Comments on: Mr. Clean http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/ Dada, bring my beer in the living room Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:49:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: alice http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35425 alice Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:19:20 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35425 <p>okay, i had to contribute. of course, magic sponges! of course, method cleaning products! but one thing that i've recently become attached to in my kitchen is one of those dumb scrubby brushes with a long handle and a little suction cup on the end. i buy mine at ikea for 2 dollars or so. i use it to brush the nasty food off my dishes before i put them in the dishwasher, i use it to wash my son's high chair tray, i use it to push food down the disposal. it's one of those kitchen items that i never really knew i NEEDED until i got one as a stocking stuffer. now i use it all the time, more than i ever use my sponge. i use the sponge for the actual "washing" part- like, i put the soap on it and lather up the pots & pans, but for all the gooey/flaky/chunky crap, i use the brush. </p> <p>also i've been skimming your blog this evening, it's cute and funny. got here via serious eats. :)</p> okay, i had to contribute. of course, magic sponges! of course, method cleaning products! but one thing that i’ve recently become attached to in my kitchen is one of those dumb scrubby brushes with a long handle and a little suction cup on the end. i buy mine at ikea for 2 dollars or so. i use it to brush the nasty food off my dishes before i put them in the dishwasher, i use it to wash my son’s high chair tray, i use it to push food down the disposal. it’s one of those kitchen items that i never really knew i NEEDED until i got one as a stocking stuffer. now i use it all the time, more than i ever use my sponge. i use the sponge for the actual “washing” part- like, i put the soap on it and lather up the pots & pans, but for all the gooey/flaky/chunky crap, i use the brush.

also i’ve been skimming your blog this evening, it’s cute and funny. got here via serious eats. :)

]]> By: Tamara http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35382 Tamara Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:49:25 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35382 <p>Bon Ami is truly better (and less toxic) than Ajax. But the one with the best name, by far, is Out You Scum. I've only ever seen it at dollar stores.</p> Bon Ami is truly better (and less toxic) than Ajax. But the one with the best name, by far, is Out You Scum. I’ve only ever seen it at dollar stores.

]]> By: chris http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35371 chris Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:30:29 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35371 <p>I second on the microfiber cloths, magic erasers and cleaning windows with newspaper. And the lab smells pleasantly of warm yeast, thank you, not hot mold. Why am I so into this post on cleaning products?</p> I second on the microfiber cloths, magic erasers and cleaning windows with newspaper. And the lab smells pleasantly of warm yeast, thank you, not hot mold. Why am I so into this post on cleaning products?

]]> By: Caroline http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35324 Caroline Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:11:27 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35324 <p>I totally wish I had a huge printout of this great artwork showing the family tree of all the classic food and other household corporate mascots: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/magazine/10FOOD.html As Amanda Hesser points out, for those who can't see the tiny repro image of the family tree, "Mr. Clean and the Brawny Man are now partners and have adopted the Gerber Baby." I'd also just like to point out that I have tried to wean myself from petroleum-based kitchen sponges by buying and using some of those eco-sponges, and they totally suck in the scrubbing department.</p> I totally wish I had a huge printout of this great artwork showing the family tree of all the classic food and other household corporate mascots: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/magazine/10FOOD.html As Amanda Hesser points out, for those who can’t see the tiny repro image of the family tree, “Mr. Clean and the Brawny Man are now partners and have adopted the Gerber Baby.” I’d also just like to point out that I have tried to wean myself from petroleum-based kitchen sponges by buying and using some of those eco-sponges, and they totally suck in the scrubbing department.

