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Sunday, May 9, 2010

Cleaning Green

There is still time to enter my CSN Stores $60.00 gift card giveaway!  Enter the giveaway here.
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This was intended to be a post for Earth Day but time slipped away and here we are a week into May already!
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For the last several years I have tried to use only green cleaning products.  I don't know about you, but the thought of all those chemicals from regular cleaning products in my home does not make me happy.  There's just no way it's healthy to breathe in all those nasty chemicals on a regular basis.
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Here are my favorite, go-to products:
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1.  Murphy Oil Soap.  Murphy Oil Soap is a water based product made with 98% naturally-derived ingredients and has been around for over 100 years.  I love this product for my wood floors.  I also use Murphy's to clean my kitchen cabinets and other wood cabinetry.
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2.  Method Wood For Good.  What's not to like about a product called Wood For Good?  This is a no wax product that's great on all wood.  I use it on my dining room table and other wood furniture.  I find that a little goes a long way so one bottle usually lasts a while.  Also available in a larger refill bottle - so when you run out, save the spray bottle and buy the refill.  All Method products can be found at Target.
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3. Method Daily Granite Polish.  This is probably my favorite cleaning product.  I use this every few days on my granite counters.  Here's what method says about Daily Granite:  "Granite is cool. literally. lay your face against a slab of the stuff, and you'll feel like you're sleeping on the other side of the pillow. in Antarctica. but before you go laying head to counter for a noontime nap, use this granite + marble cleaner to buff your resting place to a beautiful, ick-free shine." I love reading their labels - they always make me smile.  A larger refill bottle is also available.
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4.  Bon Ami Polishing Cleanser.  This is my go-to product for cleaning both my stainless steel and porcelain sinks.  Bon Ami is a gentle cleanser that will not scratch and contains no chlorine, perfume, or dyes.  Bon Ami has been around for over 120 years!  I also like that it is inexpensive - I think it is around $2.00 a bottle.
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5.  Shaklee Scour Off Heavy-Duty Paste.  Great product for big messes.  Especially good for cleaning your oven - inside and out.
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6.  Shaklee Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate.  I love this product.  It can be used on any washable surface, inside or out.  A little goes a long way, so it lasts a good while.  Dilute a little and keep in spray bottle to use on glass, windows, mirrors, and pretty much any other surface.
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7.  Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid.  I use this anytime I have dishes to hand wash.  It's free of phosphates and the bottle contains 90% post-consumer recycled plastic.
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8.  Method All Purpose Pink Grapefruit Surface Cleaner.  Another all-purpose cleaner.  I keep this one in my bathroom.  Here's how Method describes this cleaner:  "Why kill when you clean? our heaven-scented all surface spray cleans the heck out of dirt without having to hire hit men like harsh chemicals to get rid of it. the naturally derived formula is safe on most surfaces in your home — tile, marble, sealed wood, metal, and most importantly, you. it's biodegradable so you can clean your home without flushing super toxic chemicals down the drain into our rivers, lakes and oceans. we're against that. dirty doesn't have to flow downstream."  What's not to like?
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9.  Method Laundry Detergent Peony Blossom.  I've always been a pretty tried-and-true Tide girl but I think my Tide has finally found it's match.  I've been using this for a month or so and have been really happy.  I really like the pump bottle - no need to measure into another cup - just four pumps into your machine and you're good to go.
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10.  Seventh Generation Free and Clear Dishwasher Detergent.  Phosphate and Chlorine-Free automatic dishwasher powder gets your dishes sparkling clean. Free & clear of perfumes and dyes.
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11.  Method Daily Shower Spray.  My favorite shower cleaner.  I keep this in the shower and spray every time I get out.  You know how some tile cleaners (i.e. Tilex) are so toxic you feel like you should be wearing a mask when you use them?  You won't feel that way with this cleaner and it really works!  I love Method's description:  "We're all for singing in the shower. maybe even serenading the shower itself…especially when it's free of chemical residue and nasty toxins. and we love when it smells like spa. mmm, spa. with our daily shower spray, you'll never have to scrub, wipe or rinse your shower again. just spray a fine mist on all wet surfaces after each shower and we'll take care of the rest. you just sing, shower, spray…sing some more, if you want. (for best results, start with a clean shower.)."  A larger refill is also available.
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What are your favorite green cleaners?
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13 comments:

  1. I havent tried any Method products except the dish soap. But use Murphys on my floor as well, and the 7th Generation dish soap (and Greenworks). I havent noticed the Bon Ami around here, and Ive been thinking about trying Shaklee, but havent yet. I have also thought about making my own, but again, havent yet. Not sure where to find essential oils.

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  2. Hmmm, I may have to try some of these! My all time favorite is the "Go Naked" Method spray cleaner. I like that it is completely fragrance dye free. I have been wondering if the shower spray works so I'm going to pick some up at Target this week. What a fun post! Anything to help motivate me to clean - ugh!

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  3. I absolutely love ALL of the Shaklee products!!!! They are totally safe to use around my kids and they are sooo cheap!
    Bonnie

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  4. Ali - you just earned yourself some Murphy's Oil samples! :-)

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  5. I will have to try out some of those products. I used Method when I lived in the US and am thrilled it has made it's war into Canada. I miss Trader Joes laundry soap though.
    What I do is make some cleaners of my own!
    Easy on the wallet, nose and environment. The whole oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico has our famil really re-evaluating our footprint.

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  6. i love seeing what you're actually using! i use murphys and love the "wood for good"--that scent is amazing. i also use the lavender seventh generation dish soap. I tried their dishwashing detergent, but didn't love the way it cleaned, so i've switched to an eco-friendly palmolive which, for now, i like. i've also tried method for laundry and wasn't thrilled, but since you too use tide, you know the standard, so I'm going to check this one out next time. thanks for the recommendations!

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  7. Thanks for all the great suggestions I will give them a try.

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  8. Thanks for the list Alissa. I often want to switch over, but after trying a few green products that were a real diappointment I don't want to spend the money on a "hopefully it works" product.

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  9. Alissa, Thanks for the reminder! I use many of these products, but one more to know about is old fashioned white vinegar. A little in water makes a great window cleaner. Wipe up with crumpled newspapers. Vinegar rinses the lime deposits from coffeemakers and around faucets and drains. It also kills the stray weeds in the brick patio. It has many more uses that I can't think of at this hour!
    Have a great day! Sherry

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  10. Hey! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier today! Make sure you check it out on Monday...I have a surprise for you :)

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  11. Great products! So cool to clean green...especially with kids! I also love the shakely prouducts!

    jane
    Finding Fabulous

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  12. Just tried the Method Daily Granite cleaner & love it! Thanks, Karen

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  13. Great products!!! and thanks for sharing is very helpful suggestion for us to keep our home green and clean.....!!!
      Best Green cleaning products

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