Cleaning the bathroom the healthy way

I don't know about you, but conventional cleaning products make me sick.  (Especially mold-killer bathroom sprays.)  I used to always get an insane headache and have to go lie down after cleaning the bathroom.   No more!  I have found a healthy way to do it with natural cleaners.  Yay!

The book "Clean Home Green Home" by Kim Delaney has really helped me.  It tells you how to make your own cleaning products, not just for the bathroom, but for the whole house!  Today, I'll be sharing with you my new bathroom cleaning method that I learned from this book.

Shower, bath, and sink:
1.  Mix some baking soda with some regular dish soap to make a paste.  (Start with about a handful of baking soda, then add a little dish soap at time while stirring.)  Only make as much as you need because it does not store well.  (It just dries up.) Note: the book says to use "castille soap", which is vegetable-based soap, but I haven't been able to find any.  Dish soap is mild so I use that instead.

2.  Using a microfiber cleaning cloth (like the kind you get at Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Target), rub the paste all over the tub, tiles, shower head, faucets, etc.  Use an old toothbrush to get at the hard-to-reach places.  (The baking soda paste will scrub off grime, but is mild enough not to scratch any surfaces.)

3.  Turn on the shower and rinse.  Then, wipe with a another wet microfiber cloth.

4.  In order to shine metal faucets, rub with a dry microfiber cloth.

Note:  I know this sounds like a lot of microfiber cloths, but I only own 3 and I use them every week.  Then, I just chuck 'em in the wash with the towels.  It's better to use washable cloths than endless paper towels.  (...and cheaper in the long run!)

5.  In order to prevent clogs in the drains, boil a kettle-full of water and pour it down the drain.  (Once every 2 weeks or so.)  The boiling water will loosen any fatty soap deposits and help it slide down the drain.  If you already have a clog, don't get drano!  Pour some baking soda and vinegar down the drain.  It will fizz up.  Put a cloth over the drain and let it fizz for 5 minutes or so; then pour the boiling water.  I was amazed at how well this worked!  The best part is that there's no harmful chemicals going down and it won't eat your pipes. 


Natural Mold Killers:
1.  Plain old vinegar.  Just put it in a spray bottle and spray on the area where you want to kill/prevent mold.  It smells a bit funny, but once it dries the smell is totally gone.  Warning:  Do NOT use vinegar on tile grout, marble, or any porous surface!  It will eat into it.

2.  Tea tree oil spray:  Mix 2 cups of water with 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil (available at Whole Foods or most health food stores).  This is safe to use on tile grout and pretty much any surface.  I spray this mixture all over my shower and tub when I'm done cleaning it.  Then, you just leave it there.  It will kill and prevent mold.  Plus - it smells great!

Shower Curtain:
After each use, draw it across the shower rod.  (close it)  This way, it dries out better and mold won't grow as easily.  Once a week, I spray it down with tea tree oil spray. 

Toilets:
 Okay so this is the only area where I cheat and use a conventional cleaner.  Soft Scrub just works really well and I haven't found a natural product to match it.  I figure, using a little of it once a week isn't so bad.  Plus, it doesn't seem to give me headaches like other cleaners do.
 
If any of you out there have any natural cleaning tips, I'm all ears.  Happy (and healthy) cleaning! 

Green Cleaning

I have been thinking about green cleaning products lately.  There are several that I use now, but I don't really know what I'm doing and I haven't been using them consistently.  They say that regular cleaning products can make the air in your house more toxic to breathe than outside air!  I know I feel sick when I use certain products.  Anyway, I was excited to find this post about how to create your own green cleaners and how to use them.  I want to pass this info on!  If you are like me, this will help shed some light on the situation:

http://www.greenamericatoday.org/pubs/realgreen/articles/greencleaners.cfm   

This post tells you how to make your own cleaning solutions out of natural things like vinegar, borax, club soda, corn meal, lemon juice, baking soda, etc.  Not only are these things healthier for you and your environment, they are cheaper than the cleaners you have been buying.  It's win-win!

I especially like their advice on how to clean carpets:
       "Carpet cleaner: To clean and disinfect your carpet, the CHEC recommends blending 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a cloth. Let rest for several hours or overnight, then vacuum. To remove stains from your carpet, Logan advises mixing 1/4 cup liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup water in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stain with a brush or clean rag. Also, club soda will remove many acidic stains, like coffee, wine, or juice. To deal with big carpet spills, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum."

I'm going to try this today and I'll let you know how it works.  Has anyone out there had experience with  natural cleaning solutions and methods?  I'd love to hear about any other good tips out there.