Do you have an "ethos"?

[Nature'sKids!]

I'm planningto go along a "natural" route (coulda guessed that probably lol)

Cloth nappies, organic vegetarian food, outdoor time as often as possible etc

[uf353432]

my own parenting style is natural route - I am a BW, cloth nappy, Breastfeeding mummy...as a childminder I support all parents (cloth and disposable, BF and formula, etc.)

I strongly beleive that outdoor play in all weathers is paramount to happy kids.
I home cook everything from scratch, talk to children without using a baby voice and ask lots of questions from them to guage what they want to do - I beleive in free play, letting kids lead and I also beleive in firm straight forward and clear and simple boundaries. I treat all children ith respect and ask the same in return towards me and each other.I beleive in fairness. Most of my parents are ike me in this respect - the other stuff is just semantics.

[Twinkles]

We have a very outdoorsy setting. I always warn parents that their children will get grubby here as we believe in letting them explore the natural environment.

We also believe in good home cooked food and are at the moment looking at ways to reduce our use of chemicals in cleaning products.

So basically - good food - fresh air and exercise. And the freedom to just be kids !

[Nature'sKids!]

We have a very outdoorsy setting. I always warn parents that their children will get grubby here as we believe in letting them explore the natural environment.

We also believe in good home cooked food and are at the moment looking at ways to reduce our use of chemicals in cleaning products.

So basically - good food - fresh air and exercise. And the freedom to just be kids !

Sound good!

[Flisspaps]

Twinkles there is very little that cannot be cleaned using white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or just good old washing up liquid.

For cleaning the floors, a steam mop uses just water (although if you're going down an eco-route then you need to consider the electricty usage, although that may balance out against the gas you'd use heating up water for a conventional mop bucket!).

I try to avoid using chemicals if I can - one immediate plus point of not having them around means that little hands can't get to them!

[Helen79]

Twinkles there is very little that cannot be cleaned using white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or just good old washing up liquid.

For cleaning the floors, a steam mop uses just water (although if you're going down an eco-route then you need to consider the electricty usage, although that may balance out against the gas you'd use heating up water for a conventional mop bucket!).

we use vinegar and bicarb too Mixing tea tree or lavender oil with water makes a good anti-bac spray and orange oil cleans up grease off the hob.

[rosebud]

we use vinegar and bicarb too Mixing tea tree or lavender oil with water makes a good anti-bac spray and orange oil cleans up grease off the hob.

I assume the tea tree and lavender oil spray is good for cleaning toys but what do you use for cleaning things like changing mats where there will be lots of germs?

[Nature'sKids!]

Twinkles there is very little that cannot be cleaned using white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or just good old washing up liquid.

For cleaning the floors, a steam mop uses just water (although if you're going down an eco-route then you need to consider the electricty usage, although that may balance out against the gas you'd use heating up water for a conventional mop bucket!).

I try to avoid using chemicals if I can - one immediate plus point of not having them around means that little hands can't get to them!

I use tescos own natural cleaning range for most things.
Vinegar with essential oils like tea tree (antibacterial) works well too!
I MUST get a steammop! Why oh why have I never thought about it before?? Kitchen and playroom are tiled, as is the entrance hallway and they get mucky so often. *thankyou* for reminding me!

[Nature'sKids!]

I assume the tea tree and lavender oil spray is good for cleaning toys but what do you use for cleaning things like changing mats where there will be lots of germs?

Clean it down with HOT water once a day which kills germs too, along with tea tree that should be fine.
Also, you could use a small towel for each child and place it on the mat before using it?
You could search online for ready made natural antibacterial sprays.
I found a natural antibacterial hand sanitised just a couple of weeks ago, which I use when out and about.

[Twinkles]

I use tescos own natural cleaning range for most things.
Vinegar with essential oils like tea tree (antibacterial) works well too!
I MUST get a steammop! Why oh why have I never thought about it before?? Kitchen and playroom are tiled, as is the entrance hallway and they get mucky so often. *thankyou* for reminding me!

Thanks for that. Will try the tea tree oil spray.

A steam mop is on my wish list !

Can you please put up a link for the hand sanitiser ? This is something I use all the time and would love a more natural one.

[Helen79]

Can you please put up a link for the hand sanitiser ? This is something I use all the time and would love a more natural one.

I think Holland and Barrat sell one. Here's a recipe I've got for one, I've never tried it though
250ml of Aloe Vera Gel
5-10ml of Witch Hazel Hydrolat
3-4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
3-4 drops of Peppermint essential oil

[Flisspaps]

I assume the tea tree and lavender oil spray is good for cleaning toys but what do you use for cleaning things like changing mats where there will be lots of germs?

Lavender, Tea Tree and White Vinegar are all natural anti-bacterial agents.

You don't need to use harsh, expensive cleaning products, despite what the big anti-bac manufacturers would have you believe. Anyway, as NaturesKids says, a good wash with hot soapy water is enough to kill germs and it gets any actual dirt off as well (whereas anti-bac just kills germs, it doesn't remove dirt)

[Nature'sKids!]

Thanks for that. Will try the tea tree oil spray.

A steam mop is on my wish list !

Can you please put up a link for the hand sanitiser ? This is something I use all the time and would love a more natural one.

Its called quash and it's a spray, I bought it online

[watgem]

thank you for sharing all these lovely environmentally friendly ideas, they would probably be good for those with allergies too?

[Nature'sKids!]

thank you for sharing all these lovely environmentally friendly ideas, they would probably be good for those with allergies too?

It was my sons allergies that made me make the move away from chemicals - everything from creams, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, ... To toilet cleaner is natural based

[watgem]

I'm going to try and switch, my kids and hubby have asthma and spray cleaners set poor hubby off, so have been looking on different websites for ideas as well, thank you everyone for sharing.

[WibbleWobble]

yes






1 to stay sane and not hit the bottle before all of the mindees have gone home.

2 not swear until the above happens

3 not kill anyone

those are my ethosessssesssssseeesssssss or is that ethi?

mandy xxx

[Nature'sKids!]

I'm going to try and switch, my kids and hubby have asthma and spray cleaners set poor hubby off, so have been looking on different websites for ideas as well, thank you everyone for sharing.

If you have any questions or need anadvice (ds has asthma too) pm me

[juelmer]

Hi,

If you're looking to use less chemicals and go the natural route which I did about a year ago you could check out my Facebook page where I sell Aloe Vera and Bee Products. One new product that has just been realised is a Hand sanitizer which doesn't dry your hands or smell of chemicals. I am also running a competition at the moment to win an aluminium free deodorant.

juliesaloe

Thanks :0)

Forgot to say that Forum members get 15% discount

[mushpea]

I used to have a steam mop but it broke and I never replaced it because my mum said 'well where does the dirt go, surley it just gets pushed around the floor' and i can see her point as with a n ormal mop you rinse it in the buckent so I have gone back to mop and buckett with bleach but please somoone convince me the steam mop is more hygenic!!