**Haven’t heard of the Household Organization Diet? Check out this post first**
Since we are going to be doing a lot of cleaning during this little project we need to get our cleaning supplies ready! If you are wondering how to organize your cleaning supplies and want to move towards more “green” cleaning, here are some tips for you!
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A few years ago, I started to make a switch to more “green” cleaning products and was amazed at how many cleaning products I had around my home – so much wasted money and unnecessary chemicals! I threw away A LOT of products out and, honestly, have not missed any of them.
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A few years ago, I started to make a switch to more “green” cleaning products and was amazed at how many cleaning products I had around my home – so much wasted money and unnecessary chemicals! I threw away A LOT of products out and, honestly, have not missed any of them.
Although I now use a lot of vinegar and baking soda for my cleaning, there are still a few products that I buy:
- Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner. I think I buy this just because I am in LOVE with the lemon verbena scent! I buy the big concentrated bottle and then make up little spray bottles for different areas of the house {mostly the bathrooms so I can clean on the go!}. I have had it for about a year now and still have at least half of the bottle left. Not bad for $8!
- Dish washing soap. I also usually use the Mrs. Meyers brand for this as well but try a few other brands every now and then. In addition to using it for dishes, I use it for clothing stains and mix it up with some baking soda and water for a nice cleaning paste.
- Norwexmicro pads {similar to the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers} There are probably hundreds of usesfor these but I use them mostly for cleaning my glass top stove, removing scuff marks from the walls and floor, removing marks from leather and cleaning my plastic containers {especially those tomato stains!}. Basically if I have a mark or stain I can’t remove from anything, I try it.
- Norwex laundry detergent. I love this stuff and, especially if you have a front loader machine, it lasts forever! It has also cured my washing machine of its’ stink!
- Norwex Sanira System toilet cleaner. This is definitely a pricey initial investmentbut, with a house filled with boys, I do not want ot skimp on the toilet cleaner! Again this lasts forever and is so quick and easy to use since the cleaner is built right into the brush. It’s my one cleaning splurge!
I will be talking about more specific products and mixtures that I use as we go through this challenge but first we need to get rid of what we don’t need and set up a basic cleaning kit. Here’s what you need to do:
- Go through all of your cleaning products {look in bathrooms, closets, and under those kitchen sinks!}. Get rid of what you don’t use and minimizethose chemical cleaning products as much as possible. Be ruthless!! If it doesn’t serve a multi-purpose think twice. Remember that baking soda and vinegar will pretty much clean anything! {FYI: here’s a list I found with some of the worst cleaning products in America}
- Get some kind of portable cleaning storage container. It can be a bucket, basket, plastic bin – whatever you would like! You probably even have something around the house that you can use. Store all of your basic cleaning supplies here.
- Find some spray bottles – I have ones for water, vinegar and water {1:1 mix}, as well as the Mrs. Meyers all purpose cleaner that I use. Make sure you clearly label them. Keep a few in your basic cleaning kit and then put some other ones around the house in areas that need more frequent cleaning {like the bathrooms} so you can do quick clean ups on the go!
- Assemble the rest of your cleaning supplies.
Okay, so here’s what I have in my bucket:
- Spray bottles – I label all of my spray bottles and also have them color coded. Blue is for pure water, green is for natural cleaners {my vinegar and water}, and red is for my all purpose cleaner.
- Baking Soda– In addition to a big box that I keep in my cleaning cupboard, I also have a little shaker bottle that I keep in my cleaning bucket. {You can read more about some of the cleaning powers of baking soda here.} Just sprinkle some on whatever you are cleaning and add a little water to make a great cleaning paste!
- Toothbrushes – Great for cleaning in all of those little spaces!
- Microfiber Cloths – I use Norwex brand {you can read more about them here} but there are lots of other brands out there as well. To get the most out of your cloths make sure you launder them with other lint free items and do not use any kind of fabric softener on them.
