Green Cleaning

[binah06]

I was wondering if anyone else used green cleaners like baking soda, vinager, and essential oils to clean their homes. I try to use only stuff that wont harm the earth when I clean. I also visualize negative energy being washed away and I bless the cleaners when I make them so that they make my floors shiny and clear away anything negative. Is anyone else into green living? What do you do to help mother earth?
Thanks

[TheWomanMonster]

I love using 'green' cleaners.

Another one that works well is lemon juice.
It removes stains from coffee makers and tea-pots, countertops and more.
And it smells like lemon. Mmmm.

Apple Cider Vinegar works well too for cleaning, and smells a little less than White Vinegar does.

I do Blessings when I sweep, asking for protection and well being. :)

There are a few companies about that have formulated 'green' dishsoaps and other cleaners too. So even if we do choose to purchase a store bought cleanser we can make earth friendly choices.

[Lunacie]

I've been using "natural" cleaners for most of my life. I'm quite allergic to most cleaners, soaps, shampoos and detergents. My job is cleaning a salon and after a few discussions with the boss she agreed to let me use vinegar and water to clean the mirrors and glass shelves instead of something like Windex. She probably thinks I'm still using Formula 409 on the work stations to get the sticky hair spray off, but I've tried both a Scunci steamer with plain old water (works great) and baby wipes (works even better). ;) And nothing icky for me to inhale. :)

I did a lot of psychic cleaning along with the mundane cleaning when they arrested BTK last year. That maniac had been living just a few miles from the salon. Many of the customers knew the man/monster. I couldn't believe how bad the mop water smelled for a few weeks following his arrest. I knew that the customers were talking with the stylists about their feelings of shock and horror and those icky feelings were just sticking to everything in the salon.

I even make my own liquid laundry detergent by grating a bar of the plainest soap I can find into a pot of water, heating it till it melts, stirring in washing soda and borax, and pouring it into old plastic juice bottles.

[TheWomanMonster]

Oooh, I'm going to have to try your laundry detergent recipe Lunacie.
Sounds just lovely. :D

[Xirian]

I use green cleaners for my kitchen floors and counters. I use soap mixed with vinegar in my swiffer wet jet (not the most practical tool, but it works), instead of buying bottles of their stuff we just refill the one we have. I figure, make use of what we've already spent money on and find a more practical use for it. I use baking soda for my counters and vinegar for my sink.

I dry mint and crush it and sprinkle it on the carpet before I vacuum, which makes the house smell really wonderful. I hope to soon change to more natural beauty products as well, but I haven't started yet. I also tend to do chants that I make up on the fly, while I'm cleaning my home to protect us and rid it of residual negative energies.

[Lunacie]

I use green cleaners for my kitchen floors and counters. I use soap mixed with vinegar in my swiffer wet jet (not the most practical tool, but it works), instead of buying bottles of their stuff we just refill the one we have. I figure, make use of what we've already spent money on and find a more practical use for it. I use baking soda for my counters and vinegar for my sink.

I dry mint and crush it and sprinkle it on the carpet before I vacuum, which makes the house smell really wonderful. I hope to soon change to more natural beauty products as well, but I haven't started yet. I also tend to do chants that I make up on the fly, while I'm cleaning my home to protect us and rid it of residual negative energies.

These are the best, and least expensive, natural beauty products as far as makeup. She's also been looking for people who supply other natural beauty products and adding their links to her site. http://www.paintedlaydies.com

[Xirian]

These are the best, and least expensive, natural beauty products as far as makeup. She's also been looking for people who supply other natural beauty products and adding their links to her site. http://www.paintedlaydies.com
Thank you so much Lunacie. I have been going and reading on that Susun Weed forum and there are a lot of good ideas there as well. I just haven't gotten off my butt and done anything about it. Now that this topic has come up, I know that it will give me the much needed boost to get up and get something going around here.

