Thursday, March 17, 2005
Clean House, Clean Planet
One of the lists I'm on, minimalisticliving, is talking about the merits/not-so-good aspects of bleach, which led to a discussion of alternative cleaning products.
I wrote to the list, suggesting the book you'll see to your right: Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. She has recipes, tips, tricks, step-by-step cleaning and care instructions, and she even does a cost analysis (how much her homemade things cost in comparison to the conventional commercial cleaners).
I read a lot and don't recommend books lightly, but this one was good enough that I use it regularly. Some of the recipes are really basic and not all that "alternative" (e.g. dish soap and water for ant control) and some are pretty creative, yet use things you can easily find (e.g. scented baking sodas). She has spot removers, rust removers, window cleaners, air fresheners, carpet cleaners, metal polishes, oven cleaners, disinfectants and a bunch of other things.
She also talks about the environmental shortcomings of the chemicals we usually use, and provides input on how to be a bit "greener." For example, she suggests cutting the amount of laundry detergent you use, saying that the manufacturers average the amount needed, and that those who have soft water will need much less. She even has a test to do to see if you have soap stuck in your clothes.
This was a book a "green" professional housecleaner recommended to me and which I took out of the library over and over until I finally bought it! If this info was helpful, and you want to buy the book, there's a link to the right that will help you do so. (I'm an Amazon.com affiliate and it helps me support declutterbug if you order it through that link!)
I wrote to the list, suggesting the book you'll see to your right: Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. She has recipes, tips, tricks, step-by-step cleaning and care instructions, and she even does a cost analysis (how much her homemade things cost in comparison to the conventional commercial cleaners).
I read a lot and don't recommend books lightly, but this one was good enough that I use it regularly. Some of the recipes are really basic and not all that "alternative" (e.g. dish soap and water for ant control) and some are pretty creative, yet use things you can easily find (e.g. scented baking sodas). She has spot removers, rust removers, window cleaners, air fresheners, carpet cleaners, metal polishes, oven cleaners, disinfectants and a bunch of other things.
She also talks about the environmental shortcomings of the chemicals we usually use, and provides input on how to be a bit "greener." For example, she suggests cutting the amount of laundry detergent you use, saying that the manufacturers average the amount needed, and that those who have soft water will need much less. She even has a test to do to see if you have soap stuck in your clothes.
This was a book a "green" professional housecleaner recommended to me and which I took out of the library over and over until I finally bought it! If this info was helpful, and you want to buy the book, there's a link to the right that will help you do so. (I'm an Amazon.com affiliate and it helps me support declutterbug if you order it through that link!)
# posted by wen @ 1:23 PM 
