Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes - Part 3

Laundry Detergent

2.5 oz grated bar soap (use your scraps)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda

Mix. Use ½ cup of mixture per load.

Lime Deposits (tea and coffee pots)
½ cup vinegar
2 cups hot water

Allow to soak. Rinse with water.

Mold/Mildew Remover (Recipe 1)

1 part hydrogen peroxide
2 parts water

Mix, place in spray bottle, and use directly on mold. Allow to sit for 1 hour and rinse.

Mold/Mildew Remover (Recipe 2)

lemon juice OR vinegar
Apply directly on mold using a spray bottle.
Allow to sit, then rinse clean.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 cup borax
½ cup lemon juice
Pour into bowl. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse.

Window Cleaner

2 tsp vinegar
4 cups warm water

Use a cotton cloth to apply to windows, buffing streaks.

There are many other combinations and useful tips for cleaning using natural ingredients. A quick search on the Internet will provide countless other recipe variations.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes - Part 2

Dishwasher Soap

1 part borax
1 part washing soda

Use 2 tbsp of mixture per load. Use vinegar as a rinse agent.

Disinfectant

2 tsp borax
4 tbsp vinegar
3 cups hot water

Apply with a dampened cloth.

Floor Cleaner

1 cup vinegar
1 gal hot water

Apply with a damp cloth or mop.

Furniture Polish (Recipe 1)

3-4 drops lemon essential oil
½ cup warm water

Apply with damp cloth. Then buff with a soft, dry cloth.

Furniture Polish (Recipe 2)

¾ cup flax seed oil
¼ cup beeswax
1 tsp lemon essential oil

Melt wax and oil. Allow to slightly cool, add lemon essential oil. Pour into a tin or jar to solidify. Apply a thin layer to wood in circular motions, then wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth.

More recipes to follow.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes - Part 1

All-Purpose Cleaner

½ cup vinegar
½ cup baking soda
½ gallon water

Mix and use to clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces, including tile, fixtures, windows, and mirrors.




Bathroom Cleaner

1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
2 tbsp liquid soap
1-2 tbsp lemon OR tea tree essential oil

Mix dry ingredients. Add liquid soap essential oil and blend well. Wet surface and sprinkle a small amount of powder. Gently scour surface with a damp cloth. Rinse well. Do not use on fiberglass or metal.

Carpet Stain Remover

1 part vinegar
1 part water

Mix, place in spray bottle, and use directly on stain. Allow to sit for a few minutes and clean with a soft cloth with warm, soapy water.

More recipes to follow.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Cleaning the Home

Natural home care products are typically made with inexpensive ingredients and are very easy to make. Some of these products include window cleaner, furniture polish, laundry and dishwasher detergent, and more. These products are excellent cleaners, sometimes more effective than harsher chemical versions. They are also eco-friendly and gentler on the environment than store brand chemical cleaners. Most are non-toxic and safer to use than chemical products. When cleaning, you should still wear rubber gloves for your protection.

Cleaning the Home

The top ingredients for cleaning naturally:

· Baking soda . Used to clean, deodorize and scrub surfaces. It rinses well and is non-toxic.
· Borax . Used to clean, deodorize, and disinfect. Can be used on painted surfaces.
· Citric Acid . Used for de-scaling shower heads, faucets, and more. Use with care.
· Cornstarch . Used to clean windows and carpets and polish furniture. Non-toxic.
· Essential Oils . Some oils disinfect, kill bacteria, freshen, and even repel pests.
· Lemon Juice . Kills bacteria, cuts grease, deodorizes, and freshens. Non-toxic.
· Hydrogen Peroxide . Natural bleaching, disinfects, removes stains, and is non-toxic.
· Isopropyl Alcohol . Disinfects. Use with care.
· Soap . Used to clean almost anything. Non toxic.
· Washing soda . Cuts grease, removes stains, and cleans bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Use with care.
· White vinegar . Cuts grease, sanitizes, deodorizes, and removes stains and mildew. Non-toxic.

Homemade cleaning recipes to follow.