Once again, thanks!!! :)

[shuvanilu]

I have definitely found that there's not a lot you can't get clean with either vinegar, baking soda or lemon juice or a combination thereof. I also like to sprinkle carpets with lavendar. I don have a little OCD question though (I'm a bit of a germ-a-phobe). Does lemon juice or vinegar kill germs? I'm still using pine-sol on kitchen and bathroom surfaces and I'm wondering if it's necessary. Also, a question about paper products. Obviously it's best to re-use a rag. But I was at my local co-op the other day and they are charging $7 (!) for their eco-safe paper towels! And, they have zero absorbancy. What's up with *that*?----shuvanilu

[Lunacie]

I don't think vinegar kills germs, but plain old soap and water does. And we need some germs/microbes to keep our systems running and keep us healthy. The only germs we really need to worry about are the ones from uncooked meats like chicken or hamburger, or dishes that have been left out of the fridge for too long.

I'm not a germaphobe myself, but I shudder when I think about the germs in a kitchen sponge. For years now I have made scrubbies by sewing about 4 layers of nylon net into a square about 10 x 10 inches. Very cheap so I have a bunch and I use a clean one each time I do dishes and then toss it into the laundry.

I don't use many paper towels. I keep a stack of clean hand towels (color coordinated ;) ) on my kitchen counter and use those for most wiping, then just toss them in when I do a load of laundry so I always have a few clean ones on hand.

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

I'm still in the middle of using up all the old traditional toxic cleaners up that I have around, but I am switching to more natual cleaners :) I usually use baking soda & vinegar for most stuff. I've switched my shampoos & whatnot to more natural stuff too..makeup...i'm not sure on...i rarely ware makeup to begin with, if I do it's for a special occassion or an interview or something like that...so it will take me forever to use what i've got lol. I also love to buy stuff from 7th generation, i buy my paper products from them..not only are they responsible & earth friendly but for me they are a local company ^_^

[TheWomanMonster]

If you're worried about germies, use a 50/50 spray with alcohol and water or lemon juice or vinegar. Alcohol will kill darn near anything. :D

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

I don't think vinegar kills germs, but plain old soap and water does. And we need some germs/microbes to keep our systems running and keep us healthy. The only germs we really need to worry about are the ones from uncooked meats like chicken or hamburger, or dishes that have been left out of the fridge for too long.

I'm not a germaphobe myself, but I shudder when I think about the germs in a kitchen sponge. For years now I have made scrubbies by sewing about 4 layers of nylon net into a square about 10 x 10 inches. Very cheap so I have a bunch and I use a clean one each time I do dishes and then toss it into the laundry.

I don't use many paper towels. I keep a stack of clean hand towels (color coordinated ;) ) on my kitchen counter and use those for most wiping, then just toss them in when I do a load of laundry so I always have a few clean ones on hand.

actually, i'm pretty sure that vinegar does kill germs, due to it's high acidity.

Also, a great way to "disinfect" your spongest is to microwave your dry sponge for 30 sec or so. Or boil them in water for 3min, or stick 'em in your dishwasher (if you have one).

[TheWomanMonster]

actually, i'm pretty sure that vinegar does kill germs, due to it's high acidity.

Also, a great way to "disinfect" your spongest is to microwave your dry sponge for 30 sec or so. Or boil them in water for 3min, or stick 'em in your dishwasher (if you have one).

I thought vinegar did too. :)

And those are all darn good ways to disinfect sponges! :D

[Xirian]

We soak our sponges in vinegar too. It helps alleviate any weird smells that may be in them as well.

[cesara]

Yay! What a great thread. I love learning new techniques.

I use vinegar and water on my windows and a mixture of borax and 2 or 3 drops of dish soap for my floors (it strips EVERYTHING off those floors!) Borax is also great for laundry. Im still trying to find some laundry "flakes" that I have read about....any other BCers know where I can get some? I use borax for scrubbing my tub, too.

