Re: Why not bleach?
 

Is there a natural alternative for Tilex? I use all-natural cleaners everywhere, but I simply can't get the hard-core mildew - the kind that turns the caulk around the tub black - off with anything else. ??? And I know it's the bleach in the Tilex that does it. :(

Re: Why not bleach?
 

Have you tried Oxy0clean? I thought I saw that you could use it on things other than laundry.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

Why can't you combine them?

To prevent mold/mildew in the shower, I spray after every shower with Arm&Hammer's Clean Shower. I don't want to know if that's not ok! :shifty I scrubbed the tile shower when we moved in a year ago, and I haven't cleaned it since! No sign of mold or mildew. Well, the caulk did get a little black mold under it and dh replaced it.

I love Seventh Generation's natural cleaners in the kitchen and the bathroom. They're pricey, but they last a long time, so I splurge.

The only thing I use bleach on is when I launder my fabric shower curtain, which gets a little orange mold at the bottom where it stays wet. Can anyone tell me another way to get that out? Just laundry det. doesn't work.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

What about the dishwasher? I'm thinking about trying handwashing again. I hate that when I wash dishes that you can just see and smell all the bleach fumes going into my air. I usually open the door or wash dishes at night when we are sleeping. I have tried all the natural products and they just don't cut it with our water.

I've been really tempted to get some bleach lately. Just so I can bleach all our whites. What about whites? I hate that ours are so yucky. Evan wears white undershirts and they are really yucky.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

Someone here had recommended borax (2T) and baking pwdr (1T) in the dishwasher and it works, but when I realized borax was in my ant poison, I stopped using it. :shrug

I found a brand of detergent that has no bleach - WalMart's store brand. Maybe other store brands don't have it either.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

I think the borax in ant poison is different from the washing kind...? I remember reading that in a post somewhere. Anyone know? :shrug
I use a combo of borax, baking soda, washing soda, and a pinch of commercial dishwashing det. in my dishwasher - I got the recipe in the natural cleaners thread. I wish I knew how to post links to threads!! sorry.It does a good job with vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

I think another one of the probs with bleach is that one of the byproducts of cholorine bleaching is dioxin, which is a known cancer-causing agent. If I use disposable feminine hygiene stuff I use peroxide-whitened.

For the dishwasher I alternate the 7th Generation stuff and conventional, as the 7G stuff doesn't do as good of a job, unfortunately, so i alternate them. I use non-chlorine bleach from 7G for my whites and it works just fine. I've used Country Save non-chl. bleach, too, with good results. I used the Tilex mildew stuff when we moved in :O but the "root killer" stuff works really well, so I haven't had to redo it. I keep it up with the Method shower spray.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

I have never seen Method products. It sounds like a good line for bleach alternatives - do they have a website?

I understand the Tilex thing - it's just the only thing that works on the black mildew around here (that I've tried - there may be something else out there. I am hoping...). I don't like to use bleach also because we have a septic tank. It's not good for that at all.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

My dh uses borax for curing his fish eggs. I think it works as a preservative. I'll ask him later on.

Could it be the dishwasher and not the detergent that's the problem? We use Trader Joe's powder or 7th gen. and they both work great! Our dishwasher is only 5 years old and i did notice when we got it (a free replacement on the Sears warranty :tu ) that the dishes were definitely cleaner with the new washer. And maybe we're lucky with water here too. But you know, even if the dishes didn't get super clean I wouldn't use the regular detergent because it leaves a film on the dishes that I can feel and taste. I notice it when I'm at other people's homes. Blech!

About the vinegar and peroxide -- Because of how they interact they have to be stored separately. Also, there's a post earlier in the thread that says that the peroxide will explode if exposed to light for an extended period of time. :eek
'

Re: Why not bleach?
 

Borax is the laundry stuff... BORIC ACID is the poison... it's used in eye washes and as an antiseptic.

Borax: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax

Boric Acid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boric_Acid

Re: Why not bleach?
 

I use bleach in my bathroom and kitchen cleaning. it is cheap, easy, can be used at several different strengths for several things. the problem with the melalueca stuff is it is expensive, it has to be shipped to you, you can't just run out and buy it when going low.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

I'm under the impression that melaleuca is just cleaning products with Tea Tree Oil added. In many cities you can find plain tea tree oil in the natural foods section of large grocery stores, drug stores, etc. It can be mixed with dish soap and hot water (about a dozen drops per quart of water) and used to clean that way, very cheaply. When I was adding tt oil to my diaper loads a 2 oz bottle lasted me several months. :tu

Re: Why not bleach?
 

I've tried and tried but nothing kills the mildew in my bathroom except bleach. :shrug For every day cleaning I use vinegar, baking soda or dr. bronner's, but once a month or so I have to bleach down the tub.

Re: Why not bleach?
 

Same here on mildew. :hissyfit

Re: Why not bleach?
 

Bleach is bad because it's too harsh for a family setting. It is also extremely bad for asthmatics, my DH and nephew do not do well at all around it that's why it's never been in our home. I don't see the need to use a product that makes my chest burn to use or I wouldn't want touching my skin.

I can clean almost anything with watered down lemon cleaner and some elbow grease.