SAFE cleaning products for tough floor stains and general cleaning

Parent Cafe
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<p>The other cleaning thread inspired me to ask this question. I live in a very small studio apartment (just a tiny room and a bathroom). In the bathroom, there is a lot of dirt in the cracks between the tiles that was there already when I moved in. I would like to clean everything out. Now, the problem is I have pets, a dog and two guinea pigs. The dog licks his paws, etc., and I can’t keep him out of the bathroom, since that’s where his food/water bowls are (again, this is a very small space). Guinea pigs are extermely fragile and sensitive just in general, and they are incredibly sensitive to smells. They happen to be next to the bathroom door (again, space issues). What would you use to clean? Also, do you have any ideas for what to use to clean the floor in the room (wood)?</p>

<p>Also, although my dog is short-haired, he sheds A LOT. I mop every day. Is there a more effective way to get rid of the hair (again, I can’t use any wet mops with chemicals in them)?</p>

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<p>Can offer a suggestion for the tile–try a paste of baking soda/water or Borax/water. Let it sit for a bit and the scrub clean. It works surprisingly well and is both cost and pet friendly. </p>

<p>A friend only cleans her wood floors with warm brewed tea. Haven’t tried it yet myself, but she swears by it. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>We use water and white vinegar to clean almost everything.</p>

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<p>The definitive thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/474068-cleaning-products-really-wow-you.html?highlight=cleaning[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/474068-cleaning-products-really-wow-you.html?highlight=cleaning&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>For tub and toilet cleaning, look for bathroom cleaners safe for use in houses on septic systems. Many Oxiclean products are septic system-friendly.</p>

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<p>For dog hair in areas you can’t vacuum: A friend of mine gets dog hair off her furniture by putting on a pair of disposable surgical type gloves and rubbing the furniture. Somehow the gloves grab the dog hair; it looks like it’s static cling.</p>

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<p>Hydrogen peroxide is a nice bleaching/cleaning agent. It breaks down to oxygen and water so is safe quite quickly.</p>

<p>To scrub a surface, you can use a mixture of salt and baking powder on a sponge.</p>