Ive also heard that (believe it or not) powdered TANG is great for cleaning toilets, though Ive not tried it.

Thanks for sharing guys!

[TheWomanMonster]

Yay! What a great thread. I love learning new techniques.

I use vinegar and water on my windows and a mixture of borax and 2 or 3 drops of dish soap for my floors (it strips EVERYTHING off those floors!) Borax is also great for laundry. Im still trying to find some laundry "flakes" that I have read about....any other BCers know where I can get some? I use borax for scrubbing my tub, too.

Ive also heard that (believe it or not) powdered TANG is great for cleaning toilets, though Ive not tried it.

Thanks for sharing guys!

Laundry flakes eh? I wonder...
Did you see Lunacie's post a page or so back about making liquid laundry detergent from a bar of soap? Would soap flakes from a bar-soap be the same? *ponders*

[cesara]

That's a good question.....I'll have to do a bit more research. It's been a while since I've bothered looking for them..lol.

I'll keep you posted if I find anything.

[TheWomanMonster]

Fantastic Cesara. :) I look forward to reading about what you find.

[Nitefalle]

This is a great thread. I used to work in a giant store that sold only all natural or organic things, so they sold most of the name brand eco-friendly stuff, such as Seventh Generation, EcoSafe and Ecover. I did a quick search and see that Gaiam also now offers cleaning tools (though, as a company, they tend to be expensive). Also, as a general guide to green living, Natural Home and Garden magazine is a great resource, offering everything from cleaning recipes to architects and manufacturers that support Green living.

Speaking of cost, I have noticed that earth-friendly things on the whole, including all-natural or organic foods, are more expensive. I don't know why it's more expensive to support a sustainable agriculture and sustainable environment than not, something that has confounded me for many years.

[Zephyrstorm]

I love this thread. :)

I'm still using toxic cleaners, but I think I've finally managed to convince my husband to let them run out so that I can start using my own blends - he's a little reluctant because he doesn't like vinegar... or lemon. Still, I've been using the healthy cleaners more than anything, and he's using the others.

I have a book on spiritual housecleaning that includes some lovely recipes for cleaners. it's this one. (http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Housecleaning-Healing-Within-Beautifying/dp/1572242396/sr=8-1/qid=1164917525/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-3153443-8172722?ie=UTF8&s=books)

[Lunacie]

Yay! What a great thread. I love learning new techniques.

I use vinegar and water on my windows and a mixture of borax and 2 or 3 drops of dish soap for my floors (it strips EVERYTHING off those floors!) Borax is also great for laundry. Im still trying to find some laundry "flakes" that I have read about....any other BCers know where I can get some? I use borax for scrubbing my tub, too.

Ive also heard that (believe it or not) powdered TANG is great for cleaning toilets, though Ive not tried it.

Thanks for sharing guys!

My daughter ordered some homemade laundry flakes a year or two ago online - but I don't know where she found the maker. It was someone who makes their own lye soap. It was cheaper than most store-bought soap but I figured I could still make my own cheaper... and with less perfumes and stuff that I'm allergic/sensitive to.

[Xirian]

This is a great thread. I used to work in a giant store that sold only all natural or organic things, so they sold most of the name brand eco-friendly stuff, such as Seventh Generation, EcoSafe and Ecover.
My mate works at a warehouse that may have supplied your store, Nitefalle. I've been trying to get him to get on their program so that we can order their cleaning products, vitamins and some of their food stuffs. It's cheaper than going to the local co-op and it comes right out of his check. I think when our finances get a wee bit better, now that I'm finally working, we will join that program.

Currently we don't stock up on toxic cleaners, we tend to buy that sort of thing when we need them, so there won't be much to run out of when we do start buying those Eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products.

[binah06]

Tea Tree Essential Oil kills most germs and fungi. I use a couple drops in my mixes to sterilize everything in the kitchen. I also use baking soda and vinegar, lemon, and other essential oils for yummy scents.