]]> By: Devlyn http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35316 Devlyn Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:42:57 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35316 <p>For scrubbing pots and pans (and all other dishes), I use knit dishcloths and almost-dry baking soda to get off anything tough - I've been using it for years, and totally love it. I get the 8# bags from costco for something like $4. I think I can even get it cheaper if I were to go to a ranch supply place to get a larger bag. I use a cheese-sprinkle jar (like the kind they have a Pizza Hut, or at least they did when I was a kid) next to the sink to hold the baking soda, and just shake as much as I need in the pan when I need it. I can't stand sponges, and once the dishcloths get nasty, I just pop them in the laundry with the towel load. Plus I can make more when I need them, and since I'm using scrap yarn, they're pretty much free.</p> For scrubbing pots and pans (and all other dishes), I use knit dishcloths and almost-dry baking soda to get off anything tough - I’ve been using it for years, and totally love it. I get the 8# bags from costco for something like $4. I think I can even get it cheaper if I were to go to a ranch supply place to get a larger bag. I use a cheese-sprinkle jar (like the kind they have a Pizza Hut, or at least they did when I was a kid) next to the sink to hold the baking soda, and just shake as much as I need in the pan when I need it. I can’t stand sponges, and once the dishcloths get nasty, I just pop them in the laundry with the towel load. Plus I can make more when I need them, and since I’m using scrap yarn, they’re pretty much free.

]]> By: mamster http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35313 mamster Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:18:12 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35313 <p>Yeah, I use DII brand microfiber dishtowels. Love 'em. I will get some Bon Ami, I'm convinced.</p> Yeah, I use DII brand microfiber dishtowels. Love ‘em. I will get some Bon Ami, I’m convinced.

]]> By: matt wright http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35312 matt wright Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:39:10 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35312 <p>I used Bar Keepers for ages - to get stainless pans clean, but heard that it was remarkably shit for the environment, so I switched to Bon Ami - which I really like. It takes more elbow work, but that is OK by me, and is far better for the planet.</p> <p>I like a nylon sponge thingie, that I got at Trader Joes. I am sure they are cheaper elsewhere. Those are good, combined with bon ami. A microfiber cloth works well as a dishcloth, and they way fine.</p> <p>I have used sponges for years, and never had any health problems from them.</p> <p>For general house cleaning, I use a mix of vinegar, water, baking soda and tea tree oil. Seems to clean high-chairs wonderfully, along with bathrooms too. Cheap is chips, and no nasty chemicals.</p> I used Bar Keepers for ages - to get stainless pans clean, but heard that it was remarkably shit for the environment, so I switched to Bon Ami - which I really like. It takes more elbow work, but that is OK by me, and is far better for the planet.

I like a nylon sponge thingie, that I got at Trader Joes. I am sure they are cheaper elsewhere. Those are good, combined with bon ami. A microfiber cloth works well as a dishcloth, and they way fine.

I have used sponges for years, and never had any health problems from them.

For general house cleaning, I use a mix of vinegar, water, baking soda and tea tree oil. Seems to clean high-chairs wonderfully, along with bathrooms too. Cheap is chips, and no nasty chemicals.

]]> By: Neil http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35311 Neil Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:28:23 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35311 <p>For most surfaces, glass and chrome, I use microfiber cleaning cloths. No chemicals (and therefor no scent), works great and they last forever. I got mine at Bloodbath and Beyond.</p> For most surfaces, glass and chrome, I use microfiber cleaning cloths. No chemicals (and therefor no scent), works great and they last forever. I got mine at Bloodbath and Beyond.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35306 Jessica Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:37:46 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35306 <p>Dobie pads are the best dish cleaner by far. The little pad in the center holds the soapy water, and the gentle netting gets Evil Stuff off dishes and pots and stuff.</p> <p>I took six of them with me when I went to live in Denmark for six months back in the early 80s. I only wish I'd taken more.</p> <ul> <li>Jessica</li> </ul> <p>P.S. Bar Keeper's Friend is pretty good stuff too.</p> Dobie pads are the best dish cleaner by far. The little pad in the center holds the soapy water, and the gentle netting gets Evil Stuff off dishes and pots and stuff.

I took six of them with me when I went to live in Denmark for six months back in the early 80s. I only wish I’d taken more.

  • Jessica

P.S. Bar Keeper’s Friend is pretty good stuff too.

]]> By: mamster http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-35284 mamster Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:57:02 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2008/10/17/mr-clean/#comment-35284 <p>chris, are you claiming the lab doesn't usually smell like hot mold?</p> chris, are you claiming the lab doesn’t usually smell like hot mold?

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