Creativity and Elbow Grease: Life lessons in septic systems, Part 5

 Since soaps don't work as well in our water and harsh chemicals are out, we've had to rely on creativity and elbow grease to get the cleaning done.

Here are my best working drafts to date.

In the kitchen

1. Peach pit scrub-  great for scrubbing pots and pans with or without soap.  Soap doesn't actually clean things- it just makes grease and grime more amenable to the effects of water.  Scrubbing and rinsing with water are as effective as soap for cleaning.  
This is one of my two best new finds for septic/well water.  I'm on my second box of two, the first two lasted a year.  Very effective and clever. 

 

2.  Biodegradable dish soap + hard water = fewer bubbles

Does help removing grease.  Try with peach pit scrubby.

3.  Biodegradable rinse aid helps keep dishes slippery in dishwasher so minerals don't deposit.

4.  Enzyme based drain cleaner digests clogs biologically instead of disintegrating them chemically.

5.  Biodegradable dish powder needs a boost in hard water.  See #6

6.  Magnet ball keeps water molecules polarized like soap does, except magnetically instead of chemically.
Also works in washing machine with clothes.

In the bathroom

7.  Dr. Bronner's Castille soap is the one recommended to bring to the Boundary Waters to put untreated back into the ecosytem.  It's as biodegradable as they come.  It's good for everything from handsoap to shampoo.

8-9.  Restore the Earth cleaners for toilet bowl and glass.

10.  EnzAway by Restore the Earth is one of my very favorite cleaners.  It has digestive enzymes which break down organic stains into water and carbon dioxide.  Works great with tomato sauce, grape juice, manure, raw milk, blood, grass stains, etc. on carpet and clothes.  Super fabulous.  And 100% biodegradable.

11-12. Restore the Earth All Surface and Lime and Scale Remover require more wait time and more elbow grease than their chemical counterparts but are septic safe.

In the laundry room

 13.  EnzAway again.  It's great.

14.  Scent free biodegradable laundry liquid.  If clothes are really gross, I can use laundry soap with EnzAway and add cheap distilled vinegar if needed.

15.  Eco Nuts soap nuts for laundry is my other best new find for septic systems.  They are the dried berry shells from the Asian soapberry tree.  One box lasts months and the used nuts are compostable.  Works great, is very economical, and leaves no scent behind.  I use this all the time in the winter and some in the summer.  My experience is that for terrifically muddy or gross clothes, laundry liquid with enzyme eater works better.

     

16.  Elbow grease- old toothbrush for scrubbing around sinks and fixtures, peach pit scrubby for pots and pans, and lots of old rags for scrubbing.

A little creativity and elbow grease- 

good for cleaning and for the soul.