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

Speaking of cost, I have noticed that earth-friendly things on the whole, including all-natural or organic foods, are more expensive. I don't know why it's more expensive to support a sustainable agriculture and sustainable environment than not, something that has confounded me for many years.

because conventional farming, especially large factory farming is subsidized by the government, for example cotton is the most heavily subsidized by the government, and it's also the worst on the environment, but the subsidies allow the large cotton plantations or farms or whatever they are called to sell their product for waay less than a smaller organic farmer could. that and the actual amount farmers are getting paided for their produce has been going down over the past years. So it's hard in general for farmers to make a living.

[Lunacie]

actually, i'm pretty sure that vinegar does kill germs, due to it's high acidity.

Also, a great way to "disinfect" your spongest is to microwave your dry sponge for 30 sec or so. Or boil them in water for 3min, or stick 'em in your dishwasher (if you have one).


Contrary to popular opinion, microwaves do not heat food from the inside out. Neither do they heat evenly, which can lead to cold spots and hot spots. Turntables inside the oven will help, though you’ll still want to stir larger portions half way through a cycle. Uneven heating explains why you can’t count on a microwave to kill kitchen germs (http://health.msn.com/womenshealth/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100123457) that accrue on a sponge: Bacteria and fungi can survive in cooler pockets.
From: http://health.msn.com/general/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100149491&GT1=8816 (emphasis mine)

[TheWomanMonster]

Thanks Lunacie. :)

[DrkInnosense]

We've been cleaning green for a little while now. My fiance loves how much cheaper it is to buy baking soda and vinegar than commercial toxic cleaning products, lol. Me, I love that I'm doing my part to help heal mother earth, and knowing my 15 month old son isn't inhaling or ingesting toxic fumes.

Just wanted to let you know that vinegar is antibacterial, and so is tea tree oil and citrus fruits (so if you don't prefer the lemon smell, you can use an orange or lime the same way) I'm pretty sure lavendar oil is also antibacterial, and I add a few drops of that to my cleaners cause it smells pretty, and it has properties that I want my home infused with (harmony, love, purification...) Also, borax prevents the growth of bacteria and mold, so if you sprinkle some, say, in the bottom of your trash can beneath the bag, it won't grow weird smells.

Hope that helps. =)

[Zephyrstorm]

:bumpsmili
for Ametrine. :)

[faeriewitch]

Thanks Zephyrstorm !:cheers:

[inkywitch]

This is an amazing post! I love natural and green products. I have millions of recipes from a book called 1001 Greener Household Hints "Back to Basics". One my mother tried recently was a natural mold remover to get the black mold off her walls and ceiling in the bathroom. The bug spray for her plants seems to work nicely to...

Bug Spray (for Plants)

1 peeled onion.
2 peeled garlic cloves
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
3 cups water.

Blend until smooth, sit overnight. Strain the following. Spray plants. No bugs. (and pets don't seem to like the cayenne, so they only try licking it off once! haha)



Mold Remover.

1 tablespoon of eucalyptus oil
1 tablespoon of methylated spirits
2 cups water.

Spray mixture over mold in small sections, wipe clean. Also acts as a natural disinfectant.

For clothes, try a paste of lemon juice and salt rubbed into the effected area.

For shower curtains, soak in vinegar for 1/2 an hour. Scrub if necessary, and hand in the sun to dry. For more stubborn stains, mix equal parts of grated soap, starch, salt and lemon juice mixed into a paste. Apply to stubborn areas of curtain. Leave in sunny area for a few hours, scrub off.

For household surfaces, apply vinegar and leave overnight. Wipe with water following morning. (You could also add lavender, lemon or eucalyptus to make it smell nicer).

[inkywitch]

Herbal Disinfectant.

6 drops of lemon oil or tea tree oil.
6 drops of eucalyptus oil.
1 teaspoon of methylated spirits.
8 cups warm water.

