My Journey with Chemical Free Cleaning

When we built our new house in 2005 we decided to try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. One of the exercises was to obtain as much information as possible, and with this in mind we spent a couple of days at an Sustainable Environmental Show in Christchurch. In fact we were looking for information on Solar Systems! but a Trade Stand displaying chemical free cleaning products took my eye, so leaving Bill to talk Solar Panels! ,I enquired about the cleaning products and was given a very impressive demonstration, on cleaning with Enjo cloths and only using water! Totally chemical free cleaning, I was hooked and there by began an association with Enjo that I have enjoyed for the last 7 years

To give some background. Enjo started in Austria in 1990 where fibre-based technology resulted in the production of Enjo cloths and products, which only needed water to clean,eliminating up to 95% of detergent and chemicals used in domestic cleaning. Not only does this method have environmental benefits, it also saves $$'s and has huge health benefits, especially for those people who suffer from asthma and other allergys, as there are no chemicals, so no residues or fumes. Their goal was also Chemical Free Cleaning.

We have run our B&B for 7 years. We have 3 rooms all en suite, and ever since we started I have kept them sparkling clean( lots of guests have commented) using chemical free cleaning products. The Enjo Bathroom Glove for cleaning showers, basins and baths, Enjofil Cloth for polishing all the chrome,and the glass, and the Bathroom Maid for toilets are my main weapons! They make a super job. The microscopic fibres reaching into all the nooks and crannys attract and hold all the dirt and bacteria. The cleaning glove just has to have enough water to dampen it and then I have a bottle of water to spray on if needed. These cloths ctean away all the bugs, and in fact after an 8 week study in a Southland Hotel the Lab analysing the results announced that Enjo products were 16 times more efficient than chemical cleaners.

That is only the bathrooms. Over the years I have bought a cleaning glove for the kitchen, which is amazing, as still with only water the fibres pick up the grease and grime from the range-top, benches,sink, refrigerator, and then it only takes warm soapy water to clean them ready to start again

Toilet Cleaner or Bathroom Maid is a plastic handle with Enjo fabric neatly domed on the end and exactly the right shape to get around all the edges of the toilet bowl, it works so well and is chemical free cleaning again

Windows and Floors The Floor-cleaner head is light and strong and very manouvarable. A range of cloths are available , for cleaning tiles dusting wooden floors or washing outdoor paving.There is also another head for cleaning windows, again all chemical free cleaning as only water is used for sparkling clean windows. Our house is large, with lots of windows I do all the cleaning, so all these products get a good work out!

As well as Enjo products I use various other ingredients, most of which I have learnt about from reading the book A Home Companion written by Wendyl Nissen this is a real treasure and is full of all sorts of tips for chemical free cleaning as well as good old fashioned recipes on how we can live more sustainabley this really is a must read! if you are interested in this sort of thing. There is also has a very good website www.wendylsgreengoddess.co.nz

Some of the ingredients I use are Baking Soda Great for cleaning stubborn stains, and used with White vinegar makes cleaning silver and dirty ovens a breeze.White vinegar is great for carpet cleaning and is magic if red wine is spilt on the carpet, just pour the vinegar on, dont rub, let the vinegar work and then wash off. Lemon juice is a very good alternative for bleach, especially if left in the sunlight.

It takes a little time and thought to use these ingredients, but once you have become accustumed to them it is a great way to have a beautifully clean chemical free home and know that you are doing your "bit"fpr the environment quite apart from the fact that you are saving quite a lot of money!

Happy Chemical Free Cleaning!