Ask: Sue

Seventh Generation’s laundry, dish and cleaning products are safe for septic systems. Septic systems can be disrupted by products that do not biodegrade or that interfere with the bacteria that break down materials that enter the septic system. Seventh Generation household products (laundry, dish, cleaners) are specially formulated to be compatible with septic systems. Our bathroom tissue is also suitable for use in septic systems.

Saturday morning is here and the shower needs cleaning. My tools are an old toothbrush, a non-abrasive scrubber and microfiber cloth, and Seventh Generation's Tub & Tile Cleaner. Before I worked for Seventh Generation I used conventional products, and I would wear a mask when I cleaned the shower to protect myself from the fumes. Now I can breathe freely while cleaning!

I like to clean the shower when it is wet. First, using a toothbrush, I clean all the crevices -- where the walls fit together and  between the tiles. This loosens up any soap scum that has settled. Then I lightly spray the Tub & Tile Cleaner on the walls, starting at the top and the back of the shower, away from the shower head. Using the cloth, just wipe the walls downward. All shower residues (scum) wipe away and the wall is shiny. Next, I wash both top and undersides of the side shelves, and rinse the toiletry items that are stored on these shelves. Soap scum doesn't care what it sticks to! Before I start the tub, I wipe off the fixtures. Be sure to read the directions that came with your fixtures to determine if you need to use special care in their cleaning.

Once all the upper parts of the shower are clean, I spray the bathtub with the Tub & Tile Cleaner. I let it sit for a minute and then use the scrubber on the sides of the tub and along the non-slip surface of the floor of the tub. Take special care of the edges that slope to the floor; this is where most of the residue collects.  The floor of this tub is non-skid and the scrubber comes in handy for cleaning the textured surface. Now, it's time to rinse.  If you like a shiny shower and tub, wipe down with a dry cloth.

What tips do you have for cleaning your shower?

While there's no one way to load a dishwasher, there are a few rules of thumb that will make sure you get a great, even clean:

1. Place your dishes according to height, with larger dishes on the outside.
2. In most machines, turn plates and bowls to face the middle of the machine.
3. Don't block the primary water source on the inside of the machine.
4. Only use automatic dish detergent, not dish liquid, and use as little as you need to get your dishes clean
5. Don't prewash dishes! The enzymes in dish detergent need a place to work, and food particles provide the work site.
6. If your dishes will sit a while before you run the machine, lightly rinse milk residue or other food remains
7. For cleaner flatware, spread your pieces out in the basket, with fork tines and knife blades pointing up (be careful unloading!)
8. The primary work in the dishwasher is done by heat and agitation, so I follow my own Gram's advice and wash china, collectibles and crystal by hand.

To save money and energy, open the dishwasher door at the end of the drying cycle and let the process finish with an air dry.

When you're ready to empty the dishwasher, start with the bottom rack so that any residual water on the top shelf doesn't wet the dishes on the bottom. I personally empty the silverware container first, so I don't scratch myself reaching for the plates. What dishwasher loading tips do you have?

If pets are a part of your Planet Home, your regular cleaning routine probably involves removing animal hair -- lots of it.

After years of trial and error, I have hit on a great method: Lightly spray a cloth or fabric brush with any of our spray cleaners. (My personal favorite is our Shower Cleaner, which has a great fresh scent.) With cloth or brush in hand, you can use our cleaners on furniture, stairs, pillows, and other places your pets frequent.

This technique can also remove the scent of an animal no longer in the home. My white cat loved to sleep on my purple wool coat, and this method was the only thing that kept the coat purple.