Green cleaning supplies

I first heard about Lemi Shine about a year ago when I was interviewed by Kim Laurie and her husband Don on Culinary Confessions in Scottsdale, AZ. If you’re info food, cooking, or dining out out and you live in the greater Phoenix area, check out their radio show.

Green clean
I’ve been using eco-friendly cleaning products for more than 20 years and I still like trying new products to see if they beat the ones I’m currently using. After hearing Kim expound on the benefits of Lemi Shine, I contacted the company about getting their products, and tried them in my home. I’ve now been using them for about six months. I’m happy with the results and the purity of the products.

What I’ve tried
I’ve tried Lemi Shine, Lemi Shine MC Machine Clean, Lemi Shine Rinse, EnviroPet Plus: Advanced Enzyme Formula, and ReMi (short for reverses mistakes) Stain & Odor Remover.

Hard H20, hard on dishes
If you have hard water (we do in Arizona), you’ve probably wondered how to get rid of the hard water spots and film (from excess calcium, lime, iron, and other minerals) that build up on glasses and dishes an on the inside of the dishwasher itself.

I choose not to use the supermarket dish washing products that contain harsh chemicals that pollute indoor air and waterways, and harm wildlife, so I was interested to see how Lemi Shine would work on the hard water deposits on my dishes. True to the company’s claims, it cleaned and deodorized the dishwasher and brightened my dishware. No more dingy looking plates and classes.

The first time you use Lemi Shine you need to run the dishwasher without any dishes. This removes the hard mineral deposits inside the machine and help it run better when you run subsequent loads of dirty dishes with Lemi Shine.

Washing your dishwasher
If your dishwasher has a lot of buildup from months or years of use, you may want to get Lemi Shine MC Machine Clean. Used on a regular basis it prevents hard water mineral buildup, which improves the life and performance of your dishwasher.

Spotless treatment
Lemi Shine also makes a spot-free rinse formula you can add to the liquid rinse agent dispenser in your dishwasher once a month. It prevents etching on glasses and leaves dishes sparkling clean. I liked this also made a difference.

Pet stains disappear
Enviro-Pet Plus can be used on carpets, upholstery, rugs, clothing, furniture, bedding, tile, plastic, vinyl, concrete, and all other water safe surfaces. My cats are basically tidy creatures so I wondered what I would use this product on, besides the litter box. Then I found one. My lovely long-haired cat, Sophie, regularly throws up hairballs (usually in the middle of the night, thank you). She makes enough noise doing it (in the bedroom or hallway) to wake me so I can immediately turn on the light, clean it up, and avoid inadvertently stepping on the slimy thing during on a trek to the bathroom in the wee hours .

Enviro-Pet Plus has taken care of the odor and the residue the hairballs would otherwise leave on the carpet (yeah!). I give Sophie a Hairball Remedy that contains omega-3-6-9 oils and vitamin E but I must not be giving it to her often enough because she continues to barf up hairballs about once a month. At least I know I can clean it up easily. If you know another remedy for preventing hairballs in cats, let me know. She already eats a great all-meat (grain-free) diet. My short haired kitten has no hairballs at this time (knock on the fake wood of my desk!).

Reverse your mistakes
Don’t you wish you could reverse mistakes in your life with a spray bottle and damp cloth? Big credit card bills, just spray and wipe away. Overdraft fees from the bank, just spritz, whoosh, and they're gone. Accidentally open your car door into someone else's car door? Well, maybe you can't erase your mistakes in those instances, but maybe you can where cleaning is concerned. ReMi Stain & Odor Remover is designed to remove stains on carpets, upholstery, furniture, laundry, in your automobile, and in restrooms.

I didn’t have much luck with this product on clothes soiled with bacon grease, olive oil, vinaigrette, etc. The problem, I discovered, was that I didn’t follow the directions 100%. (I know, I know! I usually do follow product instructions just as I recommend following recipe instructions, at least until you have the skill and knowledge to make modifications with a high degree of confidence that they will turn out they way you want or the recipe creator intended.)

 Package instructions say to apply ReMi to stained areas and allow to absorb for 5 minutes, and then launder as usual. I applied it before tossing the clothes in the wash where the sat for 3 to 6 days before washing. I’m getting a second bottle later this week to test again. This time, I’ll spray the stains 5 to 10 minutes (as the company’s customer service rep suggested) before tossing them in the machine.

Septic system solutions
If you have a septic system, check out their Septic Pro Treatment.

What I like
Unlike many supermarket cleaners, Lemi Shine products are phosphate-free, so they won’t pollute groundwater or upset the natural PH of soil. They’re free of caustic chemicals, noxious smelling perfumes, and bleach and they’re safe for septic systems. They come in recyclable containers that are made from 100% recycled material.

Lemi Shine is made from real fruit acids, natural citrus oils, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

Lemi Shine Rinse is made from purified water, real fruit acids, biodegradable surfactants, and natural dye. The product isn’t dyed a color; it’s almost clear so you won’t find any strange blue or green dyes in the product.

Enviro-Pet Plus and ReMi contains purified water, natural enzymes, biodegradable surfactants and frangrance. No harsh chemicals, solvents, or bleach.

For more info on these products check the EnviroCon Technology web site. You can buy their products in many retails stores (check their web site for a Store Locator).They offer free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

What do you use?
If you have eco-friendly cleaning products (or personal care products or gluten free natural foods) you like, drop me an email and let me know the name of the products, how long you've used them, and what you like about them. Maybe I'll review them on my blog.

Comments

[DONNA J WIMSATT]

where can i purchase lemi shine, I live in Cadiz, Ky 42211 area code?

Hi Donna,

I don't know. I suggest you visit the company web site and call them to find out. I've not purchased it in stores and I don't sell or distribute it.

Chef Rachel

[Zach Smith]

Most of the cleaners today have citrus ingredients. You can actually use raw citrus to clean your house. Lemon juice, for instance, has stain-removing and germ-busting properties. You can use this to clean your mattress or your washing machine.

[Green Cleaning]

We should bare in mind that when it comes to cleaning supplies it should not be harmful to our health and it is also environmental friendly.

[cecilgrass]

Great tips, there are also some great eco-friendly cleaning products over at http://www.enviroproductsworld.com/hocl.html that are very affordable.

[san antonio carpet cleaners]

Nice features of products with regards on how to get rid of the germs and stains. I'll try to have those products also if it's effective. The thoughts and tips you've shared will be a great help in cleaning. One factor to consider also is the carpet cleaning; if the carpet is clean it’s nice to see and breathe.