Nancy asks…
How to clean the grout & bathroom tiles?
There’s black mold on the grout, and brushing with soap doesnt clean them. Any eco friendly tips for cleaning them?
Thanks!
The Expert answers:
Baking soda is like ajax-I am environmentally concerned and use it like scouring powder. Also if you mix vinegar in water in a spray bottle it helps keep your tile clean.
Robert asks…
how does manekineo remove 30 year old glue utilized to stick wood parquet tiles over terrazzo floor?
first took up rugs. rug was nail and glue down over terrazzo, glue came off easily of of terrazzo floors.
parquet tile is 30 years old. have removed and hyper-laboriously scraped, scraped, scraped with acetone, alchohol, nail polish remover, kitchen cleaners to no avail. do not like chemicals nor dust. do not wish to rent machine and grind and sand off of floor, which is delicate.
terrazo is a lovely finish from a vintage 1956 home. two rooms are perfect, others need to be reclaimed, prefereable in a eco friendly manner.
all is well
manekineo
The Expert answers:
Is it wood? If it is, sanding is about the only way to remove the residue.
Carol asks…
Bamboo to line indoor shower?
I’m trying to make my home more eco friendly and remodel on a budget. I have clumping bamboo growing in my yard so have an unlimited supply and I heard somewhere that bamboo is naturally water proof. Can I split the poles and use them to line my shower instead of tile? I know I would have to use some kind of caulking in between them and I was also thinking of filling them with newspaper insulation too.
The Expert answers:
Www.bamboofencer.com says:
We have helped in designing and installing one custom bamboo-lined shower. That installation was made from 1.5″ diameter half-rounds of Tonkin bamboo. It took the owner 13 months to get the building inspectors to approve the installation. Not being in the code, it spooks the inspectors.
There is the risk of losing a seal and having moisture and mold getting behind the bamboo and into the hollow space behind. If you want to do this I would recommend that you have us split the bamboo into half rounds and fill it with closed cell architectural foam and trim the foam flat. You may wish to do the ripping and foam injection yourself. Then the half rounds can be installed against cement board (since showers are a wet space) rather than drywall. The half rounds will have to be installed with a latex rather than petroleum base adhesive. The foam will be dissolved by petroleum based adhesives. Latex industrial adhesives are available in Home Depot and Lowes etc.
The seams between the half rounds should them be caulked with the finest quality and smallest bead that the installer can manage. The bamboo has a natural wax on the skin and will not take paint or varnishes. I recommend that it be rewaxed with a good standard natural clear wax from time to time. This should keep it free from mildew or at least easy to wipe clean.This is a new application and we do not have much experience with it.
Proceed at your own risk.
Donald asks…
Chemicals that go down our plug holes every day.?
I remember reading some where that washing up liquids are a big problem, and a lot of time is spent breaking down this product whilst treating our sewage. When you add to this all the other products like bleaches etc, do you worry about what the state of our water will be in another hundred years.
Do you use any of the eco friendly product on the market, or do you have a green version of your own. Like lemons for cleaning and sanitising sinks, tiles and baths.
I agree, they do charge to much for anything green or organic. Sad thing is, it’s a viscous circle, prices wont come down until people start to buy the product. Truth of the matter is water IS the most precious thing we have, and yet every year tonnes of chemicals are thrown into. Chemicals to clean chemicals. We are already noticing the affect with fish deformities, they are the first warning sign. Yet we still continue.
I’m not a total green freak, and I promise I’m not preaching. There are still things I use that I haven’t come up with an alternative for, but If I can come up with an alternative for a chemical product, then I much prefer to use that. A bottle of lemon juice cost half the price of bathroom cleaners, and does a better job at cleaning. With the add advantage of a pleasant smell. The acidity cuts through the dirt and grim and also sanitises.
Another thing I was interested in was if anyone had there own, chemical free alternatives. Always handy to no a few more! 😉
The Expert answers:
I use an eco washing up liquid, but I’ve found you don’t really need that much, just enough to cut the grease. I prefer vinegar to lemon juice and have used it for the washing up as well.
All interested might check that thier plumbing is right, apparently too many houses have thier grey water plumbed into the drainage for rainwater that goes straight to the nearest stream or river, that’s why some rivers you see have a froth and a smell about them.
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Lisa asks…
What kind of cleaning products will work the best?
My boyfriend and I are moving in together and I had a few questions about out new apartment. It isn’t disgusting, but it could do with a good cleaning before we move in. I would like to wash the ENTIRE apartment, ceiling to floor! I really like the eco friendly cleaning products like the green works line by clorox. I don’t like the strong odors and the severity of them hurt my eyes and my boyfriends sinuses. Here’s a list of things that I would like to do, if anyone could give me back a list of good products that will work, I would really appreciate it.
washing the ceilings and walls
shampoo carpet
polish wood floors
scrub down:
inside of refrigerator
kitchen counters
outside of appliances
inside of cabinets
dishwasher
shower tile (with slight stains)
Thank you in advance, and yes, my boyfriend will be helping me.
The Expert answers:
Vinegar & baking soda.=)
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