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Lauri B
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| Posted: April 24 2008 at 7:42am | IP Logged
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Do any of you use natural or organic cleaners that clean well and leave the house smelling lovely and clean? My youngest has an absolute phobia of chemical cleaning products, and is begging me to switch to all natural products for EVERYTHING, but I want something that will smell lovely and clean and actually *work*.
I like my house to smell and look really spanking!
I would dearly love your recommendations...
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 24 2008 at 8:23am | IP Logged
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I have used a plethora of things including vinegar and baking soda and castille soaps (Dr. Bronners) and Murphy's Oil Soap, and various natural detergents and automatic dishwasher soap. The book Organic Housekeeping is wonderful and has a ton of natural cleaning recipes, and I have friends who swear by the book Clean Home, Clean Planet (I think that's it).
Well, some friends encouraged me to go to a Shaklee presentation. They don't sell in stores. I resisted because of cost, etc... and because I had a lot of stuff on hand, but just recently, I bought their version of lots of stuff I needed.
I love it. It is nice having good quality products I don't have to think about from a company I trust.
Their cleaners are very concentrated. Their basic cleaner uses the same cleaner in three different spray bottles at various levels from a couple of drops for window cleaner, 1/4 teaspoon for all purpose, 1 1/2 for degreaser, and a couple tablspoons in a bucket for cars and outside heavy cleaning.
I got their scouring paste since oven cleaner and tilex type products scare me most, and it did wonders on my stove (I'm a messy cook).
It is just really nice and easy compared to the making your own thing (which works, too, but takes a bit more effort in figuring out what works for you).
Anyway, all that rambling to say I was skeptical about it at first and it took months and a free sample of their basic H multi-purpose cleaner before I finally ordered, but I would really recommend it. If you look at Shaklee's website or call, I'll bet that there is someone who sells it in your area.
I still use my regular natural laundry detergent (Charlie's Soap) since I do diapers, and it works so well, I'm afraid to try something new on them.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 24 2008 at 8:27am | IP Logged
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I just noticed you are in PA. Don't know which part, but my Shaklee rep is a super nice Catholic lady (her brother is a wonderful priest), and she is in West Chester. She would even talk to you over the phone if you had any questions and I had everything shipped right to my house. She believes in the company and is passionate about its products, but she isn't really pushy or anything. Lmk, if you would like her number.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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mama251ders
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| Posted: April 24 2008 at 12:23pm | IP Logged
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We LOVE Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products. Lovely smelling and all natural.
Blessings,
Betsie
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Wife to Oliver
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Benny, Braidon, Olivia, Anna and Saragh
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MichelleW
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| Posted: April 24 2008 at 1:51pm | IP Logged
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I just switched to Melaleuca products. They use tea tree oil as their main ingredient and they are all natural and organic and they WORK! I am very happy with them so far. I had tried other things, but they didn't seem to work as well as the chemically stuff, until I found Melaleuca.
Editing to add that Melaleuca is like a direct sales company in that you need someone to sign you up, but different in that forever after that you order your own products from the website and they come directly to you. This was useful to me, because the sales people for Mary Kay and Creative Memories and things like that are always starting and stopping, and then I have to go find another rep to buy from, etc. With this company I only needed a current customer to sign me up, and now I can get my own stuff directly from the company.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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TracyFD
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| Posted: April 26 2008 at 9:47pm | IP Logged
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We are happy with Seventh Generation products. I even let my kids use them and they clean their own bathroom!
One could always add some essential oils for more smell!
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Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
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gwendyt
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| Posted: April 28 2008 at 9:16am | IP Logged
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I second the vote for Shaklee. I've used others (7th generation, etc) from coops, stores..., but none have worked as well as the Shaklee. Once you're signed up (if you want the discount), you can do your ordering online and have it shipped directly to you anytime - you don't have to go through your rep. The Germicide (G) is especially good - I never have a smell in my bathroom or from the diaper pail that I notice in many other homes. The cost is right since they're concentrated - I know I spend less on cleaners than normal. The Laundry products are the only ones that don't seem to save me a whole lot (I've got too much laundry!!!  ) and are prob. my least favorite - although they've always worked fine. What's Charlie's soap? Never heard of it - where do you get that?
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Wendy
Married to DH Joe 18 yrs., 8 beautiful children - 2 girls, 6 boys (14,12,9,7,5,3,1,newbie born 3/1/2010)
A Little of This, A Little of That
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SusanJ
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| Posted: April 28 2008 at 10:24am | IP Logged
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I use a combination of Seventh Generation and homemade stuff. I'd never heard of Shaklee--maybe I'll check that out. I'm amazed at how well vinegar works--even on bathroom mildew--but sometimes I need something better.
I might try Charlie's Soaps. I used Allan's Naturally for awhile and liked it and then set out to find something less expensive. I tried the Seventh Generation laundry and its fine on our clothes but not good on the diapers so I think I need to go back or find something better.
I also really love Organic Housekeeping--great book on how to clean everything with little or no chemicals.
susan
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Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 28 2008 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
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I've ordered Charlie's soap online here. Now, my sister picks it up for me at her local natural parenting store, and I get a bunch when I'm visiting to save shipping.
