Cleaning

So many of the chemicals we use to clean our house are not only harmful to the environment, they are harmful to us.  They also take a big chunk out of our household expenses.  With a little planning, and a few key ingredients, it is easy, inexpensive, and much healthier to make your own cleaning products.

I’ve made and used most of the cleaning products below.  I’ve been very pleased with the results (and so have my lungs) and even more pleased with the grocery bill – no more expensive cleaning products.  The house is clean and smells great!

I found these recipes from various places around the internet, but many of them must be credited to One Good Thing by Jillee.  She constantly experiments and comes up with new, cheaper, and healthier alternatives to store bought chemical products.  Thanks Jillee.

Essential Ingredients
Baking soda
Borax
Castile soap
Epsom salt
Essential oils
Liquid laundry detergent
Vinegar
Washing soda
Essential Containers

Spray bottles
Plastic or glass storage containers
Squeeze bottles

All-Purpose Spray Cleaner
Makes 2 medium bottles
2 cups hot tap water
½ cup castile soap
¼ cup vinegar (dissolved)
2 teaspoon Borax
¼ teaspoon liquid soap

Combine the ingredients and pour into spray bottles.
Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.

Carpet Deodorizer
2 cups baking soda
10 drops favorite essential oil

Mix ingredients.
Sprinkle powder on carpet.
Let sit for 30-60 minutes.
Vacuum.

Carpet Stain Remover
2 cups water
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda

Mix baking soda and vinegar.
Add water and stir.
Pour solution into a spray bottle.
Scrub cleaner into stain with a brush.
Wait 5-10 minutes and blot dry.

Dishwasher Tablets
2 cups Washing soda or Baking soda
2 cups Borax
1/2 cup Kosher salt or Epsom salt
1/2 cup vinegar
15-20 drops of Lemon essential oil
¼ cup vinegar

Mix ingredients together with a spoon.
Press mixture into two ice cube trays, until hard packed.
Wait until DRY and hard for at least 24 hours.
Unmold them from trays and store in a container.
Use one tablet per load and splash ¼ cup vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher.

Dishwasher Soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
2/3 cup sea salt
1 packet sugar free lemonade
¼ cup vinegar

Mix ingredients and pour into plastic container.
Add 1 tablespoon to dishwasher for cleaning.
splash ¼ cup vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher.

Dryel Cloths
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon borax
1 teaspoon oxygen bleach
3 drops lavender essential oil
White cloth

Soak cloth in solution, squeeze out the excess liquid, toss into the Dryel “steam bag” with the item and put it in the dryer for the recommended 30 minutes.
Soak additional cloths in excess and store is ziplock bags.

Furniture Polish
1 cup oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
60 drops essential oil

Mix the ingredients in a glass jar.
Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces.
Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

Goo gone
One part vegetable oil
For every two parts baking soda

Stir together.
Store in glass or plastic jar.

Kitchen Deodorizer
Vinegar

Fill clean spray bottle with straight vinegar.
Use on kitchen counters and cutting boards.
Also good for bathroom counters and toilet rims.

Laminate Floor Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
1 gallon hot water

Mix in spray bottle.
Spritz small area of floor and dry mop.

Laundry Soap
1 (4 lb 12 oz) box Borax
1 (4 lb) box Baking Soda
1 (3 lb 7 oz) box Super Washing Soda
2 (3.5 lb) containers oxyclean
3 bars of Fels-naptha soap or pink Zote soap
1 container lavender fabric softener crystals

Grate soap.
Toss all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag.
Store in sealable plastic containers with a small scoop for dispensing.

Linen Spray
1 teaspoon lavender essential oil
¼ cup unflavored vodka
3 ½ cups filtered water

Mix lavender oil and vodka in a small bowl. The alcohol works as an emulsifier, allowing the oil and water to mix evenly.
Pour the lavender-vodka mix into a spray bottle.
Add water, and shake.
Shake well before each use.

Mold Killer
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water

Combine ingredients in spray bottle, shake to blend.
Spray on problem areas.
Do not rinse.

Oven Cleaner
1 cup or more baking soda
Water
1-2 tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda until the surface is totally white.
Sprinkle more water over the top.
Let the mixture set overnight.
Wipe up the loosened grease the next morning.
Use liquid detergent on a sponge and wash the remaining residue from the oven.

Soap Scum Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
1 cup blue dawn

Heat vinegar 2 minutes in microwave.
Mix in blue dawn.
Pour into spray bottle for cleaning.
For tough stains, spray and leave on overnight.

Soft Scrub
1 cup of baking soda
1 cup borax
1 cup castile soap
30  drops essential oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
1+ tablespoon water to achieve desired consistency

Combine ingredients to make a texture like frosting.
Pour into squeeze bottle.
Squeeze desired amount onto a sponge for cleaning.

Tile Floor Cleaner
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon liquid laundry detergent
1-2 gallons hot water

Mix baking soda and dish soap with hot water.
Add vinegar.
Mop.

Window & Glass Cleaner
Makes 2 medium bottles
4 cups of water
½ cup rubbing alcohol
½ cup vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstartch (dissolved)

Shake to dissolve cornstarch.
Shake often to keep mixed.

Shower Spray
Makes 2 medium bottles
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 teaspoons Castille soap
10 drops essential oil

Lightly mist walls and tub after shower.

Stain Remover
One part Dawn dishwashing liquid mixed
Two parts Hydrogen Peroxide

Pour the mixture directly on the stain, and watch it disappear.
(Particularly tough stain, add baking soda & scrub.)