When my cat Sparky got cancer almost 4 years ago, I became very conscious of the cleaning products I was using because she’d walk on the floors and then lick her paws. Now that I’m a parent, I’m even more conscious of the cleaning products I use because everything goes into babies’ mouths!
I’ve tried a lot of green cleaning products over the years and tend to like most items from Seventh Generation, Method, and Mrs. Meyers, but these are my current favorites!
1. Magic Jetz Scrubz – I am seriously in love with this sponge. It’s the best one I’ve ever used in my life! I have the plain black one, but I just found out that it’s also available in fun lemon, apple, and watermelon shapes too!
2. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser – This thing really is magic and can get out just about anything. I bust it out whenever I have a tough stain in the fridge, oven or microwave. And of course it’s great at removing kiddie stains like crayons too!
4. Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap – Whenever I wash out things like our trashcans or litterbox in our backyard, I need something with some scent to it. I like to use this organic, biodegradable product because I don’t have to worry when it runs off into our grass. It’s a great multi-purpose cleaning product that you can use for just about anything, including soap and shampoo!
5. Method Free and Clear Laundry Detergent – For a long time I was a loyal fan of Seventh Generation’s Free and Clear Laundry Detergent, but it started becoming harder to purchase online. So when we recently ran out, I gave this Method detergent a try and I was in love. The bottle is tiny because it’s ultra concentrated, which makes it easier to use and it creates less waste!
6. Method Sea Minerals Foaming Hand Wash – I love foaming hand soaps and I love this scent.
7. Method Clementine Dish Soap – Method has slowly been converting me! I love citrus scented dish soaps, and maybe it’s just the design of Method’s pumps that do it for me, but I love me this dish soap. Seventh Generation’s Lemongrass and Clementine Zest is also a nice dish soap at a slightly lower price point.
8. Haan Steam Mop – Of all the cleaning products in my arsenal, this is hands down my favorite. It gets your floors spic and span using only the power of steam! That’s as green as you can get! I previously had a Eureka Steam Mop which was also great, but it broke down after only a year of use.
9. Vinegar – Good old vinegar is my cleaning product of choice for daily use. I wipe surfaces with it, I clean toys with it, I do everything with it. The vinegar smell disappears very quickly, but it actually doesn’t bother me at all.
10. Baking soda – Baking soda is also another great natural cleaner. I use it most to maintain my drains. Fill your kitchen drain with a cup of baking soda, and pour 2 cups of hot vinegar. Then run the hot water into the drain for a minute or two. Do this once a week to maintain a clear drain.
11. Biokleen Bac-Out – I am seriously an expert at getting out the smell of cat pee, and this stuff works wonders. I’ve heard it’s also great for cloth diapers too! It has a pleasant smell and is awesome at combating even the toughest odors.
What are some of your favorite cleaning products?
Gear Guides part 4 of 14
1. Best Stylish High Chairs by Guides2. Sleep Sacks by Guides
3. Best Baby Slings by Guides
4. Mrs. Bee's Favorite Cleaning Products by Guides
5. Best Potties by Guides
6. Best Soft Structured Carriers by Guides
7. Best Swaddle Blankets by Guides
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14. Best Hand Creams by Guides
apricot / 260 posts
Must remember Bac-Out. Thanks. Oh and the steam mop, that may be my husband’s bday present.
persimmon / 1255 posts
Great list, we use Costco’s Kirkland free & clear laundry detergent with bounce free & clear dryer sheets. No complaints but i might try the Method brand since i do like their hand soaps.
Thanks for the baking soda/sink tip
pomegranate / 3008 posts
We use Bac Out for spilled food, baby spit up, cloth diapers, dog messes, etc. Our doggie daycare uses Bio Kleen products as well since it is safe for the animals to be around.
I’m interested to try out that sponge. It’s on my amazon wishlist now so I can remember it.
kiwi / 500 posts
I love my Haan steam mop too! I was skeptical at first but one mop and the floors felt like were new! I love that it’s multi surface too!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
I use vinegar a lot too. I actually love the smell. Luckily it doesn’t linger though, because my husband hates it. The Bac Out sounds interesting, I’ll have to pick some up. I’m super paranoid about our smelling weird.
pomegranate / 3716 posts
Great list! I really love how you lay out all your images, so purty!!
guest
Love the method Products. My daughter in law just got me into using vinegar as well! I will be sure to try some of your other ideas.
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
cherry / 114 posts
I’m going to have to pick up that mop! Thanks for the great list.
pomelo / 5628 posts
I love Method too…the grapefruit flavored hand soap is my favorite! They made a body wash for awhile too, but sadly it doesn’t seem to exist anymore.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
Awesome, I have been looking for new dishwashing tablets. I will definitely try those!
For the Method laundry detergent, I see in the photo that it says 25 loads. Do you find that you can get more loads or do you get about 25?
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@Andrea: i’m still on my first bottle. you only put in 4 squirts though, so it seems like you get a lot out of loads out of that little bottle.
grape / 90 posts
I totally agree with sweetchic and how you lay out your images, Bee! This is an awesome list. So many useful tips and products.
Does that steam mop work on wood floors too? I couldn’t find anything on the amazon site.
I’m also adding that sponge and Dr Bronner’s soap to my Amazon cart. I can’t believe that soap has so many uses~amazing! Baking soda and vinegar makes a natural Drano? Wow… My kitchen sink has been clogging. I’m going to have to try that. How do u heat up the vinegar? Microwave?
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@milkteaandpolkadots: yes the mop works on wood floors too!
i heat up the vinegar in the microwave. you can do it once a week to maintain a clean drain. after you pour the vinegar, run hot water for a minute or two. i’ll update my post to reflect that!
grape / 90 posts
@Mrs. Bee: Thanks!!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I love anything dry swiffer, those products are great for dusting and cleaning the floors before you wet clean.
For wet cleaning floors, I use a bit of essential oil in my water/baking soda brew. So easy and you don’t have that lingering vinegar smell.
grape / 81 posts
what about cleaning the bathroom/bath tub? I need help in this dept. Tilex works great but would like to use a more natural alternative.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@Mama Ek: i haven’t given this a try but it looks promising:
http://www.amazon.com/BabyGanics-Scrub–Cleaner-Unscented-Fluid/dp/B0046HK2JC/ref=sr_1_12?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1322799011&sr=1-12
i like their stain remover for laundry.
this is what we use: http://www.amazon.com/Method-Cleaner-Eucalyptus-28-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B000EEZAZW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1322799096&sr=1-1
kiwi / 718 posts
oh say it ain’t so about the eureka! that’s the one that we have right now, so *knock on wood* that it holds up better than yours did
I’ll be bookmarking that one y’all use now, though, just in case.
thanks so much for the recommendation for the dishwasher eco-tablets – I’ll definitely be ordering those to try out.
other than the dishwasher stuff, though, I’ve been replacing my old products with stuff that I make as it’s run out. lots of vinegar, baking soda, & castile soap! dr. bronner’s is definitely great.
grape / 90 posts
What do you mostly use the Dr Bronner’s soap for?