Review: Arm & Hammer Essentials Mountain Rain Laundry Detergent

Once again, I have discovered the power of baking soda. This time it was by using Arm & Hammer’s Essentials Mountain Rain Laundry Detergent. For years I had been using Eco’s Laundry Detergent (reviewed here) and was thoroughly satisfied with its cleaning ability. However, despite the pleasant scents the product came in, my clothes never retained that scent for more than a day.

I decided to branch out and consider other products to use. I went to a natural market down the street and considered my options. I was tempted to buy something from Seventh Generation until I spotted this bottle (see photo) from Arm & Hammer.

I am always cautious when considering a product that is labeled “all natural” or “chemical free”, because those terms are not currently regulated by the government. I checked the ingredient label on the bottle. As it turns out, this detergent contains baking soda, coconut-based surfactants, a natural water softener, and water. Hmm, “natural water softener”. What could that be? Salt? That ingredient, whatever it might be, made me a little apprehensive to purchase the product. I then considered the scent, another quality I was looking for. The bottle I grabbed was the “mountain rain” bottle. I unscrewed the cap, took a sniff, and was sold. It is not overpowering, but still smells amazingly good. I decided to give this product a shot and purchased a bottle of it.

I’ve noticed that my clothes now smell like mountain rain after being washed. My whites have actually become whiter too and I attribute that to the baking soda. The $5 (or so) bottle will last over a month, too, so it’s not overpriced.

Overall, I am pretty thrilled about this product. Who knows, maybe in a few years I will find something else that I like better, but for now I love it and would love to find other products with the same scent.

The Versatility of Vinegar

Image via Wikipedia

Like baking soda, vinegar has many uses. The great thing about choosing vinegar over conventional products is it is eco- and human-friendly. The following is a list of ways in which I’ve learned to use vinegar. To find additional ideas, check out this website.

The water where I live is very hard so I am constantly fighting scale build-up. To combat this, I use a small brush and vinegar to remove the scale. I’ve learned through trial and error that scale should be dealt with early on and not later once it has built up to ridiculous proportions. The low pH of the vinegar aids in dissolving  the scale, and the brush helps to loosen and remove the particles. Be sure to make note of what the surface you are trying to clean is made out of. The “granite” (it’s really more like a schist) counter-tops in my kitchen and bathroom have a seal that can be easily removed by vinegar, so I cannot use vinegar to clean them.

Vinegar and water combined in a 1:1 ratio will create a nice all-purpose cleaner. This cleaner can be used to clean up messes, clean windows and mirrors, and sanitize surfaces. It can even be used in conjunction with baking soda to sanitize your toilet bowl when cleaning it.

Vinegar also works well as a rinse agent in the dishwasher by helping to remove water spots.

My most favorite use of vinegar is in unclogging drains. By sprinkling a little baking soda and vinegar down a drain, then stopping it with a rag, and pouring boiling water down the drain 15 minutes later, you can unclog your drain. This has failed once in the dozen or so times I have tried it.

Happy cleaning 🙂

The Many Wonders of Baking Soda

Image by TPapi via Flickr

While cleaning is definitely not my most favorite thing to do, I absolutely love a clean home. I have been challenged, though, in the last year in finding new ways to get the job done while avoiding harsh chemicals. In rising to meet that challenge I have discovered many uses for baking soda. I love cleaning with it and have never been disappointed by it. The following is a brief list of ways in which baking soda can be used:

• Sprinkle a little into your toilet bowl each week to replace a harsh cleaner. The baking soda will eliminate any odors and will clean your bowl, leaving it sparkling white. You can also use vinegar in conjunction with the baking soda to sanitize the toilet bowl.
• Replace bottles of Ajax and Comet with baking soda. The abrasive quality of baking soda will remove soap scum from your shower or bath tub.
• Baking soda can also be used to remove caked-on grime from pots and pans. Just sprinkle a little on the problem area, add boiling water, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
• The abrasive quality of baking soda can also be used to clean your kitchen sink, whether porcelain or stainless steel. It will remove stains without scratching the surface.
• To unclog a drain, sprinkle a little baking soda down the drain, then pour a little vinegar down, and use an old rag to plug the drain and prevent the mixture from foaming back out. After 15 minutes, remove the rag and pour boiling water down the drain. I’ve used this at least a dozen times before and it has failed only once.
• About 1/2 a cup of baking soda, when added to laundry (along with a laundry detergent), can help brighten your whites.
• Baking soda can also be used as a deodorizer in your fridge, laundry basket, sneakers, carpet, virtually anywhere odors might linger.

While these are just a few ways in which baking soda can be used, a google search shows that there are many more. If you have any other uses not listed here, feel free to comment on them. Happy cleaning 🙂