Awesome for toilets, sinks, baths, kitchen benches...

[inkywitch]

Drain Cleaner.

1 cup bi-carb soda.
1 cup salt.
1/4 cup cream of tartar.

Put all ingredients into a jar. Seal lid and shake well. Pour a 1/4 cupof the mixture down the drain followed by two cups of boiling water. Let sit for 5 mins and rinse.

[Willow Rosette]

This is an amazing post! I love natural and green products. I have millions of recipes from a book called 1001 Greener Household Hints "Back to Basics". One my mother tried recently was a natural mold remover to get the black mold off her walls and ceiling in the bathroom. The bug spray for her plants seems to work nicely to...

Bug Spray (for Plants)

1 peeled onion.
2 peeled garlic cloves
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
3 cups water.

Blend until smooth, sit overnight. Strain the following. Spray plants. No bugs. (and pets don't seem to like the cayenne, so they only try licking it off once! haha)



Mold Remover.

1 tablespoon of eucalyptus oil
1 tablespoon of methylated spirits
2 cups water.

Spray mixture over mold in small sections, wipe clean. Also acts as a natural disinfectant.

For clothes, try a paste of lemon juice and salt rubbed into the effected area.

For shower curtains, soak in vinegar for 1/2 an hour. Scrub if necessary, and hand in the sun to dry. For more stubborn stains, mix equal parts of grated soap, starch, salt and lemon juice mixed into a paste. Apply to stubborn areas of curtain. Leave in sunny area for a few hours, scrub off.

For household surfaces, apply vinegar and leave overnight. Wipe with water following morning. (You could also add lavender, lemon or eucalyptus to make it smell nicer).

A tea tree oil spray also works to remove mold. I use it in my bathroom.

[wrenjamin]

What a great thread!

My boyfriend and I were just having a discussion a few weeks ago about making the transition away from the toxic cleaners. I'm def intrigued to make my own, although I am not turned off to the Seventh Generation line (they sell them at Target!).

These are great suggestions for non toxic cleaners, I love it! I'm looking to actively change many habits about myself, and this is at the top of the list...whee!

[Nitefalle]

What are "methylated spirits"? I have never heard of these before.

[Lunacie]

What are "methylated spirits"? I have never heard of these before.

In the U.S. it's called "denatured alcohol". Not the same as rubbing or isopropyl alcohol. More like what you find in cleaning solvents, especially good for cleaning metal. We used to use it for cleaning typewriter keys in the old days. ;)

[wolfjan1]

I use white vinegar and baking soda down the disposer that I never use now because of the mulch pile. It seems to clean even the toilet when I use it. Especially with my toilet brush. I use the green soap and a little white vinegar for when I have to use the scrubber to clean the carpets. The puppies hate it and use their papers when in the house. So, I use it in anything they might want to lift their little legs on. Right now I am moving things around, so I am using lemon oil on the wood furniture and wainscotting(sp). I LOVE Spring.

[wolfjan1]

A tea tree oil spray also works to remove mold. I use it in my bathroom.
You are getting it!
I had my brother take away all the "chemicals" left in the house when I moved in.

[Nitefalle]

Here was a nice website that had some good recipes on it for all sorts of situations.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html

[moonbride]

Loving this thread!
I've been very slowly trying to phase out my chemical cleaners here and find replacements I can use instead of them. I have already purchased all the goodies to make my own laundry soap from the other thread and just getting to the last of the laundry soap I already had and I will then just re-use the container from it when it's empty.

I just wish I could take the smell of vinegar easier! I've never been a fan of the smell... but will use it anyway because it does work.

[Zoritsa_Nepenthe]

Loving this thread!
I've been very slowly trying to phase out my chemical cleaners here and find replacements I can use instead of them. I have already purchased all the goodies to make my own laundry soap from the other thread and just getting to the last of the laundry soap I already had and I will then just re-use the container from it when it's empty.