- Norwex Micro Pads {or the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers} – These are great for many things but I use them the most on my glass top stove. So easy to remove stains and burned on grime! {EDIT: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers do contain formaldehyde so stick with the Norwex pads or other non-toxic brands if you are looking to reduce chemicals}
- Norwex Window Cloth – This is by far my most well used cleaning supply! I no longer use any window or glass cleaner – just this cloth and water. I also use it for cleaning my stainless steel appliances, polishing up taps, and polishing up the glass top on our stove. You can also use a vinegar/water mix to clean your windows and other glass surfaces as well.
- Scotch Brite Scrubber – Just add water and vinegar to this for a quick and easy way to scrub down the shower and bath tub.
So what’s in your bucket? Any great cleaning supply tips to share? Leave your thoughts below!
The Household Organization Diet will officially begin on Monday, so make sure you have your cleaning supplies stocked up and your binder ready.
Let’s get organized for 2013!!!
You can find my updated cleaning binder HERE.
Not familiar with The Household Organization Diet? Start with this post first to learn what it is all about! To easily find all of the posts from the Household Organization Diet, just click on The Household Organization Diet under the Get Organized tab on the menu bar at the top of the blog. You can also follow along with me on Pinterest and find all of the posts on my Household Organization Diet Board. Let’s get organized together!
I need to get that toilet bowl cleaner. My toilets never seem to stay clean and I’m constantly spending money on supplies.
Vinegar and water is my go to cleaner for just about everything. I also use bon ami as a scrubbing powder when baking soda doesn’t seem to work. It is awesome on burnt on food on pyrex glass dishes!
Binder ready:) cleaning under the sinks tomorrow!
gonna head off to get these!! I also love the Mrs. Meyers products!!
I am a little behind ALREADY!!! I only just arranged my binder. I am in Australia and I found the beautiful Martha Stewart folder at OfficeWorks. All my old binders look awful, so a new one was a necessity! Ha ha, that’s what I told my husband anyway. Cleaning products….off to sort in the morning!
Hi there! I just found this today and will be jumping on board – so happy to know there are other people working on this this year 🙂 My FAVORITE shower cleaner is 1 cup vinegar with 1 cup dishwashing liquid – keep in a spray bottle, spray it on your shower (glass door and everything) and let it sit while you clean the rest of the bathroom. Then you just have to wipe the shower down with a wet cloth. It’s absolutely AMAZING!!!
Well I am jumping in today as well. On a very tight budget so I had to modify a bit. Using an accordion binder for now till I can buy my binder and tabs. Also going to finish using up all my old cleaning supplies then go and get the wonderful list here.
Wow! this is definitely the most thorough green cleaning post I have ever read. I am impressed. I had heard of Norwex, but was hesitant b/c of the price. But if I do not have to buy Mr. Clean Magic Erasers anymore then I am sold!
Hey great stuff, thank you for sharing this useful information about cleaning products…thank you very much..
Best Green Cleaning Products
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! This post has been the answer to my organizational dreams! 😀
When do you use the vinegar/water combination vs the Mrs. Meyers cleaner?
I mostly just use them interchangeably but use the Mrs. Meyers when I want the scent. Either works. 🙂
Thank you! I’ve got my cleaning tote ready to go because of you! And thanks for responding to this year old post. 🙂
I really enjoyed this! Where can I find a container like the one you’re using for the baking soda? I love it.
It’s actually just a salt shaker that I picked up at the dollar store. I just added the label to it using some vinyl that I cut out on my silhouette machine. Thanks for dropping by!
Thank you!
Hi Jenn,
Thanks for this post! I do have a question though. What would you suggest for laminate flooring in my kitchen? I have a Swiffer that I use on it but I am wanting to do something different. I was thinking I should use the Mrs. Meyer all purpose in hot water but I don’t know what I should use to mop. Just simply a mop or should I buy some type of micro fiber cloth? Sorry if these are silly questions but I am new at the “green cleaning” stuff. 🙂
Thanks!
The best thing to use to freshen a front load washing machine instead of the expensive pucks you can buy?
I never use those pucks. Here’s my tutorial for cleaning a front loader…
https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/2013/09/how-to-clean-your-washing-machine.html
Hope that helps!