Year: 2019

Shower scum cleaner

Back before I was so environmentally conscious and adopted the more natural lifestyle, I just wanted a clean shower. And I had a lot of trouble finding a product that let me get that! I bought specialty shower cleaners, all purpose cleaners, and I scrubbed and scrubbed, and I never felt like my shower was clean. There always felt like a tacky soap residue on the shower walls and glass door. That is – until I discovered the cleaning power of vinegar + Dawn dish detergent.

Dawn dish detergent, 5% white vinegar and spray bottle for shower cleaner

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Last year I wrote about basic cleaning with natural soap versus synthetic detergent. Basically, natural things like dirt and sweat can be effectively cleaned with natural soap (like castile soap), and synthetic things like bike chain grease need to be cleaned with a synthetic detergent. Conventional soaps, shampoos, and body washes fall into that second category; they need a detergent cleaner. After trying many synthetic cleaner mixes without success, I came across a very simple cleaner recipe: white vinegar + Dawn dish detergent.

In retrospect, this makes perfect sense. Do you remember those ads for Dawn where the people are cleaning oil off ducks who were contaminated after an oil spill? The makers of Dawn know this stuff is good for cleaning that icky synthetic residue.

Synthetic soap cleaner: vinegar + Dawn

The recipe for this soap scum cleaner is very simple. Just two ingredients, plus a spray bottle (I reused the bottle from an old cleaner) and a sponge or cleaning brush.

5% acidity white vinegar and Dawn dish detergent

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Pour equal parts vinegar and Dawn in a spray bottle. Attach cover.
  2. Slowly and gently turn the bottle upside down, right side up, and repeat several times to mix the ingredients.
spray bottle with vinegar+Dawn

How I use vinegar + Dawn shower cleaner

To use vinegar + Dawn shower cleaner, I spray all over the shower walls, door, and bottom of the shower. I let this “soak” for about 5 minutes, then I use a wet sponge or cleaning brush to wipe down all shower surfaces. I work from the top down, and rinse/re-wet the sponge or brush as needed. Finally, I rinse everything with water.

I have found that the easiest way to tell if the surface is clean and clear of soap residue is by touch. When I run my fingers over a clean surface, it is very smooth. When there is soap scum on the surface, it feels a bit tacky or textured. Any time I feel areas like that, wipe over that area again (if there’s still vinegar + Dawn on my sponge; otherwise I spray a little more solution then wipe.

tub with vinegar + Dawn shower cleaner in a spray bottle next to a cleaning brush

When do I use this shower cleaner?

I use vinegar + Dawn dish detergent as a soap residue cleaner when I am cleaning a shower (or sink) that has had conventional soap, shampoo, or body wash used in it.

What do I use to clean the shower if I have used natural soaps?

Vinegar + Dawn seems to work on all soap residue that I have encountered. That’s probably why detergents have become so popular – they work on everything. However, for the natural soaps, I have found a natural cleaner. When the shower has had only natural soaps and shampoos like I now typically use, I use this all natural soap scum cleaner.

Cost

How much does this cleaner cost?

My spray bottle holds 26 fluid ounces, so with this recipe it holds 13 ounces each vinegar and Dawn, and cost 13x($0.03125+$0.09989) = $1.70 to fill. Based on how long I’ve been using this bottle and how much is left, I estimate one bottle lasts me at least 4 years. Cost per year is only $1.70/4=$0.43, making this a frugal cleaning product. While this product (the Dawn part) is not natural, I use only a little at a time and only a little each year, so I don’t feel too guilty using it.

Have you found any effective soap or synthetic soap residue cleaners? Please share in the comments!

Newspaper Seed Starters

It’s finally starting to feel like spring here in Rhode Island, and this past weekend I decided I wanted to get a head-start on some seedling sprouting.

newspaper seed starters, some filled with soil


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Sprouting Seeds Indoors

Why Sprout Indoors?

In some climates, specifically those with a shorter growing season, it can be beneficial to sprout seeds indoors before planting them outside. This gives the plants a few weeks longer to grow, which could mean a lot more yield of whatever you’re growing at the end of the season.

Here in coastal Rhode Island I am in zone 7, with about a 7 month growing season. I want to maximize the number of long sunny days that my mature plants will see, so I try to get them growing as early as I can. The Old Farmer’s Almanac gave me an estimate for the last frost date in my zip code (late April), so I planted my seeds so they will be sprouting indoors about the time of the last frost. I will then let the sprouts grow for a couple weeks inside, in a sunny window, taking them outside for a portion of the day over the course of the week leading up to outdoor planting (if the temperature will be in the mid 40’s F or higher) to “harden off” the sprouts. After a couple weeks and once I am sure the last frost has passed, I will transplant my seedlings outside for the season.