I just wish I could take the smell of vinegar easier! I've never been a fan of the smell... but will use it anyway because it does work.

I'm not to fond of vinegar smell either Moonbride,but I noticted that my kitchen felt so much cleaner and fresher then when I use store bought products.That and later in the day,no one noticed any lingering smells from it...so I can deal with it myself when everyone is gone and they just get to come home to a clean house :hahugh:

[moonbride]

I'm working on it! I have always cleaned my coffee pots with vinegar and boy that smell just about knocks me out sometimes but there's just nothing like it for doing the job so I know what you mean.

[Lorrie]

Great thread, I have been collecting ideas for cleaning, I now have homemade laundry soap, which is even popular with my sons GF. I am getting little by little the stuff needed to make my own bar soap, both M&P and lye. I have been using tea tree oil for everything cleaning, and baking soda. I have alot of good ideas to try besides this now. I have been e-mailing with a lye supplier telling them this is my first attempt at soaps, I have strong skin allergies, they e-mailed back saying that is a very common problem, and that often it isn't the scents that cause it as everyone thinks, it is the other chemicals in the product. Made sense to me since I have had no problem with any of the homemade stuff so far. Does anyone by chance have a favorite lye soap recipe? I have several printed out, but want to see if there are any favorites that may be even better. It will be a while to gather all the stuff for making them, so I amusing this time to study up. I am very impatient!!! Oh, and I read that I shouldn't use water from a water softening system to make the soap, anyone know anything around this, I HAVE to use a water system here, the well water is really awful. I can easily and cheaply buy the distilled, or collect rain water, but I was hoping maybe someone knows a way around this. Um, and, is rain water really good to use, I mean , all the talk about acid rain and pollution????

[Starry Night]

I really like this thread.:hahugh:

Recently I've been using a mixture of :
3 Tbsp Baking Soda
3 Tbsp Kosher Salt
A pinch of Cream of Tartar
And enough H. peroxide to form a paste..

mix & spread over caked on grease on stove top and let set for about 30 min or so then scrub off with scrub-sponge dipped in warm water.

And for really greasy grungy jobs, I take a spray bottle of straight up vinegar and spray it on after the stuff has set for a little while.
this really works

Jerry Baker is cool..He's got lots of books out about gardening tips, cleaning tricks and more.

One way to check your baking soda, to see if it's still good, is to take a spoonful and pour alittle vinegar on it. If it foams up it's good to go. If it just lays there like a lump, time to get another batch.

[Lyrien]

I really like this thread.:hahugh:



One way to check your baking soda, to see if it's still good, is to take a spoonful and pour alittle vinegar on it. If it foams up it's good to go. If it just lays there like a lump, time to get another batch.


What can cause baking soda to go bad? I've had some laying around for years that still bubbled up.

[Starry Night]

My guess would be; If you've had an open box for a looong time, or if you can't remember when you last bought it, it would be good to check and make sure it's still fizzy. What with it absorbing some pretty funktastic smells, and all..

I think the fizziness only counts if you wanted to do some real grease lifting.. Or just heavy duty cleaning in general.

I'm sure that even if it's not very fizzy, you could still use it to deodorize your carpet before vacuuming.

[Lenfantdefleur]

I am a big fan of this thread. I've been sitting here for the past hour jotting stuff down. :spinnysmi

[Tanya]

If you can't stand the smelll of vinegar, try lemon juice instead.

[Windsmith]

Oh! I just bought the coolest little book: The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier (http://herbalmusings.com/cleanbookinfo.htm). It has the most amazing cleaning recipes for everything from the toilet to the oven to the car.

I haven't tried many of the recipes yet, but I already know I love them, because they contain fairly common ingredients that aren't difficult to find. One of the problems I usually have with natural cleaning books and recipes is that they contain all this stuff that, unless you're Amish or live on a farm, you're never going to see in your entire life. But it was no more than a trip to my local Whole Foods to track down everything I needed for at least two-thirds of what's in this book. Plus, she encourages including essential oils in most of the recipes, and she has a whole list of various oils and what they're good for, which very much reminded me of herbal correspondences you find in a lot of Pagan books. Good, good stuff.

