These days if you're seen buying a bottle of any household cleaner without the word "natural" or "green" on the label, you will be chastised and made to feel you just clubbed a baby seal. It happened to me one time at a Walmart when the cashier, a hippy looking college student, rolled her eyes at my bottle of scrubbing bubbles. I have felt ashamed and judged ever since. So I decided I'd just stop buying cleaning products all together. Pshaw! Who needs to clean anyway.
I did a little research on the information superhighway and found out most of your household cleaners can be made with a few very common ingredients at home.
Your List to Save the Planet
Basic Ingredients for Household Cleaners
Ammonia
Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)
Borax
White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Rubbing Alcohol
Ammonia
Castile Soap*
Essential Oils
Hydrogen Peroxide
Essential oils can be found in health or natural foods stores. You can also find many different assortments for ordering off the internet. My favorites are lavender, orange, lemon, peppermint, wintergreen, eucalyptus, tea tree. I could go on, I have many favorites. Some oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint have natural disinfectant properties. Vinegar is also a natural disinfectant.
*I have yet to find a local source for castile soap. You can order it online. Amazon carries many different varieties in different quantities. It is pricey but goes a long way and is used in many homemade beauty items as well. If you would like to read more about castile soap, click here. If you don't want to commit to castile soap; please feel free to substitute the same quantity with a mild liquid soap like baby shampoo.
General All Purpose Household Cleaner
Great for all hard surfaces and carpet*
*Please spot test on fabric when appropriate
*Please spot test on fabric when appropriate
1/4 teaspoon essential oil (I like lemon or orange)
2 Tablespoons castile or mild soap
2 teaspoons washing soda (Arm & Hammer)
1/4 cup white or infused* vinegar
warm distilled water to fill 32 oz. spray bottle
Simply pour all ingredients in no particular order into your bottle and gently swish to combine.
Infused Vinegar*
Infused vinegar can be made by combining the peel of one citrus fruit, like orange or lemon, to three cups white vinegar. Store mixture in a quart container that can be sealed air tight. Place on shelf for two weeks and stir occasionally.
Infused Vinegar*
Infused vinegar can be made by combining the peel of one citrus fruit, like orange or lemon, to three cups white vinegar. Store mixture in a quart container that can be sealed air tight. Place on shelf for two weeks and stir occasionally.
Happy Cleaning!
Posts
Shannon, I love the infused vinegar idea! I use a 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water spray for virtually everything. I love the idea of infusing it with grapefruit. I am totally doing it.
ReplyDeleteToilet and bathtub cleaner is virtually the only 'bad' cleaning product I still buy. I need to try this recipe. Do you think it would work for that?
Thanks, Becca. I use this cleaner for the bathtub with a magic eraser for tough soap scum. I use borax and lemon juice to clean my toilet but I hear borax with vinegar also works well. More cleaning recipes to come!
ReplyDeleteWell, I must say i am happy to hear you liked my post-Gary Spain. But I have to say many many thanks for the cleaner "recipe". I am going to give it a try! My kitchen design is taking way longer than I thought-so many options to get it "just right"!! lol
ReplyDeleteAKxo
I use a vinegar water spray for quick cleanups and I make my own laundry detergent! but in many ways I am still clubbing baby seals. It's my sink of lysol water used to wipe down everything at the end of the day that I am having trouble giving up. Okay, and comet. And toilet cleaner and the scrubbing bubbles.
ReplyDeleteBut I am feeling inspired to try this.