I like that it doesn't smell like anything. The package says, "If you want flowers, go pick some." Then, when I line dry, everything just smells really fresh. I love this time of year for line drying!
If I wanted my clothes to smell, I think I would use this and then add a few drops of essential oil. Those smell "real" to me as opposed to Tide and such. Sometimes when we buy clothes second hand, the smell about knocks me over and makes my eyes water until I wash it a few times.
I'll have to try the germicide. I'm sure our diaper pail has smelled pretty funky at times!
My rep just sent me a pdf of their cost comparison chart. It is pretty astonishing the price savings compared to conventional cleaning products like 409, Windex, etc... Plus, all the packaging and the bottles you can buy are very aesthetic, lol. Its not necessary, of course, but its nice having "pretty" spray bottles out on my counter.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JennGM
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CrunchyMom wrote:
I've ordered Charlie's soap online here. Now, my sister picks it up for me at her local natural parenting store, and I get a bunch when I'm visiting to save shipping.
I like that it doesn't smell like anything. The package says, "If you want flowers, go pick some." Then, when I line dry, everything just smells really fresh. I love this time of year for line drying!
If I wanted my clothes to smell, I think I would use this and then add a few drops of essential oil. Those smell "real" to me as opposed to Tide and such. Sometimes when we buy clothes second hand, the smell about knocks me over and makes my eyes water until I wash it a few times. |
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Thanks for the tip about Charlie's. I agree about the heavily scented laundry soaps. It doesn't smell clean, just perfume cover up. I do buy a scented kind because it's what Costco has, but I'd prefer unscented. My mil uses one kind that I have to wash again several times to just be able to wear it without holding my breath.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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fsuadamson
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MichelleW wrote:
| I just switched to Melaleuca products. They use tea tree oil as their main ingredient and they are all natural and organic and they WORK! Melaleuca is like a direct sales company in that you need someone to sign you up... |
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If anyone is needing a representative I would love to help you out! We stumbled across this company while browsing online and immediately signed up to order products. They are AMAZING! I wrote up a detailed review on my blog here, and even professed my love for a clean smelling and looking house. 
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Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
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mathmama
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| Posted: Sept 16 2009 at 11:59am | IP Logged
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I just use baking soda, vinegar, a little Murphy's Oil Soap, castille soap and essential oils. Baking soda and vinegar do so much. The floor of my shower has been so bad. This morning I poured some vinegar on it, then baking soda and with minimal scrubbing it was all white again 
Beth
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Stephanie_Q
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Here is a recent string of posts about natural housecleaning on a blog that a friend told me about. Lots to read, there: Passionate Homemaking
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Stephanie dh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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Nina
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I love the Costco dishwashing liquid, I think it has grapefruit extract in it which is great on grease. I even use it on ceramic tile and cleaning the top of the stove. This stuff is better than the reg chemical soaps.
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fsuadamson
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Stephanie_Q wrote:
| Here is a recent string of posts about natural housecleaning on a blog that a friend told me about. Lots to read, there: Passionate Homemaking |
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This kind of stuff so excites me! Thanks for sharing.
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Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
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kingvozzo
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I have a book (Clean House Clean Planet) I love. It has wonderful recipes to replace all sorts of chemical commercial cleaners. She uses primarily baking soda, castille soap, vinegar, and water, with your choice of essential oils. She does recommend tea tree oil for certain uses (toilet cleaning).
I just made up a fresh batch, including her version of softsoap. I had never used it before and it was AMAZING! I rubbed some on my glass shower door a few minutes before i climbed in for my shower. I can't believe what a great job it does. And no worries about breathing in those fumes!
ETA: the name of the book 
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Noreen
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Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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Erin
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I wash my fridge with just water and a few drops of vanilla, the vanilla gives a nice smell. Other than that we don't do smells at all here.
Baking soda and vinegar are great too for all sorts of cleaning.
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Erin
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MarilynW
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We made the switch to all natural products a few years ago - and it did wonders for our health. But using Mrs Meyers and Seventh Gen was tough for our budget. Last year I started making my own products using the book Clean House Clean Planet - they work really really well. I make my own laundry soap using a kit from Virginia Soaps and Scents (but very easy to do using your own grated soap, borax and soda) BUT - I also keep Charlie's Soap for laundry for times (like right now) when I am so tired and making everything is a real chore. The only thing I have not succeeded in making is a good hand dishwash solution - I use Method or Seventh Generation. My backup bathroom cleaner is Method. I have written about homemade cleaners here
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Paula in MN
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Erin wrote:
I wash my fridge with just water and a few drops of vanilla, the vanilla gives a nice smell. Other than that we don't do smells at all here.
Baking soda and vinegar are great too for all sorts of cleaning. |
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We use baking soda and vinegar, too. I've never heard of adding the vanilla to water -- but I'll be trying it now!
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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lilac hill
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What about a more healthy replacement for bleach?
I use bleach to disinfect the water bottles (they get alot of use because we make our own seltzer and I do not want an off taste),to whiten laundry, and to remove stains from my kitchen sinks (not stainless or porcelain).
Thanks for the previous ideas for homemade cleanners.
BTW,use Charlie's here for laundry, works fine in my front loader and has no scent 
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Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: organic cleaners that really work?
