:
Yep, I’m a vinegar devotee, too.
One day, a friend of mine (who is a high fallootin’ scientist, and definitely educated enough to be BELIEVED) pointed to my high cupboard, which was chock-full of the noxious bleach chemical products you mentioned (and that I was in love with), and said,
“IF YOU KEEP USING THESE, YOU WILL GET CANCER AND DIE.”
And you know what? She’s probably right. Definitely melodramatic, but she has a point. In high doses, many “household chemicals” can be extremely toxic…
Vinegar ROCKS. MY. WORLD. Straight-up, or watered down in a spray bottle. It cleans and disinfects just about anything.
Not on wood, though. Just plain water, and a soft cloth, then buff it dry.
Now, the OTHER great non-toxic cleaner that I’m in love with is BAKING SODA… Don’t get me started.
xoxo CGF
Candygirlflies’s last blog post..Survivor.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Pam says:
PS- Tagged your for a meme over on the bubble blog…. do it!!
Pam’s last blog post..Shelley Popped My Cherry!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
shuey6 says:
I’m having a very recent and intense love affair with bleach. I do use the Method hand soap though.
I also love Lemon PineSol — mainly because it “smells clean.”
Nevermind the third nipple I’ve been growing… I’m sure it’s not the toxic chemicals…
shuey6’s last blog post..whistle while you… work???
January 24th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
theotherbear says:
I think you’ll have to use a proper furniture polish to put the shine back on the table. You can get several types of natural ingredient polishes, some are based on beeswax and some on orange oil. I’d definitely try a commercial one first to repair the damage, then if you want to, try your own natural polishes (on an inconspicuous place!) till you find one you like. I read about trying jojoba liquid wax as a polish which you can get at a health food store. It’s surprising the amount of oil that wooden furniture can soak up and not be greasy after a few hours.
theotherbear’s last blog post..If I Had A Band
January 24th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Karly says:
Pam, I’ve got that Method wood cleaner (almond cherry or some shit like that, right?) but it gives me a headache. I’m allergic to a lot of different scents so I don’t get to use the yummy stuff. Damn it!
January 25th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Karly says:
Candygirlflies, I like to dump baking soda on my stove when its really nasty (not that I would EVER let it get nasty) and scrub for a minute and then dump vinegar on top of the baking soda and it bubbles and foams and makes me feel like its doing an EXTRA good job.
I’m a loser.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Karly says:
Shuey6, I like the lemon pine-sol. Sooo clean and fresh smelling. But yea, those third nipples suck, don’t they?
January 25th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Meg says:
Try adding a few drops of the Dr. Brommers Peppermint Castile soap to the vinegar and water in a spray bottle. It’s delicious. You aren’t allergic to peppermint are you? I use it on everything from the floors to the sinks to the toilets and the microwave- but not in that order- or with the same rag. I use microfiber rags and then toss them in the laundry.
Glad things are well- we missed you this week at GNMParents!
(oh- and don’t take this as judgment or anything- but that is a whole LOTTA crap to get dumped every night. Have you thought of weeding out at least until this phase is over? Hello storage, goodbye huge annoying soul sucking mess. And I feel I can say that because I relate- a lot.)
Meg’s last blog post..Beating the Blahs
January 25th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
angel says:
I use and love Method. But Target also sells 7th Generation cleaning products now… try those. They are about the same price as Method. Also, I use Shaklee. They are completely non toxic and awesome.
You basically buy one bottle of the cleaner and all it takes it a couple of drops to 16oz of water and you have a full bottle of cleaning solution. I use it on EVERYTHING! My wood tables, my tv, my leather couches and counters. It’s so safe that my kids can spray it in their faces and nothing happens… because it’s like 99% water. But I think it cleans fine. No, it’s not like soft scrub or lysol. but nothing is. So if I want to disinfect I just spray the 91% isopropyl alchohol on things like the toilet, doorknobs and anything NOT WOOD that we touch. That disinfects just fine.
Anyway, Shaklee is available online or thru a distributer. You buy one bottle for like $30.00 (yes I know…) but it lasts for a few years. I SAID YEARS! Because you only use a few drops per 16oz of water. So add up the price of all the cleaning products you will buy in 3 years and I bet it comes to more than $30.00. AND IT”S TOTALLY SAFE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE:) WOOT! LOL
Ok. I’m done now.
angel’s last blog post..Fact or Fiction
January 30th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
My Mommy’s Place: Mommy’s Blog » Blog Archive » Guess Who’s Wiping Up Snot At My Mommy’s Place? says:
[...] Leslie: Vinegar [...]
January 31st, 2008 at 11:48 pm