Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

I use Murphy Oil Soap on our floors, hardwood and linoleum; it smells great. Just a tsp. to a quart or something like that - it says it on the bottle. It smells better than vinegar.

The creamy peppermint soft scrubber does great in toilets, too. :tu

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

Do you just mix and use it dry or add water to it? I've found recipes that mix it with water, but I assumed you just did with dry and am washing some stuff with it right now.

btw, I got borax up my nose.

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

:roll
Don't you hate that?? I get the Fels Naptha vapors up my nose and man, that's strong stuff. And as to your other question, I just use it dry, but I start the washer and add the soap to the water while it's filling, then add the clothes on top. So it kind of makes a liquid soap before I put the clothes in. I LOVE this laundry soap! It is so economical and smells so good. :tu

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

That's what I did. And yes, I love it...I blogged about it. :giggle

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

Thanks for the great recipes- I just tried the disinfectant spray and I love it - it is great to be able to spray arouind my kids and not be concerned if they touch it or breathe it in-
I am wondering what people use for fabric softner anti cling stuff- we all have sensitive skin and have been just buying a name brand free of perfumes and dyes fabric softner? If there any natural alternative or cheaper alternative that wouldn't be too harsh?
Thanks!
Lorene

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

I think many people use plain vinegar as a softener.

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

Umm, do you just dump it into the washing machine when you put the clothes in? :scratch (I have a feeling I'm going to someday look back on that as a stupid question!) :O And how much do you use?

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

You put it in when you would normally add softener. Or put it in a Downy Ball. ABout a half a cup is a good amount for a normal size load. And that is not a dumb question. I had the same one when I learned about it. :)

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

Thanks Amy! And embarrassing as it should be to admit this...in college I bought a Downy Ball simply because I thought it was "cool" but I didn't know how to use it and so I just threw it in at the beginning when I put the clothes in. :O

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

I just put the vinegar in when I load everything, right after I put the soap in. I follow it with baking soda to neutralize the odor and to increase the softness. It works great! :tu
Don't be embarassed...look back through this thread and see my goofy questions. :O That's funny what you did in college! :giggle

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

Does anyone have a recipe for a cleaner that would work on the bathtub/shower tile to get rid of mildew- I would rather use something natural without resorting to something so harsh- Thanks!
Lorene

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

I bet baking soda as a scrub followed by a wash of water with peppermint oil would work well. Or use some tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and water as a germ spray.

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

The peppermint soft scrubber (posted earlier in this thread) has worked well for me. I've also read that straight vinegar kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of germs, so straight vinegar with a few drops of essential oil would probably do a good job. Just stick it in a spray bottle :)

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

yup, vinegar has worked for me! so has the baking soda. i'd love to try the peppermint scrub...only i have had no time to stop at the health food store to get the things i need for it. maybe i should just make it a priority to go there anyway... ;)

Re: Natural Cleaning Recipes
 

i thought that was how you were supposed to use it? :scratch