Most homes contain various store-bought products for cleaning. Many
of these manufactured cleaning products are toxic. You can replace
these products with safer alternatives that are easy to make and
economical, too.
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The basic ingredients are items that are either readily available in
your home or easy to find at your local grocery store. Homemade
cleaners are versatile, so they require less storage space than all
of your conventional cleaning products. The results are impressive
and will equal and often outperform commercial cleaners.
Basic ingredients checklist
Baking soda
Vinegar
Water
Lemon juice
Ammonia
Salt
Borax
Vegetable or olive oil
Club soda
Isopropyl alcohol
Toothpaste
Spray bottles
Before you get started
Mix in a well-ventilated area.
Label containers and store in a safe place.
Use containers with tight-fitting lids.
Don't reuse old containers from other cleaners.
Don't mix bleach and ammonia.
Don't store in food containers.
Test an area before using any cleaner.
Quick tips
Dusting �?Re-use dryer sheets, instead of Pledge or Swiffer cloths.
Linoleum floors �?Use club soda.
Fabric softener �?Add vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Microwave cleaner �?Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda or lemon juice
and 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for five
minutes or until the liquid boils and condensation builds up inside
the microwave.
Chrome cleaner �?Use toothpaste.
Dishwasher rinse �?Use 1-1/2 cups of white vinegar added to the rinse
compartment of your dishwasher.
The following recipes are safe and non-toxic.
Glass Cleaner
1 gallon water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon liquid dish detergent
or
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Mix and add to a spray bottle.
Wood Floor Cleaner
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Mix well.
All-Purpose Cleaner
1 tsp. borax
1/2 Tsp. washing soda
2 T. lemon juice
In a spray bottle, combine the ingredients with 1 cup of hot water
and shake.
Furniture Polish
1 cup vegetable or olive oil
½ cup lemon juice
Combine in a spray bottle mix, shake well and apply a small amount to
a cloth.
Multi-Purpose Deep Cleaner
1 cup household ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1 gallon warm water
Mix well.
As you can see, homemade cleaners are simple and frugal to make. They
are safe and effective, too. Replacing even one of your conventional
cleaners with a greener alternative can make a difference. You've got
to ask yourself if you're "killing yourself" trying to clean your
house with commercial chemicals.
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