Why spend a fortune on cleaning products when you can use simple home ingredients, such as baking soda, lemons, and vinegar to make effective non-toxic cleaners that work in every room of your house.
Baking soda for instance works as a non-abrasive scouring cleaner on surface areas such as counter tops and ovens, in bathtubs and sinks. It can also rid clothes of perspiration odors when used with laundry detergent in the washer. The cleaning powers of baking soda reach far beyond its role as a fridge deodorizer!
Lemons, everyone loves the smell of lemons! I use lemon remains in my garbage disposal to clean and take away odors. The acid in lemon juice also neutralizes hard water deposits, dissolves buildup and dirt on wood and tarnish on silver. White vinegar
can be used in place of lemon juice. The infamous strong smell dissipates as the vinegar dries.
As a disinfectant, you can use grapefruit seed extract and essential oils such as lavender, clove, and tea tree oil which have antiseptic properties and operate as natural fungicides.
Here are a few quick and simple recipes to help you on your way to a clean and fresh, non-toxic living space.
Basic Wood Cleaning Formula
In a 16oz refillable container, mix together:
- 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid mild soap
- 5 drops olive oil
Combine the ingredients in the container. Use a micro-suede cloth and squeeze out the excess to wash surfaces of tired and dirty wood. The vinegar smell will dissipate. Dry with a soft cloth. This formula is for well-used furniture. The vinegar works to pull dirt out of the wood. It doesn’t leave an oily residue because the little bit of oil keeps the wood from drying out.
All Purpose Cleaner
In a 32oz refillable spray bottle, mix a solution of:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup vinegar
- 15 drops of your favorite essential oil blend (optional)
This will give you a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer.
Air Deodorizer
In a 32oz refillable spray bottle, mix together:
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 10 drops of your favorite blend of essential oil (optional)
Shake well and use to freshen any room in your house.
All Purpose Surface Cleaner
In a 16 oz refillable container, mix together:
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup salt
Stir with a plastic stir stick. Apply to surface and use a scrub brush or micro-suede cloth to scrub and wipe surfaces clean.
Furniture Polish
In a 32oz refillable spray bottle, mix together:
- 2 cup lemon juice or real lemons
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp water
- 10-20 drops of your favorite blend of essential oil
Shake well and lightly apply to furniture using a micro-suede cloth. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then buff.
Tile and Grout Paste
In a 16oz refillable container, mix together:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 ½ cups baking soda
Mix into a paste. Works great for cleaning tile and grout. Use a scrub brush to scrub the paste into grout.
Glass Cleaner
In a 32oz refillable spray bottle, mix a solution of:
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups vinegar
Use wherever you would use conventional glass cleaners and use newspaper to wipe clean
Light-colored Clothing Starch
In a 32oz refillable spray bottle:
- Dissolve 2 or 3 teaspoons of cornstarch into
- 2 cups of water
Shake well and use on light-colored clothing when ironing.
Dark-colored Clothing Starch
In a 32oz refillable spray bottle:
- Dissolve 2 or 3 teaspoons of cornstarch into
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup black tea.
Shake well and use on dark-colored clothing when ironing
Prevent Mold
In a 16oz refillable spray bottle
-1 to two-tsp of essential oil
-2 cups of water
or 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract to 1 quart of water
Shake well and use anywhere in the house to keep mold at bay
***Remember, always wear gloves while cleaning and always perform a test for allergies before using new ingredients or essential oils. Simply dab a bit of the item on the underside of your writs and watch for any indication of inflammation. HAPPY HOUSE CLEANING!
