As a Bronner – yes, that Bronner – I’ve had my fair share of cleaning mishaps. One in particular stands out, forever etching itself in my memory. Picture this: I’m cleaning the outdoor furniture, lost in the task at hand, when suddenly I feel a presence behind me. I spin around, only to find my sturdy little two-year-old son, both hands clasped around the trigger of the 409, the nozzle planted firmly in his mouth.
The shock, the fear, the guilt, the anger – it all flooded through me in that moment, and my life took an unexpected turn. I frantically called Poison Control, but they were of little help, as ingredient disclosure wasn’t mandatory back then, and even now in 2022, it’s only mandated in a few states. With the advice to keep an eye on him and rush him to the ER if problems arose, my journey in green cleaning began.
From that near-miss, my top priority became finding products that cleaned effectively, yet with the least intensive means. I wanted to understand the ingredients, and ensure the fumes and residues wouldn’t harm me or those around me – even if they were misused by curious two-year-olds. Little did I know that this quest would not only keep my family safe, but also save me money and declutter my cleaning cabinet.
You see, I’ve learned that with just a few key players – Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap, Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner, baking soda, and distilled white vinegar – I can clean my entire house. And trust me, with kids, dogs, cats, and miscellaneous wildlife in and out, I face a lot of different messes daily.
The Power of Soap
Don’t underestimate the power of a pure, well-crafted soap, free from fillers, foamers, and artificial fragrance. Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap can clean any surface, gently and thoroughly, from counters to floors to walls to laundry and more. Check out my Castile Uses and Dilutions Cheat Sheet for all the details.
Now, I know the full MSRP on the Castile Soap may seem high at first glance, but remember, it’s a concentrated formula. One bottle dilutes into many, many uses, making it far more cost-efficient than most conventional cleaners, not to mention the savings over cleaners sold as “natural” or “green.” Plus, you can reduce plastic usage by looking for stores and co-ops that allow you to refill your Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, or purchase the gallon size and refill your quart.
Sal Suds: My Cleaning Superpower
While the Castile Soap holds the trophy for versatility across body and home, Sal Suds is my cleaning superpower around the house. Sal Suds was developed by my dad, Jim Bronner, as a tougher-on-stains cleaner that excels in hard water conditions while being exceptionally clean-rinsing and biodegradable. Check out my Sal Suds Uses and Dilutions Cheat Sheet to see how you can put it to the most uses.
Sal Suds is even more concentrated than the Castile Soap, so you use less of it per dilution. This means you get many more uses per bottle, and since the MSRP is even lower than the Castile, that adds up to a lot of savings. Just be sure not to overdo the dilutions – more isn’t always better, and it may lead to an untimely bubble party.
Baking Soda and Vinegar: Cleaning Powerhouses
Baking soda and vinegar are both essential residents of the green cleaning cabinet. Baking soda, with its odor-absorbing capabilities and gentle abrasiveness, is useful for scrubbing bathrooms, freshening carpets, and boosting laundry when combined with either the Castile Soap or Sal Suds.
As for vinegar, it’s a versatile degreaser, descaler, and deodorizer, making it an excellent replacement for fabric softener and a great glass cleaner, soap scum remover, and water spot dissolver. Just be sure not to mix it with soap, as the two readily react with each other and form a gunk that doesn’t make a good cleaner.
Saving Money and the Environment
When you take a look at all the single-purpose products that the above four can replace, you’ll see the advantage of using fewer, more versatile products. Think of all the separate bottles – I’m counting nine from only the uses I’ve discussed above, and there are more – that are pulling money from your wallet and cluttering up your cabinets. Now you’re down to just four.
The irony is that we clean because we want to do the right thing – to keep a healthy environment around us and to promote health and well-being in ourselves and those we love. The idea that in doing so, I opened the door for harm to my son, spurs me still to examine everything I use. With the mildness of these green cleaners, I feel perfectly comfortable having young kids use them too. And the fact that they’re cheaper and better for the environment is the best of all worlds.
Putting It All Together
So, let’s recap the key players in my green cleaning arsenal:
- Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap: Versatile, concentrated, and cost-effective for a wide range of cleaning tasks.
- Sal Suds: A tough-on-stains, biodegradable cleaner that excels in hard water conditions.
- Baking soda: A mild-mannered powder with odor-absorbing and gentle abrasive properties.
- Distilled white vinegar: A degreaser, descaler, and deodorizer that can replace fabric softener.
With these four ingredients, I can clean my entire house, saving money and the environment in the process. No more cluttered cabinets or harsh chemicals – just natural, effective cleaning power at my fingertips.
So, the next time you’re faced with a cleaning challenge, remember the power of vinegar and baking soda, and let Dr. Bronner’s products be your guide to a healthier, greener home. And if you ever need a little inspiration, you know where to find me – I’ll be the one scrubbing away, with a smile on my face and a clean, happy home around me.
