Finding Balance, With Cleaning Solutions

Zen Like Balance Demonstrated

Weeks ago, I posted about the Environmental Working Groups’s Safe Cleaning Database.  Surprisingly, most of my cleaning products were rated poorly. Oh, and if you are wondering – I really did upgrade my cleaners to better choices.

Now, my big no-no areas were the dishwasher detergent and laundry detergent I was using.  So, with the guidance of the Environmental Working Group, I upgraded to Seventh Generation dry dishwasher detergent and I started using Dr. Bronners soap for the laundry.  (Disclaimer – there are other more standard choices for laundry soap that are rated well but my girls tend to break out into eczema so I decided to go as plain as possible). 

I love hate to brag, but the rest of my cleaning was green before and is still quite green.  I have found love with using vinegar and water as an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant.  I am free of having to smell bleach fumes.  Also, I love the Bon Ami cleaner for bathroom surfaces.

However, I started to realize that I wasn’t going to get a complete A+ on the green cleaner plight.

So, we have really, really hard water coming from our well and that can be a pain in the tookus with certain things cleaning-wise.  The Seventh Generation dish detergent did well for a few weeks but ultimately did not keep the glasses from looking spotty.  Also, a brown haze began to show on our coffee cups after a few weeks.

So, here is where I give completely up on the green cleaner?

Nope.

I deciced that ultimately, I do need some harsh detergent.  However, I don’t need it for every single wash.  The Seventh Generation works fine most of the time but every now and then I need to do a week or so of the harsher stuff.

Also with my laundry, Dr. Bronner’s soap will clean my clothes just fine but it is just plain soap so there aren’t any whitening agents.  Eventually whites will get dingy when washed with plain soap.  So, I find some balance in washing my whites in the Tide Free and Clear .  I wash all of the darks, towels, undies and socks in the Dr. Bronners soaps.  I actually have more loads that I wash with the Dr. Bronners than with the Tide, so most of the time I am being good to the environment.

Okay, I suppose  I could just buck-up and not care about dingy whites or spotty and/or brownish glass residue.  But, I am weak.

I would estimate that others are weak too, so that’s why I’m writing this.

…you’re welcome.

Anyway – my point being, maybe it isn’t always possible to commit yourself to the greenest cleaner available.  However, mostly using the greener cleaner and bringing the harsher cleaner once in awhile is a good way that I have found balance in my cleaning routine.

What are your favorite green cleaners?  What areas have you had to use harsh cleaners?  Could you find balance?