Frugal, biodegradable newspaper seed starters

I wanted to sprout seeds inside, but I did not want to have to purchase supplies if I could avoid it. Frugal and zero waste? Yes, please! Soil wouldn’t be a problem; I have more fresh compost than I can use – one full half of my 37 gallon compost bin has been rotting all winter and is ready to use – and I have plenty of potting soil left over from previous years’ vegetable and flower growing. I considered sprouting my seeds in a egg carton since that is biodegradable and could be planted directly in the ground, but the first seeds I planned to sprout were spaghetti squash seeds from last year’s farm share/CSA, and I wanted to give them more space to grow before transplanting outside.

As I always do when I have a question, I did a quick Google search and found a whole bunch of results for newspaper seed starters. Shredded newspaper has been the primary “brown matter” component in my compost for the past few years so I know it is safe for gardening (though it is likely not organic and may contain GMOs – be aware if these are of concern to you). I decided I wanted my newspaper “pots” about 4″ tall, so I cut strips of newspaper 4.75-5″ wide, cut lengthwise down the newspaper. I experimented with 1, 2, 3, and 4 sheet thick pots, and like 1 sheet best.

Supplies

  • Newspaper – about 1 full sheet for every 4 seedling starters
  • small amount of paper tape, if desired
  • potting soil and/or compost, enough to fill all newspaper seed starters
  • scissors
  • 1 can – soup, soda, etc. for shaping seedling pots
  • container for holding the seedling starters, waterproof recommended
  • seeds – whatever you want to plant
  • water
  • space/a container of good soil to plant to seedlings outside
  • recommended: gardening gloves
  • recommended: small shovel for filling newspaper seed starters

Instructions

1. Cut newspaper into strips lengthwise, about 3/4 to 1″ wider than desired seedling starter pot height.

2. Lay the newspaper strip flat and position a soup or soda can over the strip of paper so that 3/4″ to 1″ extends beyond the end of the can. Roll the paper over the can, folding the paper over the end as you roll.

rolling newspaper around can to create a seed starter container
rolling newspaper strips around a can to make seedling starter pots

3. Once all the paper has been rolled, secure the outer edge of the newspaper with a small piece of paper tape. (You could try folding the top edge over on itself all the way around but I had not luck with this and instead used just a tiny bit of tape – about 1/4″ x 1/4″ – to secure each newspaper seed starter.)

newspaper seed starter rolled around can

4. With one hand holding the bottom of the newspaper pot folded over, fill with desired soil mix and loosely pack the soil. The newspaper seed starter pots will hold together better once filled with soil. My soil mixture was about 1/3 to 1/2 compost and 2/3 to 1/2 last year’s potting soil.

newspaper seed starters, potting soil, compost, and potting soil-compost mixture
potting soil, compost, and my soil mixture, with newspaper seed starters being filled

5. Arrange the newspaper seed starters in a container to help them stand upright and to make it easier to move them around all together. Something waterproof is helpful since the newspaper will get soggy when watering the soil.

newspaper seed starters filled with potting soil-compost mixture

6. Moisten the soil, then plant seeds according to guidance for the specific seed variety used. Hint: if using a seed that has a pointed end, like a squash or watermelon seed, plant with the pointy end (called the radicle) down so the plant doesn’t have to work as hard to orient itself properly!

dried organic spaghetti squash seed in planting orientation (pointy side down)
dried spaghetti squash seed in planting orientation with the radicle (where the root comes out) down

7. Once seeds have sprouted, “harden off” or acclimate the sprouts to outside conditions over the course of the week before planting by leaving outside for an hour one day, then two hours the next day, etc. This avoids shocking and stressing the plants when they’re planted outside.

8. Plant sprouts outside in the garden, garden beds, or pots. Space according to guidance for the specific type of plant. Dig a hole about the size of the newspaper seed starter. The newspaper pots can be planted, though I prefer to remove the tape and gently unwrap the newspaper, planting just the soil and sprout. I then rip up the newspaper and put it in my compost bin.

9. Care for your plants throughout the growing season and enjoy the fruits (or vegetables!) of your labors.

Have you sprouted seeds inside? Do you have a preferred seedling starter pot? Share your experiences in the comments below!