indoors
K N O W -H O W
G R E E N IN G Y O U R C L E A N IN G
How good are cleaners w ithout harsh
chem icals? W e tested eco -friend ly all-
purpose cleaners at hom e and picked o ur favorites
based on effectiveness, scent, availability, and price.
S E V E N T H
G E N E R A TIO N
FR E E & C LE A R
Natural All Purpose
Cleaner; $
4.44
for
32
fluid ounces; seventh
generation.com
This mildly scented
product lived up to
the all-purpose
promise, cleaning a
variety of surfaces
with a dry paper
towel or wet mop.
M E T H O D
All Purpose Cleaner;
$4
for
28
fluid ounces;
methodhome.com
We liked how this
cleaner seemed to
shine as it cleaned.
Not craving a
cucum ber scent? Try
French lavender or
pink grapefruit.
A R M & H A M M ER
E S S E N T IA L S
G R E E N W O R K S
Natural All-Purpose
Cleaner; $
3.39
for
32
fluid ounces;
greenworks
cleaners.com
Available in two
pleasant scents,
this spray cleaned
a greasy sink with
little effort.
M R S. M E Y E R ’S
C LE A N D A Y
All Purpose Cleaner;
$
7.99
for
32
fluid
ounces;
mrsmeyers.com
Am ong the freshest
scents we tried, this
concentrate (which
can be used straight
or diluted) helped
dissolve dried-
on messes.
Multi-Surface Cleaner;
$
2.99
for starter kit
(bottle and cartridge),
$
3.99
for two refill
cartridges;
armandhammer
essentials.com
A great low-waste
solution: Fill the
resusable bottle with
tap water and screw
on a cartridge of
cleaning concentrate.
H O M EO LO G Y
All Purpose Cleaner;
$
10.98
for
35
fluid ounces;
goldcanyon.com
This cleaner did an
impressive job on
the inside of a
microwave. We also
liked its surprisingly
natural scent:
rosem ary mint.
D A N N Y S E O ’ S P IC K S
ECO TOOLS
H ere’s h o w o u r green lifestyle
e x p e rt arm s him self fo r an
E a rth -frie n d ly clean routine.
m i c r o f i b e r c l o t h s a hotel house-
keeper’s secret weapon! Millions of
m icroscopic fibers are knit together into
soft cloths that grip dirt, germ s, and
bacteria. They are super-absorbent,
versatile (great fo r surfaces such as
stainless steel, glass, and wood), and leave
a streak-free finish. They’re m achine-
washable, so you save m oney while you
avoid the waste of paper towels. Available
at discount retailers for about
$ 5
each.
S T E A M M O P To deep-clean sealed,
hard-surface floors with nothing more than
water, think steam. I like the Shark steam
mop ($
8 0
;
bed bath andb eyond .com ).
A
built-in canister holds tap water that heats
up in less than
3 0
seconds. Reusable
m icrofiber pads pick up dirt while bursts of
steam loosen tough dirt and grime. A glider
attachm ent lets you steam -freshen carpet.
N E W S P A P E R Your m orning paper is
designed to absorb ink, so it’ll soak up other
things, too. Line your fridge with newspaper
to pick up lingering odors. Stuff shoes with
newspaper to deodorize them. And an oldie
but goodie: Use it and a glass spray to clean
your windows to a streak-free shine.
S Q U E E G E E Anything that lets me use
fewer cleaning supplies ranks high in my
green book. A squeegee stops water spots
and mineral buildup on shower doors,
which helps surfaces stay clean longer.
Attach one to a broom handle and clean
your windows like a pro; just spray the
windows with a garden hose and squeegee
away the dirt. The All-Purpose Squeegee
from Oxo ($
6
;
oxo.com )
is a good choice.
m o r e g r e e n t ip s
Get more advice and post a question on
Danny’s Sim ply Green Living blog at
BH G .com /livinggreen.
®
88
MAY 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTO: (PORTRAIT) ADAM ALBRIGHT
