Minneapolis/St. Paul Nesties
nicole0066
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Kiz - Green cleaning question
I remember seeing that you were going to start making your own "green" cleaning agents.
What recipes did you use? Do you use one recipe for everything or did you make different one's for different areas of the house? I try to avoid harsh chemicals anyways, but I feel like I would rather just make my own. Have you done any other "green" switches that you recommend?
I thought I'd ask here first since the Green Giving board seems overwhelming since I'm just starting out.....there's just waaaaaaay too many recipes for me to decide on one 
Re: Kiz - Green cleaning question
Hi!
So far I've just made one all-purpose cleaner that has worked well for cleaning the kitchen and bathroom for everyday cleaning. I haven't tackled anything super gross yet like a dirty oven or grimy bathtub...
I read a lot of recipes online and in the end just kind of concocted my own from a jumble of recipes that I remembered. I got a spray bottle at Target and filled it with half water, half distilled white vinegar, and about a tablespoon of Dr. Bronner's soap (which is not found by the regular soap but actually in the cosmetics area.) It doesn't smell that great because of the vinegar but the smell dissipates after awhile. Shake up the bottle and voila!
For hand soap I ordered one of these soap foamers from Amazon. I mixed up 2/3 water with 1/3 Dr. Bronner's and then a dash of Mrs. Meyer's soap to give it a bit of a smell since I use the unscented Dr. Bronners.
We are using up a Costco sized bottle of Tide we have and then we'll look into greener laundry options. I did order from Natural Nellie's Dryer Balls to take the place of chemical-laden bounce sheets.
I think that is everything for now... I'm slowly but surely adding more to our "green arsenal". :-)
here is one more that I use...hope Kiz doesn't mind me hijacking the post. For windows I just use the vinegar and water also, and use the purple cloth from Norwex. I have never had less streaks in my life!!
Anyway, here is my dusting one. With my asthma, so many of the chemicals burn the lungs so much easier and this works GREAT! I actually use a kitchen spritzer that you find in the utensils section of target, wal-mart or where ever you generally shop.
Homemade Dusting Spray
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
3 cups water
Pour all three ingredients into an empty spray bottle. Shake well and spritz on furniture. Wipe with an old cotton t-shirt. Done!
If you feel like you're missing out on a lemony scent, you can chop a lemon and drop it into a small saucepan of simmering water. Feel free to also toss in a few springs of rosemary and your home will smell naturally fresh!
I use baking soda to scour the sinks, tubs, oven and for everything that needs a good deep cleaning that vinegar won't work for. Love it! Plus it doesn't smell like vinegar (but I've used vinegar for years and you get used to the smell. If you use the chemical cleaners, you'll notice a difference when you breathe them in).
For my vinegar mix - I do 3/4 vinegar, 1/4 water, a good squeeze of dish soap (seventh generation) and then tea tree essential oil.
I haven't tried making laundry soap yet, but I use either Mrs. Meyers or Seventh Generation - whatever I can find at Target, Cub or Rainbow that is eco-friendly.
People have recommended Ecos which can be found at Costco. We might try that next.
You really can't go wrong with the "recipes" of cleaners. Everything is all natural and won't hurt your house (or you!).
The first time I used my cleaner I was very careful not to get it on my hands, out of habit, but then realized that I could EAT it and would be fine. (Dr. Bronner's says it can be used as a toothpaste but I'm personally reluctant to do that.) It's hard to kick old habits but it feels so great when you do! :-)
Photo taken at 16 months old