What's Your Favorite Cleaning Agent?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Re: What's Your Favorite Cleaning Agent?

My most used cleaning agent is dish detergent.

I use it for washing the car (just rinse well), cleaning the tile and linoleum floors, cleaning the greasy vent-ahood over the stove (full strength), washing the throw rugs outside with the garden hose, scrubbing out garden pots and cell packs for reuse (if I use anything more than water), washing the windows (yep, works just fine), scrubbing the limestone porch, rinsing out the dirt collected on black nylon window screens, cleaning the handthrown ceramic bird bath, wiping down the scrubbable paint walls, and scrubbing the concrete basement floors. I use it diluted in my car's windshield cleaner reservoir, sometimes with a bit of isopropyl alcohol added. I keep a similar solution in a spray bottle in the shower as one of those quick, each-time-shower, spray cleaners. Heck I even wash dishes with it.

There are other cleaners I really like that have all been mentioned here, but dish detergent is #1.

[Fern]

Re: What's Your Favorite Cleaning Agent?

My most used cleaning agent is dish detergent.

I use it for washing the car (just rinse well),

I've heard you should never use it to wash your car, it can damage the finish.

[flash]

Re: What's Your Favorite Cleaning Agent?

DeSolv-it by OrangeSol (enviro friendly and works WOW)

Corelle cleaner. Doesn't scratch anything, and I've even used it to get an exploded ball point ink pen out of a dryer (DH ran it through and it soaked through the paint).

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Too expensive, but it works SO well.

[maxie.alioto]

I use cheap white vinegar for everything. I use it for floors, counters, , my laundry, the stove, stubborn things baked on to dishes... everything. When the smell gets to me (like in my laundry, for example) I throw in a cap full of lavender oil.

[9symphony9]

I use just water and a cloth for getting dust off of most things.

[PetMom]

Linoleum floors (fake woodwork pattern) makes floor clean up much easier - carpets need more things - even bought a carpet cleaner machine - and special detergents needed for it, the spot treatment foam cleaner, carpet fresh products.

We put in this flooring and it is pet and kid friendly.

My personal favorites:

Cotton rags (don't need paper towels - big savings) but do wash rags in hot water.

White vinegar - for windows.

Scrub brush with dishwash soap for scouring sinks and tubs.

Cheap rubbing alcohol for some disinfecting.

Lemons for lemon juice, just a squirt needed, wipe down the counters or other surfaces.

Olive oil and lemon juice on a mildly damp rag for furniture polishing.

No use for those plug ins and deodorizers and scented sprays.

[Snave]

I have 2 that we can't live without. The first is a bar of laundry soap for that is like 99 cents at Wal Mart. It is called Fels Napatha and it is unbelievable at getting stains out. It is the only thing that can get the clay/dirt stains out of our son's baseball uniforms. You can look it up online for other uses. The second is barkeepers friend. We use this on our glass shower doors to remove the water stains. Don't scrub too hard b/c it is gritty and can cut the glass if you go crazy. But, it is the only thing we found to remove those hard water stains. Fantastic and has made our shower doors look new.

[Momma23]

I have a solution for the person asking how to get out pit stains....mix 2 parts hydorgen peroxide with 1 part dawn dish washing liquid. Apply to stain and let sit about 5 mins...then scrub with an old toothbrush and launder as usual. You may have to do this a couple of times depending on the stain.

[SavingSweetOneL]

Ib love this question.

I use Dr. Bronner's soap. For about $25-$35 dollars for a quart, it will last me 2-3 years. Just a few drops on a wet cloth, works wonders. Cleans everything.

Oxyclean. Love it for my laundry. Try it on the arm pit stains. Try Dr. Bronner's on the arm pit stains. For laundry detergent I use 7th Generation. Just me and my small loads, a box lasts me 4 or more months.

I use cleaning tools sold from "The Clean Team". Best tools ever!!! People end up asking me where I get them from.

I use a "Flylady" duster. I've had it for years.

And, all of these things are good for the planet, and clean effectively.

SweetOneL