Sundown Sailing Adventures

CAUTION: This blog post sounds a bit like an advertisement, but I mean every word of it!

Can something be clean and still green? Absolutely! As long as the green isn’t mold.

FOne of our reasons for moving aboard a sailboat is to reduce our carbon footprint and be better stewards of the earth. Therefore, it’s important everything we do to maintain Sundown is environmentally friendly. Enter NORWEX products…

My big sis, Terri, introduced me to the wonderful world of Norwex when she became a distributor a couples years ago; I’m a distributor now, too, but that’s besides the point.

Norwex strives to “improve quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our homes.” The company features a naturally antibacterial, silver-infused microfiber cloth system and other products made of natural substances. I use them all to keep Sundown, and Clay and I clean.

I use Norwex’s Cleaning Paste, made from marble flour, coconut oil and natural soap, in combination with fresh water and a Norwex EnviroCloth and Window (polishing) Cloth or old toothbrush to keep all of Sundown’s stainless steel rust free and shiny. (I know stainless isn’t supposed to rust, but it can. It’s really rust resistant, not rust proof). I also clean blemishes off the gel-coat exterior with either an EnviroCloth or that with a bit of cleaning paste. It works wonders!

Norwex’s Window Cloth and a spritz of water also work wonders to keep our port lights sparkling clear. And when Sundown’s coated with dew, an EnviroCloth wipes her clean and dry. It also is great for wiping down the shower.

Here’s a list of other Norwex products I use to keep us clean and green:

• An Entry Mat keeps unwanted dirt from getting belowdecks
• A Dusting Mitt gets rid of the dust that accumulates on Sundown’s interior surfaces
• Kitchen Cloths and Towels keep galley surfaces and tools clean and dry
• Mighty Mesh Pot Scrubbers clean our skillets and wok using only hot water (no soap, which damages the stick-free patina)
• The Dishwashing Liquid cleans our dishes, pots and silverware, and then goes down and out the drain without harming sea life
• A Veggie and Fruit Scrub Cloth frees our fresh produce from unwanted dirt and bacteria
• Charcoal based Air Freshener Bags keep our freezer, fridge and the head smelling fresh
• A couple of Washing Nets hold our dirty clothes till I wash them using Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent
• Mattress Cleaner helps ensure our $2,000 custom fit bed stays clean of mildew and unwanted bed mates
• The Sanira Toilet Brush System keeps our toilet sanitized and stain free
• I use a Silver Care Toothbrush to keep my pearly whites and gums healthy
• Crystal Deodorant keeps me smelling good
• Peppermint Foaming Hand Wash clean our hands of marine gunk
• Bath and Body Towels dry us off and dry quick without acquiring that sour smell

Beyond being environmentally friendly, I love Norwex products because they reduce the number of chemical products we have on board and the space needed to store them. No glass cleaner, no Comet or Ajax, no 409, no Mr. Clean. Just clean and green!

If you’re interested in learning more, check out the 2016 Norwex e-catalogue and let me know if you want to try any of the products. They will be shipped directory to your home…whether it’s floating or land based.