Ideal Bite

Eco Surface Cleaners

Counter(top) Argument

10.26.2009

Submitted by alara on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 11:00pm.

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The Bite:

Wanna rebut germy grime off your kitchen counter? A proposal: Wipe down your countertops with a planet-friendly spray or scrub. These all-purpose cleaners are effective and safe around the kids, so you can make your case - a spotless house - without caustic chems.

The Benefits:

Traditional cleaning products are responsible for about 10% of toxic-exposure calls to poison control - half involving children under 6. Eco-cleaners, while not safe to ingest, are less toxic so they're irrefutably safer for kids.
Regular cleaners contain detergents, bleach, and nerve-damaging chems like ammonia that end up in waterways. These readily biodegradable options are pro plants and wildlife.

Wanna Try:

Shaklee Get Clean Scour Off Paste - a scrubbing paste with mineral abrasives for degriming stuff like the oven and bathtub ($9/9 ounces).
Ecover Glass and Surface Cleaner - 2-in-1, no-streak solution made with plant-based surfactants (cleaning agents) for windows and countertops ($4/16 ounces).
Mrs. Meyer's Countertop Cleaner - kitchen and bathroom spray with plant-based cleaners and essential oils in scents like Lemon Verbena ($4/16 ounces). Also Surface Scrub with ash and oxygen bleach ($5/11 ounces).
Method Multi Surface - spray made with coconut oil and corn-based cleaning agents ($4/28 ounces).
DIY Bite - make your own all-purpose cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon water; if you have granite countertops, try soapy water instead to avoid damaging the seal.
For more sprucing-up tips, check out our cleaning guide.

Timeout

Mama Bite Editor Alison keeps a clean rag and a spray bottle with water and a splash of eco liquid dish soap under the kitchen sink to clean off her granite counter.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Mama Biter households opt for an eco-cleaner over a non-eco one, we'll keep the weight of 33 debate captains in dangerous waste out of production and the environment.

5 comments

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Ana on October 26, 2009 at 03:31 AM 1

I make my own countertop cleaner - into a spray bottle I put in 1 cup water, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 tsp castille soap, and 15-20 drops or so of essential oils (usually a mix of eucalyptus/peppermint/orange/cinnamon). The vinegar smell goes away almost immediately, and it works as well as the store-bought stuff. I even keep some in a small bottle at work to clean my desk!

Linda Gilbert on October 26, 2009 at 11:53 AM 2

In this article you mention Shaklee, but I have never seen Melaleuca mentioned. I have commented on this before.

Maureen Work, D.C. on November 11, 2009 at 06:44 PM 3

I use Scour Off by Shaklee to clean our showers/tubs and the oven. The fact that you can use Scour Off and the only thing lacking is the overwhelming vapors that attack your respiratory system and make you cough and choke. The cleaning is powerful!

Linda Stevens on November 15, 2009 at 10:08 AM 4

I have been using Shaklee products for over 30 yrs. I LOVE Scour Off for sinks, tubs, shower tile, toilet bowl stains, kitchen pots and pans, oven doors, my glass cooktop, and it even takes permanent marker off of laminate counter tops. I also use it now and then to get scuff marks off of my white car. Amazing product!

Denise on November 16, 2009 at 01:40 PM 5

I too have used the Shaklee Scour Off for many, many years! I too love all the things mentioned so far plus, I really like how super concentrated it is-I think I purchase 1 or 2 each year! I love the wide mouth jar and how wonderful it smells! Once I used it to get the tar off the bottom of my van--my husband said it would never come off if I didn't use some type of a commercial cleaner--but Scour off and a green scrubby pad got the tar off!

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Counter(top) Argument

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