I would rather scrub a toilet…

…than do laundry.  I really would.  I hate laundry…it’s such a vicious cycle.  I think part of the reason that I hate doing laundry so much is that I put it off as long as possible which means there are several loads to do but the time I finally cave in.  This has always been a pain, but it wasn’t all that awful in a college dorm or apartment building when there are several machines…of course, having to pay and always make sure I always had quarters wasn’t convenient.  But now having quarter-free, in-unit laundry means that my procrastination requires the better part of an entire day to get caught up with only 1 washer and 1 dryer…I suppose that realization ought to have a caption that says “Welcome to adulthood.”

Today, as it turns out, I need to both do laundry AND scrub the toilet, along with everything else in my bathroom.  As such, I thought I would share some of my favorite cleaners for around the house chores.

If you’ve read some of my other posts, you will know that I am committed to using natural, non-toxic products both on my body and around my home.  You may also recall me mentioning a book that changed my life, and that is where this decision stemmed from.  I would encourage you to check out the book, read my friend’s blog which provides a nice synopsis, or read this really good article which reviews the book and explains how the air in our homes is actually more polluted than the air outside and why to consider switching to natural, non-toxic cleaners.  Now…onto some of my favorite cleaners for clothes, toilets, scrubbing tiles, dishes, etc.

LAUNDRY

Ecos Magnolia and Lily Laundry Detergent

Why I love it?  It’s plant-based solution does a great job cleaning clothes, the fragrance is amazing and comes from essential oils, and it contains a built-in fabric softener.

Now, although it does contain a fabric softener, it’s not quite enough to keep the static electricity at bay.  I have tried Mrs. Meyer’s dryer sheets in basil scent, which I like and I do feel they work well, but the scent is nearly overpowering. I suppose that’s what she was going for with a line of “aromatherapy cleaners”. I have also used Shaklee’s Get Clean dryer sheets but unfortunately was not impressed. Shaklee’s detergent was fine in terms of cleaning power, but it combined with the dryer sheets left my clothes pretty staticky. However, I’m using up the last of the Shaklee dryer sheets with the Ecos detergent and that seems to be a fairly good combination. When those are gone, I will be in the market for a new type of dryer sheet, so let me know if you have any favorites!

BATHROOM

Now here is where Shaklee succeeds, although unfortunately I can’t capture any images to share here, so you must visit their website.  Shaklee’s Basic H2 is wonderful because it is a concentrate that you can mix to make an all-purpose cleaner, a degreaser, and glass cleaner.  The all purpose cleaner works well on sinks, porcelain, etc., and the glass cleaner does well on mirrors and surfaces that need a bit of shine.  However, my all-time favorite Shaklee product is their Scour Off Paste which not only works well but also smells so good I almost want to taste it.  (It reminds me of Kool Aid fruit punch or something from my childhood…)  This stuff is great on tubs and tiles, and can also be used in the kitchen for burnt-on messes and ovens.

For toilets, I like Mrs. Meyer’s toilet cleaner…and I don’t feel like there’s much else to say about that.

But let me tell you what my favorite cleaner is for soap scum and hard water on shower doors and other surfaces…distilled white vinegar.  Yes, it does make the shower smell like a pickle while you’re cleaning, and I’m not a huge fan of the smell of vinegar; however, I have nearly choked to death on the fumes from other bathroom cleaners.  I suspect that was my body’s attempt to cough out all those chemicals that it could tell did not belong in my lungs.  So although I don’t love the smell of vinegar, it works well and my body doesn’t reject it.

My other favorite thing for cleaning, in general but especially in the bathroom, are microfiber cloths and sponges.  The nubby fabric is amazing and can actually clean a lot of messes off a variety of surfaces with water alone.  These with the vinegar can take layers of hard water off glass without major scrubbing.  They are also great to use on dishes, for dusting, and for cleaning just about anything.  I once managed to get hairspray on the screen of my phone and thought those little dots might be there permanently, realizing I could not spray any cleaners on the phone or get it wet.  I took one of these cloths, got it slightly wet and squeezed out all the water I could, and the hairspray was gone in a couple wipes…no problem.  You can buy the cloths at lots of stores, but they are often over-priced for name brands, like 3M.  I try to pick up large packs of 10 or 12 at Walgreens in their bargain bins, at dollar stores, or at TJ Maxx.  I have found they all work exactly the same.  The sponges are a bit more difficult to find, but I happened to find some at a local grocery store and you can definitely order them online.

KITCHEN

We definitely use the microfiber sponges to do dishes and the cloths around the kitchen as well.  We also use the Shaklee Basic H2 degreaser for the stove top and microwave.   We also use Shaklee’s Dish Soap which not only works well, it lasts forever!  We bought our first bottle about a year ago, and there is still over 1/3 left.  Granted, we have a dishwasher, but we also have lots of pots and pans and non-dishwasher friendly things that get washed by hand.  The soap is super concentrated, so a few drops can do a sinkful of dishes.  (A side note: this dish soap get “sudsy” initially but the suds quickly disappear.  This does not mean it can’t clean.  In fact, manufacturers add chemical sudsing agents to soaps, detergents, shampoos, face cleansers, you name it…simply because we somehow decided to equate suds with cleaning power.  Do not be fooled…these chemicals do nothing to assist with the cleaning process.)

In our kitchen, we have granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, which require special care.  For these, we use Method Granite Cleaner and Stainless Steel Polish.

Now…where to find all these great cleaners?  Ecos, Mrs. Meyers, and Method products are becoming more widely available and can be found at most stores.  I have definitely seen them at grocery store chains, Target, Whole Foods, World Market, Bed Bath and Beyond, and I’m sure there are others.  I have also ordered them online through Drugstore.com which has free shipping over a certain amount and has good sales from time to time. (They have a good selection of natural personal care and beauty products as well, so it’s easy to meet the minimum for free shipping.)  Shaklee products, however, are only available online or through a distributor…kind of like Mary Kay.  Last year I signed up for a membership and just ordered a small starter kit which wasn’t too bad.  I also hear great things about their beauty care and nutrition line, but I have not tried them myself.  You can use their website to find a distributor near you if you’re interested in learning more or trying them out.

All right…now I really should get to the laundry that I’ve been putting off while writing this post.  :)

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