The Ecoclean Challenge

I've seen a lot and heard a lot about all these home made cleaners. I think I'm going to put them to the test. Normally I use Mr. Clean concentrate diluted with water in a spray bottle. I use this everywhere. Now I think I'm going to try 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water. I will probably add just a pinch of lemon juice concentrate for that fresh smell. Then again, who wants their toilet smelling like lemons? Granted its better than what toilets usually smell like. I would love to use just diluteted bleach but I'm allergic to it and it's fumes.
A long, long time ago in the land of filth (aka my muther's house) I got sick of living upstairs with the mess so I decided to clean out a room in the basement and move there. Easier said than done. Once I did get the boxes of crap moved out I still had to contend with a cement floor covered in kitty mess. She had a cat that was always sick, maybe that was because she never cleaned up after him? Anyway, I tried one cleaner after another and being the dumb teenager I was thought, "Well, if this one sort of works and that one sort of works if I combine them then they will really work." The result: a clean cement floor and chemical burns on skin and lungs. But at least I had a place to live that was clean and out of the way. Until I realized that winter in basements with no heat are COLD. Luckily I can leave all the stupidness behind because I am now older; therefore, wiser. Ok, you can quit laughing hysterically, maybe that was a bit of an overstatement but at least now I know enough to never mix commercial cleaning products.
The criteria for the tests will be:
1. Does it work as well, better or worse than the commercial stuff.
2. Does it take more, less or about the same elbow grease.
3. Is it really that much cheaper.
4. Is it worth switching permanantly.
I will post the results of the 'Ecoclean Challenge' once they are finished.
Sidenote to Catherine- I think we watched the same episode. I can even understand what they are saying now!
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At least I know that once a month my house gets scrubbed down. Good thing #1. This usually coincides with a certain someones visit. It wasn't too bad, Mike and I barely got a 'hi' and Gryffin kept her occupied. She did show up 20 minutes early, but still only stayed an hour. I can handle that.
Today's forcast upper 60's to lower 70's and rainy. Good thing #2. I don't mind the rain. I'm hoping it will make our yellow yard green again. Otherwise instead of losing Mike to football or basketball, I lose him to yard work. He takes pride in the yard and it gives him exercise. Me? Heck, if the weeds are green, isn't higher than my ankles and doesn't have a car up on blocks in it- I'm cool.
I have massive amounts of laundry to fold today. Yaaaaay- clean clothes! Good thing #3. And if the rain does let up I am taking Gryffin to the hardware store to get him another spray bottle. The kid loves to help me clean. Good thing #4. He was really ticked yesterday when I only gave him a cloth to clean with. He used to have this little spray bottle that I put water in but it broke. He kept reaching for my spray bottle but I just don't think he's ready for real Lysol yet.