All Things Supercinski

Ever since I was a young girl watching daytime television in the summer, I’ve been fascinated by cleaning products. A cleaning product commercial viewed without sound from across the gym can sucker me into buying something promising to magically clean and disinfect everything in sight. The first thing I remember having that pulling effect was the Swiffer wipes, then the Magic Eraser, Clorox Wipe, OxiClean, disposable toilet brush, and the list goes on. Thankfully, I married a man who helps me think through purchases and keeps me from blowing our budget on cleaning products we don’t need.

When I was pregnant, I started use more caution with cleaning products. Perhaps that burning sensation in my throat was not good for the baby? Maybe I should use a little less bleach in cleaning the drain? Maybe I should at least open a window or turn on a fan as I clean with this stuff? Now that the baby is a little boy who loves to lick everything, I’ve become even more cautious about what I clean with–and making sure that what he licks is clean.

Recently, I heard of a great book, Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan, thankfully carried by the BCS Library System. Now, I’ve made my own household cleaners and am (safely) discarding the rest. This book is a worthwhile read, if anything, to alert you to the dangers of commercial cleaners. Logan gives tested recipes for all-purpose, kitchen, bathroom, dusting, and car cleaners, and even pest control products. Armed with a few squirt bottles, I’ve updated my cleaning products (I was pleased to find that one of her basic cleaners I had already concocted myself–vinegar and water scented with lavendar essential oil). Each of her recipes are given an effectiveness rating based on trials with professional cleaning ladies and housekeepers. Her basic ingredients are vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, castile soaps (which make great body soap–we’ve switched) and water. I cleaned my tub with a wonderful peppermint scrub remarkably like Soft Scrub but without the bleach and other junk. I’m so glad to have cleaners that are safe for our family and better for the environment.