Green and Frugal Cleaning: Laundry Soap Options

Passionate Homemaking is one of the many blogs I follow and enjoy. She has many great tips on natural alternatives to cleaners and personal care products. She's recently posted about a new liquid laundry detergent made from Soap Nuts.

I'm a "newbie" when it comes to going green (yes, I started recycling just this year) so this soap is completely new to me. I've read about Charlie's Soap, Dr. Bonner's Soap, and homemade laundry soap so far.

I've switched over to the Arm & Hammer liquid soap until I get this all figured out. I've always washed in cold and would like to continue. I'll certainly give this new soap a try and will blog about what laundry soap I've found to be the best.

Green and Frugal Cleaning: Vinegar

Wise Bread is one of my favourite sites for green and frugal tips. I read their article "30 Household Products Vinegar Can Replace".

I already use vinegar and water to clean my windows, tile and shower doors. I'm so pleased to now have a full list (and recipies) of other great uses! Who knew you could use it to remove the onion smell from your hands, be used to remove grass stains from cloths, treat acne, or as a window defroster in your car?

Vinegar is cheap (2 pack of 1gallon jugs $3.38 at Sam's Club), easy to find, doesn't have harmful fumes or harsh chemicals and it's a GREAT cleaner (nothing else would get my shower doors clean or my bathroom mirrors streak free!).

It's also not harmful to our septic tank or our 3 year old son, who loves holding the spray bottle to help mommy clean! For health questions about vinegar, go to the National Institutes of Health.