In the list of things I don't buy on yesterdays post I mentioned that I don't buy many branded cleaning products.
My cleaning things are these below.
For the few bits of washing up that I do in the sink I still have some Ecover Washing up liquid - in the 5 litre container that's very well travelled as it's lasted years. I decant into a small bottle for the kitchen windowsill. The spray bottle is window cleaner which is white vinegar, washing up liquid and filtered water.
Beside the spray bottle is Ecover general purpose cleaner which I use on the floors. Only a little is needed so it lasts ages.
The big tub back right is soda washing crystals that I use in the washing machine along with a Smol capsule. The soda gets rid of any smells and keeps the machine clean too. I've now cancelled my Smol subscription as they've started charging for packaging and delivery. I'll be trying another eco-friendly manufacturer next time I need some.
In front of the tub of soda crystals is my kitchen salt, used to scrub my wooden chopping board and to put down the kitchen sink plughole sometimes - with boiling water.
The dishwasher tabs are in the box in the centre, again I've just cancelled my subscription and will be trying Ocean Saver company or going back to Ecover.
In the pottery tub standing on the Smol laundry tab box is bicarb (bought in bulk) which I use as a mild abrasive for cleaning sink and wash basins.
The other things that I use are dishwasher salt as it's such a hard water area, Harpic loo cleaner ditto the hard water - nothing else I've tried works. Sometimes I use Oust limescale remover stuff recommended for cleaning the coffee machine. (You know you live in a hard-water area when water left in a glass leaves a ring of scale after just a couple of days!)
Now and again I have to buy some vicious drain un-clogger for the en-suite basin as the builders used a right angle drain to take the waste out through the wall and I don't think it slopes enough. Too complicated and too late to do anything about it now - the company are no longer in business!
I'm sure some will think this is still too many bought products, but it suits me.
Thanks everyone for comments - family here - so apologies for not replying to comments....bit busy.
A good selection of environmentally friendly products, so much better than a lot of people do. I'm also cancelling smol, although I don't know what I will switch to yet. Alan uses Fairy products which I'm not that keen on, I think I need to do some research as we will be sharing once we move.
ReplyDeleteI use lemon juice to clean my meat chopping boards. Wish I could get washing soda locally but no-one seems to stock it any more.
ReplyDeleteWe also have to use a vicious drain unblocker periodically. After we had a horrible drain issue the company who came to sort it out said soda crystals were fine to use sometimes but we really needed the big guns every now and then because we have very old drains outside the house and they weren't built for the amount of waste they have to cope with in modern times.
ReplyDeleteTrying hard to find eco products inside for a reasonable price.
Penny
Enjoy your family time. We have hard water too. I use Melitta descaler tablets in my coffee machine.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many customers Smol have lost with the high postage costs? I've cancelled my subscription too.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your family.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Suffolk, with the hard water, a hardware store in Framlingham sold us a plug in magnetic thing that you wrapped around the water main where it came in. Ours was conveniently by the kitchen sink. I was sceptical but as it wasn't expensive, prepared to try it. To my surprise it made a huge difference. It was the sort of thing I always wished Which? would test instead of mega expensive systems that required salt subcriptions but of course they never did.
ReplyDeleteAfter many years with a septic system, I'm an Ecover girl all the way. 😁
I think your cleaning products are sensible, I seem to be building up too many again and on the whole I don’t think the fancy bought stuff is very effective and we all know, not great for the environment
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I have hard well water too. Scaling shows up readily. I use vinegar and baking soda to remove scale, and it works well.
ReplyDeleteFor the laundry, I use Tide because my consumer reports rated it highly. I will look into Ecover as it seems well liked.
The last time I had the septic tank pumped, the guy said to not allow cooking oils and butter to go down the drains as they clog things up over time. I now thoroughly wipe all oil/butter out of pans before they go in to the dishwasher.
Enjoy your time with family. Family fun sounds so good.
We also have hard water, and I'm using dishwasher salt. I also like Harpic loo cleaner. I also buy Cif scrub, Windowlene and Pledge, but I think that's about it. Oh, and Viakal for the shower.
ReplyDeleteI am as Eco-friendly as I can manage, but I'm stumped on how to keep the shower grout clean. It goes black and gungy after such a short time. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteOnly tip is to dry it off as best you can after each use. Plus use an extractor in the room so that it doesn't stay a warm and wet atmosphere. It's certainly a challenge to stop shower seal mould. 😕
DeleteWow really good. I must admit I am not good on the cleaning products. I could do a lot better
ReplyDelete