[electricpeppers]

Ok, I love this thread, because I'm a complete neat freak. I was watching something the other day and they were saying that the inside of the home was more polluted than outside with all the chemicals we use!

I'll definately be looking through the many books on this subject, *runs off to amazon*.

[Ladybug1258]

The web site for Mother Earth News has a bunch of recipes for making you own cleaners, detergents, and "green" tips for house hold tasks that are easier on the environment. www.motherearthnews.com It's called "Greener Cleaners". They are just too numerous to list here, but suffice it to say they have everything for you, your family, your home and your pet to stay clean and green. I've saved them in a three-ring binder here at home to go back and look up when I want something new to try. I've already replaced my window cleaner, my counter top clearners, and bleach. Occasionally I may have to use bleach for some things, but only as a last resort. It causes allergic reactions to a few of us here in my family. I can live with my shower and bathroom sinks smelling like vinegar is it means I don't close up in the nose and eyes after using bleach. Who cares if the rooms smell like salad dressing? It's better than what they can smell like at other times!

[enchancea]

Any tips of getting rid of mold and mildew? We have some spots in the bedroom with it. I did the vinegar thing but it really didn't do anything. I prefer a natural way to do it because I'm pregnant and we have a few cats and a dog running around.

[DrkInnosense]

Try mixing 2 tsp of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water, spray it on the mold/mildew and let it set without rinsing for a couple days.

Jennifer

[~SAHMto2girls~]

I was going through this last night, and jotting down everything, as well as copying things to put in my binder (that holds all of my Green Witch/Pagan things). I was wondering if anyone can suggest places to get essential oils, and lye, things like this? I'd like to start making my own cleaners but also want to know that the oil I'm getting is good, etc.

Thanks!!!!

Jen

[binah06]

I am so happy that this thread became so popular!

Someone was asking about expiring baking soda...
I would throw out baking soda after 6 months, especially if it is not sealed. Baking soda absorbs all of the smells that are around it tainting the taste if using it for cooking. If you are only using it as a gentle abrasive then it should be fine for a while longer. Since I am using it for cleansing I want the energies of the soda to be clean as well. Baking soda is naturally so absorbent I feel like it is also absorbing energies as well and I dont want to spread nasty energy all over my counter.

Essential oils are relatively easy to find. Be careful because I often see fragrance or diluted essential oils sold as pure essential oil. The easiest way to find out if an essential oil is undiluted pure essential oil is to check the prices on all the oils. If they are all different then you should have pure essential oil. If the prices are all the same then those are fragrance oils or diluted essential oils.
for example- Jasmine oil should be expensive, eucalyptus or lavender oil should be much cheaper.

Happy green cleaning!

[kismet]

Someone was asking about expiring baking soda...
I would throw out baking soda after 6 months, especially if it is not sealed. Baking soda absorbs all of the smells that are around it tainting the taste if using it for cooking. If you are only using it as a gentle abrasive then it should be fine for a while longer. Since I am using it for cleansing I want the energies of the soda to be clean as well. Baking soda is naturally so absorbent I feel like it is also absorbing energies as well and I dont want to spread nasty energy all over my counter.

This thread is wonderful. I just had an idea for throwing out your old baking soda...use it in your drains w/ vinegar to clean slow drains. This way you still get some use from it. You can use this as a little cleansing ritual as well.

[CuddleFish]

I was just poking around on the webs looking at natural cleaning stuff and soap nuts, also called soap berries, caught my eye. People use them for cleaning just about everything, starting with laundry. Then you can just compost the spent berries. Anyone here use them? I hear they are also a great alternative for washing hair, too, and can be pretty economical when used right.

[kristadb]

My favourite green cleaning book is Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan.