Green cleaning

[sonotfunny]

I am interested to know what cleaning habits people have adopted in the interests of reducing the use of chemicals and, in the case of disposable wipes and brushes, reducing waste.

Specifically, I'd like to hear recommendations for a good loo brush alternative. I HATE loo brushes and have been using duck disposable loo brushes for some years now. Having ditched disposable loo wipes after hearing about how they are really not 'flushable' as the manufacturers suggest - I'm now turning my attention to the loo brush.

Should I just don my marigolds and get in there with a small scrubber/cloth? But then I'd be inclined to bin this after use unless there was an effective way of sanitising it. A counter-productive 'solution' me thinks!

Any other green clean tips?I've got the white vinegar and bicarb at the ready! ;-)

Thanks in advance

I just don the marigolds and use cloths for everything including the toilet. Then bung them in the machine on a 60 cycle. Every now and again I'll soak the cloths in a weak bleach solution.

SoapNuts are a good alternative to your normal washing powder. They have mixed reviews but personally I think they are great for an everyday wash. I sometimes add a little of bicarb or soda crystals to the washer drawer if clothes are a bit grubby and pre-treat any stains with white vinegar. I would also add a few drops of essential oil to the soapnut linen bag to give the clothes a bit of a fresher smell.

I loved babywipes for general quick cleaning but didn't like the waste either so I bought a big pack of 20 j-cloths, cut them in half, folded and piled them up to store in a tupperware container and poured in a soapnut cleaning solution to keep them moist. Then just washed the j-cloths in the machine to re-use again. That 1 pack has lasted me almost 2 years and will probably need replacing soon but its a lot cheaper and less wasteful than disposable wipes.

I'm not a truly 'green' cleaner but I do use a mix of regular cleaning products, green products(method/Ecover) & bicarb/vinegar/lemon etc.
Loos - I'm not bothered by using loo brushes & bleach, but ours never get too dirty (must be clean pooers) & we don't really get limescale.
Bicarb & vinegar for cleaning stained cups/vases etc, any limescale on taps/kettle/showerhead.
Beeswax rubbed into wood furniture rather than spray.

Thanks for your replies. Wonky - alas, one or more of my girls (haven't yet found the culprit) regularly paints the inside of the toilet - heaven knows how they manage it. Ewww! Seeing the state of the duck disposble brush after use convinces me that a brush aint for this family.

When I used to subscribe to flylady - she often mentioned a product (rubba scrubba I think it was called). If it was a smallish handheld brush that could be useful if it was easier to sanitise than a traditional long handle brush

Regards the laundry deterrgent. I have drastically reduced the amount of powder i use and use 50/50 powder and aqua softna which gets the laundy just as clean and less soap residue. I've also stopped using fabric conditioner and just put a slosh of white vinegar in the rinse drawer.