Greenest MSE-friendly Cloth or Wipe?

Fire_Fox

Which is the best implement to use to wash down worktops/ dishes/ windows etc. bearing in mind our ethical AND money saving ideals? I don't have dustbin lids so no old vests, terry nappies or suchlike to reuse as rags: all my old clothes go to the charity shop.

I use a combination of non-stick scourers (cheap and effective but disposable), bamboo cloths (sustainable, reusable, effective but expensive), microfibre cloths (cheap, reusable and reduce need for chemicals) recycled kitchen roll (sustainable, disposable, hygienic) and antibacterial wipes for the toilet (hygienic but disposable). All these have probably been transported miles and come wrapped in plastic, and all bar the cloths end up in landfill pretty quickly. But cloths need to be laundered regularly so they don't stink and separately so they don't get fabric conditionered.

What does you use/ think?

A_fiend_for_life

I use mutton cloths, the woven fabric type. I have thick hobs that hold the residual heat after cooking and use it to boil wash a (rinsed) cloth in about a mugful of water. Works well for oven gloves and tea towels too. Mutton cloth used to be used to wrap meat, a local butcher where I used to live used to give them away.

The heat can be retained longer by putting the pan on a clean dry tea towel once it's dried, preferably on a 'pan stand' and another one on the lid. (A thought - using residual heat was rinsed, soaked and wrung they could probably be steamed between the hob and a pan).

An alternative method for mutton cloths might be to use a second hand / old flask for the job with a mugful of boiling water.

Hanging them up in direct sunlight should do the rest of the job.



The mesh wrappers used for citrus fruits can be put one inside the other and used as a scourer. About 10 to 15 of them gives a decent scourer. I've collected a few but am not happy using them as they would probably break into smaller pieces of plastic and leech other chemicals used in plastic.

Oven trays or pyrex dishes can be rinsed and put back in the oven with a mug or two of water. If you have any pyrex dishes with a lid it should steam them pretty well even if you switch off the oven about 5 - 10 minutes before finishing cooking (I flask water warmed from residual heat from the oven).

Best thing I can think of for a toilet cistern / bowl would be a dilute concentration of toilet cleaner in a squirty bottle and toilet paper. It at least breaks down in the sewage system. Wouldn't be so bad in areas that have the right sewage treatment.

Pippilongstocking

Hi there I liked the way you posted this it really made me think.

This is what we do - although we aren't by any means neat freaks or very clean I suppose. We use microfibre clothes (we were very nicely sent some from someone on here) - bit of ecover washing up liquid - watered down for everything (1/2 and 1/2)- stubborn stuff gets a bit of bicarb too - otherwise thats it really

When the houe is really busy the dishwasher goes on occasionally - half or quarter of a tablet every other wash - or a squish of something - and I often stick cloths in a tthe same time as its on - my granny taught me that one -

Old cotton pillow cases that got mangled in the washing machine - used as cloths or i tear up the odd tshirt - tis nice to see something i use to wear for years being used in the house - all washed cloths live in a box under the sink, nothing is designated I figure if its clean it can be used anywhere

Loo roll (only buy recycled) to clean the loo with water well i do once a day or so and - once a week or so I use a lathered up cloth with ordinary soap to clean it thoroughly then wipe it down - if it works for your body it works for the loo, been doing this for a goodly number of years now works really well -

Anything really nasty we scour with a solution of soap and salt and rinse well just using a cloth we dont buy sponges etc I do have a stash of baby wipes from a previous existence but these are cut into thirds in the bathroom and in a lovley jar (glass) which get used for face, otherbits then loo sometimes before they get disposed of but when they are done I won't buy any more

Cloths get put through a no heat wash with nothing or some normal eco- soap powder or often nothing - when are things REALLY dirty anymore? - air dried - works ok for us - if they are particularily horrid I soak them with bi-carb for 1/2 hour before wash. They dont get a seperate wash

We live on an island and you get use to using less of any chemicals when you live in such a pristine environment and you see where your stuff goes - this island is much bigger than previous ones but we try and do what we can without being too restrtictive

Being ethical and money saiving is kinda hard - good luck to you xx

ps we dont use kitchen roll - if i need soemthing like that i use loo roll or a cloth and wash it

Fire_Fox

I hadn't thought of boiling my cloths to sterilise them, doh! Wouldn't cost too much as we now have an induction hob. The cloths do get pretty dirty what with washing up (I rinse, Mr. FF leaves it :rolleyes:), worktops/ hob (I am a messy cook), our filthy windows (live on busy main street) and laminate floors. I don't have anywhere in direct sunlight or to air dry on a daily basis, as I live in a flat and have a foldaway clothes airer.

