Natural cleaning products - brand recommendations?

[Plinky]

Hello ladies,

I'd like to cut down the use of chemicals around the house...and was wondering if anyone can recommend a line/brand of natural/organic/non-toxic cleaning products?(not sure what the correct term is...whatever means no or less chemicals!).

I have heard of mixing vinegar/bicarb/oils...but just because I'm lazy () I wondered if there are any commercially available products I could try? I've had a look on the net and found various different brands (such as Pure Earth, Ecover, Ecstore, etc)...but its a bit overwhelming and I'm just wondering if anyone can recommend any?

Thanks!

[amberj]

I can't say I've tried many different types or really done an investigation into different types, so I'm probably a bit clueless, but I often use Earth Choice, which I just get from Coles- and I've really liked all their products.

I dooo make some of my own sprays.....SO easy. Seriously, I made two different ones before Peter was born (he is now 8 months) and I use them for everything and they are still going strong. You do, however, need to like the smell of vinegar and tea tree oil!!

[Bronzdbebe]

Hi Beanybub,

It's not so much a product in a sense but a cloth, I LOVE and I mean Really LOVE my enjo glass cloth, we have glass shower screens and I don't use anything on them except the cloth and the water. I use it on all my mirrors and glass surfaces as well and it is great I don't have a bad word to say about it, and the best thing is after the initial use if you do it fairly regularily, it takes hardly anytime.

For other things I use earth choice. I have found their products to be good aswell, The are grey water safe, not tested on animals, come in PET pacakaging (recyclable) and the best thing (well I personally love this fact) that they are Australian owned and made.
ATM I use their Dishwash liquid, Shower spray (for the tiles & bath)The mulit purpose spray and the fabric conditioner (which I think smells yummy) and in price there are really reasonable.

Good luck.

[Curly]

I'm in the process of changing over my products to environmentally friendly ones (as each chemical one runs out, I replace it with an environmentally friendly one).

I have tried vinegar and bicarb but I felt that it doubled my workload, had to wipe twice, so I feel the same as you.

So far I am using EcoStore laundry powder and EcoStore oxygen whitener (Napisan substitute) and I am very happy with them. They are NZ made - DH is a Kiwi so we have a bit of a bias towards NZ products in this household. I'm using Earth Choice floor cleaner, toilet cleaner and dishwashing liquid - also happy with these.

I am using Method all purpose spray and Method glass cleaner and these also work really well and smell lovely.

For personal care, I am using Miessence shampoo and conditioner on me and the kids, and the kids also have Miessence body wash. For a hair conditioning deep treatment I use virgin organic coconut oil on my hair...just leave on for a couple of hours then wash. DH and I use EcoStore soap. I use Nature BabyCare wipes on DD, and Simmons PawPaw salve for a nappy barrier cream (the one in the red pot is petroleum-jelly based). I am using 100% cotton tampons (lots of female sanitary products have man made fibres in them, Jellybean posted a scary thread on this a few weeks ago, I will try and find it).

It's actually quite addictive, once you start, and you read and learn more, it kind of takes on a life of its own LOL.

[Floweryfields]

I use Vin-a-vin cleaning vinegar, good for lots of stuff, floors, benches, etc.

[danniellabella]

I've just started using a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water (about a cup of each) in a spray bottle to replace a general cleaner such as spray & wipe. I find it works really well, often better than the commercial brands (don't use it on timber though).
for stubborn stains, like burnt on stains on the stove, I use my solution and sprinkle some bicarb, use a scourer and some elbow grease and it comes up just as good if not better than a cream cleanser. I do have some other natural cleaning recipes but they're at home and I'm at work. I also haven't tried them yet so I can't say how effective they are.