Cleaning with Natural Products - Starting out

The pleasure of working with herbs, not only in the garden but in my home, everyday give me tremendous fulfillment.  From cooking with herbs, to herbal teas, to bath items I can use without worry, they are everywhere in my life.  

This time I year I really enjoy the fact that I can create herbal recipes to sweeten, freshen and disinfect my home.  Herbs, along with essential oils, have been part of my cleaning ritual for so long I cannot imagine not using them.  I’ve added herbs to bath and shower disinfectants, floor cleaners, and carpet fresheners.  

I have done a number of different herb programs, but one of my most popular is a “Green Cleaning” program that details ways to clean, disinfect and freshen your home using herbs.

I recommend starting your natural cleaning supply shelf for your herbal natural cleaning recipes with... a bottle of Castile Soap, some straight borax, baking soda, vinegar, ammonia, and the following essential oils: thyme, pine, lavender, tea tree, and a citrus oil like lemon or orange.  With these and a few other ingredients you can craft simple and effective cleaning supplies for little money and with little effort.

At the bottom of this post and several other times this moth, I will share a few items you can craft at home.  This starter article with give you the details for what supplies you need and where to find them. 

Where to get your Supplies

Borax is available in the cleaning aisle of the grocery store as well as at the drug store and sometimes the hardware store.

Baking soda is most commonly used in cooking so look for it not only in the laundry aisle at the grocery store but also with the baking supplies like flour and baking powder.

Vinegar is in the salad dressing aisle of the grocery store.

Castile Soap which is a vegetable-based liquid soap is made by many companies the most common is Mrs. Meyers and Dr. Bonners.  I some areas you will find these only in specialty health food and whole food stores, but in other more urban areas, you will find it in the soap aisle, laundry aisle or the beauty aisle of your local hardware or Walmart.

Herbs and Essential Oils to Use

The herbs and essential oils that you’ll find most useful for various household tasks include those that inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Others are also good for cutting grease and removing stains. You must obtain your essential oils from a reputable source and there are many,  If you want them reasonably priced and of good quality, I recommend NOW brand, founded in 1968 they are one of the only companies to be doing this for more than 50 years.  Located here in Illinois with me, I can find now in the local Fruitful Yield chain, but they are also available in health food stores nationwide and online.  The following lists of herbs is a guide to making your own formulas.

Herbs that inhibit microorganisms: basil, bay, benzoin, bergamot, camphor, cardamom, chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, eucalyptus, fir, ginger, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, meadowsweet, myrrh, myrtle, nutmeg, orange, oregano, patchouli, peppermint, Peru balsam, pine, rose-scented geranium, rosemary sage, sandalwood, savory, spearmint, spruce, tea tree, and thyme.

Herbs that work on dirt and stains: balsam. cedar, cedarwood, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, orange, pine, rosemary, spruce, thyme

RECIPES

Essential Oil Scouring Powder

This scouring powder works wonders on tile grout stains, bathroom & kitchen sinks, and showers.  A soft sponge will work on mild stains and a nylon scrubber used with this will lift tough stains. Adding essential oils gives it the power to cut greasy dirt, battle microbes, while adding an appealing scent.

1/2 cup borax 

1/2 cup baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons each essential oils of lemon, orange, and grapefruit

Pour the borax and baking soda into a glass bowl. Stir in the lemon, orange, and grapefruit oils, mashing any lumps with a fork. Store in a glass or metal jar with a lid. Wear gloves when you use this cleanser.

Herbal Rug Fragrance

When our living-room rug smells musty, I hear about it right away from my husband, who does his morning exercises on it. Here’s a simple herbal solution. (If fleas are a problem in your house, add 2 cups of chopped, dried orange peel or pennyroyal leaf to the recipe.)

3 cups dried lavender flowers or leaves
2 cups dried rosemary leaves
3 pounds baking soda

In a large glass, earthenware, or stainless-steel bowl, blend the lavender flowers, rosemary leaves, and baking soda. Sprinkle the mix over a freshly vacuumed rug and leave overnight. Then vacuum again. Makes enough for an 8- by 11-foot rug/room. 

Herby Soft Scrub
12 oz glass jar with lid
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup castile soap
15 drops of antimicrobial essential oils like rosemary and sage

Mix well until you have a nice consistency like cake frosting. If you have leftovers, add 1 tsp vegetable glycerin to keep the blend nice and moist.

Mop-It-Up Formula
1/4 cup castile soap
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
20 drops of tea tree essential oil
20 drops of sweet orange essential oil


This is the perfect liquid cleaner for tile floors, vinyl, or linoleum.  Mix the ingredients together in a glass jar, then add the entire solution with 2 gallons of hot water and use it to mop away dirt and grime on all types of floor surfaces.

WORD TO THE WISE (DANGER)

When making your own cleaning supplies you must still remember the rule NEVER mix cleaning products.  Mixing anything that contains chlorine bleach with cleaners having vinegar or ammonia will create toxic chlorine gas 

I will be giving a few more tips on herbs and oils to use, a couple specialty recipes and several other cleaning recommendations in the coming weeks.