Mr. Fire Fox eats a lot of fruit so we do get those string bags with oranges, will try to save them for the washing up, thanks. Don't like using toilet paper to clean the loo as it's broken up on me before: I think i have a bit of a thing about other people's germs from my time in shared houses! Loos are the only thing I use anti-bacterial wipes for, and a packet does last me ages.

We get through a lot of kitchen roll tho - up to half a roll a day :eek: I clean the new hob with it and sometimes finish off the worktops as they are glossy. Also use a ton for getting rid of terrible condensation in the winter - can't use cloths as air-drying them will just release the water back into the flat ... :rolleyes:

Most of my chemicals are biodegradable, and we are switching over to five litre Bio-D for most products. My two big chemical sins are hair colour and oven cleaner (not often!). But I think the shocking waste of kitchen roll is my worst 'sin'.

A_fiend_for_life

Fire_Fox wrote: »

We get through a lot of kitchen roll tho - up to half a roll a day :eek: I clean the new hob with it and sometimes finish off the worktops as they are glossy. Also use a ton for getting rid of terrible condensation in the winter - can't use cloths as air-drying them will just release the water back into the flat ... :rolleyes:

Free newspaper and a spray of vinegar will sort the condensation out.

Are you cooking with gas?

Fire_Fox

A_fiend_for_life wrote: »

Free newspaper and a spray of vinegar will sort the condensation out.

Are you cooking with gas?

You haven't seen the condensation, when it's frosty out it looks like it rained inside and drips off the top edge of the frame leaving puddles on the sill! No gas, it's the metal-framed double glazing that's the problem. The water is from breathing, showering and drying laundry indoors, none of which we can stop ... I open the windows daily, but it's not enough: at it's worst I use half a kitchen roll and each sheet is soaked through.

A_fiend_for_life

Maybe an old towel cloths cut to suitable sizes and stitched, spray the cloth with vinegar then do the outside.

I've been doing too much energy saving this winter as I had ice on the windows one morning so I am at least as frugal / energy saving as my parents were if only for a day.

dawnsong

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You haven't seen the condensation, when it's frosty out it looks like it rained inside and drips off the top edge of the frame leaving puddles on the sill! No gas, it's the metal-framed double glazing that's the problem. The water is from breathing, showering and drying laundry indoors, none of which we can stop ... I open the windows daily, but it's not enough: at it's worst I use half a kitchen roll and each sheet is soaked through.

just visited this board for the first time - have same problem re:heavy condensation - tried all sorts - found the answer in a 'magic sponge' from lakeland - it soaks up half pint water at a time and doesn't drip - and comes in a ventilated canister to keep it in - couple of wipes of the windows and sorted - sponge has lasted years and still as good as new.

geordie_lass_2

I use micro-fibre cloths for pretty much all cleaning. They are cheap, can be used many times and cut out the need for chemicals. I buy mine in Poundland, £1 for 4 in different colours for different uses.

I get round the no conditioner problem by hand washing them, only takes a minute and uses no electricity.

I also use cotton dishcloths, these go in a mild bleach solution each day, not sure how eco friendly this is but I like them sparkling white, germ free and smelling clean. I've read that you can sterilise kitchen cloths and sponges in the microwave but they must be wet to avoid a fire hazard, it's the resulting steam that sterilises them, I've never tried this though.

I've just bought some 19p tea towels from Asda, these will be recycled as cleaning cloths when they start to get worn out, 100% cotton, very absorbent and cheap.

Fire_Fox

Dawnsong: is this what you mean?
http://www.spontex.co.uk/products.aspx?pID=158

I have also found an eco-sponge, made from recycled sponge! :j
http://www.ecoforce.co.uk/recycled-eco-sponge.htm

Geordie Lass: bleach is not eco-friendly, but you can buy non-chlorine alternatives:
http://www.naturalcollection.com/natcolnew/searchresults.aspx?search=bleach
Thanks for the microwave idea. :cool:

Miss_Ladybird

What you need for your condensation is Mr Scoopy! It is like a squegee blade with a bit that collects the water, and we scoop up so much condensation with it. We got it from local hardware shop (Barnitts) but I can't find any on google - am amazed as it is the best thing ever!!! Anyway maybe have a look in your friendly sells-everything-you-can-think-of shop!