Cleaning Book Review #3: Clean, the humble art of zen-cleansing

[smeddley]

I've been very into cleaning with natural products every since I saw that I could get my copper-bottom pots clean with just vinegar and salt on How Clean is Your House. No more caustic – and expensive! – chemicals, and beautiful pots. It's 'cheap and cheerful', as Aggie and Kim would say. So I was excited to find this little book that's chock-full of natural cleaning tips.

I'm not going to argue about chemical cleaners being toxic or harmful to your health. I don't like them, but even if you don't think they're *bad* for you, they are expensive and tend to smell atrocious. Those are two reasons right there to go the natural route, when you can.

This book has sections on each of the main cleaners (borax, baking soda, lemon, vinegar, and salt) and a recipe section at the end for combining them. Sure, a lot of us already know that baking soda deodorizes a 'fridge and lemons can perk up your disposal, but there are many, many, many other great tips that you probably wouldn't have thought of (I, for one, thought Borax was only good for killing ants, freshening laundry, and making a really cool gooey putty to play with. Boy was I wrong!).

The very best part of this book? Unlike a lot of cleaning books, where you spend hours reading and not doing anything, this book inspires you to clean. You read a tip, think "Really? No, it can't be… I gotta try this!" and before you know it, you’re up cleaning something just to see if it really works (and all the ones I've tried have, remarkably well).

I would highly recommend this book. It's fun, clever, and most of all – actually helpful.

Comments

[clare-dragonfly.livejournal.com]

That sounds great.

Oh man, Borax goo. I recently found some on a shelf in my basement. Apparently no one has bothered to throw out my chemistry set from when I was a kid--even the notebook where I wrote down my experiments, hoping to get turned into a superhero, is there. (This is not terribly surprising, as the basement is full of things that no one has bothered to throw out. But I was still amused.)

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that sounds awesome! :D Any chance you're willing to share? ;)

And I'm so glad someone else knows about Borax goo! The few people I've told look at me kinda funny, and I have to explain, no, it's not silly putty....

[nakedblueninja.livejournal.com]

.... I might even think about picking this one up.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I checked mine out from the library, but I have to admit I'm honestly tempted to buy a copy. (probably shouldn't that'd just add to my clutter, but... baby steps...)

[unusualdemoness.livejournal.com]

This sounds interesting. It's going on my to-read list. Thanks! :)

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

I've marked this down to check out at the library, probably his clean body book too (I've been using homemade salt scrub lately, and it seems to work better than all the fancy, super caustic face stuff I've used previously).

I LOVE Borax goop. Man, have made a lot of that over the years. Which is more fun- playing with the goop or making the goop? I can never decide.