A market for affordable, chemical-free cleaning products

[Jessica25]

I'm very interested in this as its part of the research I have been undertaking on my blog (just google ecocornwall as I can't post the link). I'm actually undertaking a project at the moment to replace my cleaning products with more environmentally friendly cleaners from Ecover, the Co-op etc, and have been in contact with companies such as Enjo who make products that use a special micro-fibre and only need water to activate them. The main problem I have is with the cost, as eco-friendly cleaners tend to be quite expensive, and I wonder if anyone has heard of firms that sell cheaper ones. Any thoughts fellow greenies?

[Nellie Anderson]

Share your budget with us. How much are you willing to spend.

[Punched]

I'm very interested in this as its part of the research I have been undertaking on my blog (just google ecocornwall as I can't post the link). I'm actually undertaking a project at the moment to replace my cleaning products with more environmentally friendly cleaners from Ecover, the Co-op etc, and have been in contact with companies such as Enjo who make products that use a special micro-fibre and only need water to activate them. The main problem I have is with the cost, as eco-friendly cleaners tend to be quite expensive, and I wonder if anyone has heard of firms that sell cheaper ones. Any thoughts fellow greenies?

Aparently Vinegar is pretty cool for cleaning at only 39p for 500ml, We could stick "eco" on the label and flog it for £2.99

and i've even come up with a Brand Name "ECOSCAM"

To shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.

Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.

Deodorize and clean the garbage disposal with white distilled vinegar ice cubes. Make them by freezing full-strength white distilled vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.

Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar.

Avoid the bad smell when you heat up a newly cleaned oven by using a sponge soaked in diluted white distilled vinegar for the final rinse.

To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.

To prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals, wash then spray with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Give the glasses a hot water rinse before letting them dry or drying them with a towel.

[Indizine]

I will be buying white distilled vinegar and baking soda in my Tesco shop today!

[Punched]

I will be buying white distilled vinegar and baking soda in my Tesco shop today!

I think people are getting a bit fed up paying over inflated prices when ideas like grandma used to use are coming back and people actually reliase there was life before all this eco hype.

Just do a google on Vinegar and Baking soda and you'll come up with some great cleaning ideas and SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CHEAPPPPPPPP!!!!!!! :-)

[iaynm]

Another vote of approval for vinegar here - it works extremely well and it's cheap as the chips you can put it on.

Most of my cleaning around the house manages well with hot water, and the most effective cleaning product known to man - elbow grease.

Many jobs that are advertised as requiring chemical treatments will clean up with mechanical treatments instead. You can get a box of metal scourers (like wire-wool stuff) for £1 and they each last about 6 months. Nothing can resist their cleaning power.

Just don't use them on delicate surfaces. For cleaning kitchen appliances you can't beat them, though.