Organic Housekeeping Chapter 3

The Low-Maintenance Bathroom

Because I am possibly buying a new home in the near future, I took notes that are probably not relevant to most. Once again, I will share with you the consumer reports website: www.ecolabels.org/greenconsumers/home.cfm. If you are in the market for new items, a solar water heater (pricey to buy, nothing to run), enameled steel or cast iron tub, porcelain sink, washerless faucet of brushed metal or gun metal and an exhaust fan that sucks out twice the volume of the room per minute. This will make it easier to clean.

Cleaning tools to keep in your bathroom: spray bottle of distilled white vinegar, rags, old toothbrush, scrub brush, toilet brush and shower squeegee. Use castile soap (no soap scum). Vinegar or nothing in toilet, just swish the brush. Boiling or heated vinegar for soap scum removal, or heated Murphy's Oil soap (but I'll find out how organic and safe it is before I try it). To clean the shower head, soak it in heated vinegar. You will be able to get the mirrors and windows clean with a spritz of vinegar, but first you must remove the waxy film left by your old glass cleaner. Use 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup of vinegar are 1/2 tsp of dish soap. Spray on, let sit for 30 seconds and polish clean. For mildew, use vinegar and follow with hydrogen peroxide if there is a dark spot left.

If shopping for a shower curtain, buy a woven polyester/ nylon one that is machine washable. Use cheap vodka for polishing. Avoid product with "fragrance," "parfum" or "emollients" in the ingredients list. Other dangerous ingredients are: acetone, isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), denatured alcohol (ethyl alcohol), glycol ethers (propylene glycol), formaldehyde and triclosan.

Use plain, unflavored yogurt is a good cleanser for acne-prone skin. Lemon juice and water is a good astringent. Moisturize hands with leftover cooking oil or residue from inside avocado skin. Cooked oatmeal can be used as a facial mask. Vinegar on the skin will restore acid mantle. Rinsing your hair in vinegar will reduce frizz, smooth out your hair and remove residues. If your skin is dry, wash in vinegar water. Epsom salts and kosher salt is a good alternative to bath salts. Read Natural Beauty at Home by: Janice Cox. Other suggested brands for beauty products are: Dr. Bronner's, Burt's Bees and Tom's of Maine.