Previously I mentioned a few naturally available cleaning agents that you can employ to make your own cleaning materials. Now I will expand on that list to include a few more items you can use and how to use them.
In the first post I talked about baking soda, vinegar, borax and castile soap along with herb essential oils. This time we will add a few more.
Baking soda. It's the grit. When you're
scrubbing, you sometimes need to be like Mike--mildly abrasive, but in a good
way. Baking soda also fizzes when you mix it with water, vinegar or lemon, and
that can speed up cleaning.
Borax. Even without the twenty mules, this helpful cleaner disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes.
Borax. Even without the twenty mules, this helpful cleaner disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes.
Distilled white vinegar. This natural disinfectant also breaks
up dirt. Apple cider and red vinegars work, too, but they can stain. All three
do windows. Vegetable based (liquid
castile) soap This
is a non-petroleum cleaner you can use for all kinds of jobs.
Hydrogen Peroxide. Put the 3% solution you get at the drugstore into a spray bottle
and use it instead of your usual kitchen and bath cleaner. It cleans,
disinfects, and bleaches.
Lemons Lemon juice is a good grease cutter.
Bottled works almost as well as fresh squeezed.
Olive oil It's a furniture polish. No need to use extra virgin.
Washing soda It removes stains and helps unblock pipes, but it is caustic. You need to use care and gloves.
RECIPES
Fruit
& Veggie Wash
Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt
and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide to a sink of cold
water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
Food
Stain Dissolver
Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide
with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it
sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and
the baked-on stains will lift right off.
All-Purpose Cleaner with Lavender
You can bump up the intensity of the lavender scent, use a castile soap
that is already imbued with lavender. This spray is perfect in a spray mop.
2 tablespoons
distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon borax
Distilled or purified water
Distilled or purified water
1/4 cup lavender
liquid castile soap
10 drops lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Mix vinegar and
borax in a 16-ounce bottle. Fill the bottle 3/4 full with hot water. Shake
until borax is dissolved. Add the soap, essential oil and lemon juice. Shake
well.
Antibacterial Soap Spray
16 oz. spray bottle
14 oz. water or rosemary hydrosol
3 Tbls castile soap
15 drops of tea tree essential oil
15 drops of oregano essential oil
Use this cleaning spray to disinfect your bathroom surfaces. You can use the Super Surface Spray to rinse away any residue left behind by the castile soap.
Thyme Counter Cleaner
This
recipe makes cleaning your counters a breeze! Castile soap lifts dirt and
grime, while the water helps rinse it away. Germ-busting thyme is infused into
common isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which helps the spray dry to a non-streak
shine. If you’re sensitive to the scent of rubbing alcohol, try using clear
vodka instead.
3
tablespoons (45 ml) isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
2
teaspoons (10 ml) liquid castile soap
2
tablespoons (1 g) dried thyme
1
cup (250 ml) water
Thyme Infused Alcohol - place the thyme leaves in a small cup
or jar and pour the alcohol over them. Cover, and infuse overnight. Visual
bonus: the alcohol will turn a pretty shade of green.
To mix counter cleaner - Fill a spray bottle or jar with the
water, then gently stir in the castile soap. Pour the infused alcohol into the
mixture and stir once more. Be sure to label your counter cleaner, so no one
mistakenly thinks it’s an herbal mixture that can be ingested, and keep it out
of the reach of small children.
To Use: Shake gently before each use. Spritz
over your counters, paying extra attention to especially dirty spots. Use a rag
or paper towel to wipe and buff dry.
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