Mar 3, 2014

Natural and effective cleaners you can DIY

When I first got married I was tasked with cleaning out my husband's bachelor pad that he had rented out for a while.  There were cats, guys, and a huge mess.  It was a small condo that had little cross ventilation and I knew it would take a few days to clean. I looked for non toxic products that I could use and came across some 'recipes' that I modified.  I loved how they worked and how easy it was to make.  Finally, people are starting to realize that indoor home health is important and seek out products that are "green" and safe.  I buy bulk baking soda and vinegar, essential oils from Jimbos Naturally or Amazon.com, Castile at Trader Joes, and alcohol and borax at Walmart. 

All-Purpose Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
½ gal. water
1/2 cup lemon juice (I added this to weaken the vinegar scent)
Directions: Spray on surface and wipe clean with a dry cloth (let sit longer for heavily soiled areas)
Disinfectant
¼ cup baking soda
4 tbsp vinegar
3 cups hot water
¼ tsp castile soap
Directions: Spray and wipe down. You will want to go over again with a cloth soaked in hot water so there is no baking soda residue leftover.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
½ cup baking soda
1/8 cup castile soap
10 drops essential oil 
If possible, make this in a cleaned out ketchup or mustard squeeze bottle. Squeeze out along rim of toilet bowl then spray with pure vinegar, allow to foam for 10 minutes then flush. No scrubbing needed (unless extremely soiled)!
Glass Cleaner
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup water
1 tbsp vinegar
Don't add oils or you'll get streaks. Spray and wipe clean.



Wood Floors
¼ cup vinegar
30 oz water
(do not allow vinegar to stay on wood, make sure it is rinsed properly.)
Or
¼ cup olive or vegetable oil
¼ cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil
Directions: Use microfiber mop to apply and go over again with damp cloth with hot water to get vinegar off.
Dusting – Wood
1 cup olive oil
½ cup lemon juice
Directions: Rub in with cotton or microfiber cloth using wide strokes.
Baseboards, countertops, and walls: Dissolve ½ cup borax in 1 gallon hot water and pour the solution into a spray bottle (which you can store for later use). Spritz generously, wipe down and let air-dry.

China (including hand painted): Soak china in a dishpan filled with warm water and ½ cup borax; rinse well.

Dishwasher: If the machine is smelling like last night’s chicken cacciatore, sprinkle borax in the bottom, let it sit overnight, then wipe down with a damp sponge. No need to rinse; just run the next load.

Pots and pans: Rub borax into cookware with a damp sponge; rinse well.

Toilet: Pour borax in the bowl and let it sit overnight.