I can’t tell you how amazed I am to see household cleaner commercials where the mom just finishes cleaning the kitchen and the whole family comes in sniffing up the fumes of the toxic products- breathing them deep into their bodies. Or the ones that show the mean nasty germs and the sweet vulnerable child that must be protected from them using….poison! It kills me (literally I am afraid).
But I will also tell you how fun (yes, I said fun, and I mean it) it is to make my own cleaners. Why is this fun? Because it costs almost nothing, I get to choose my own scents to go with the season, and when I run out, I always have more to whip up without going to the store.
So vow to never buy chemicals to spread around your home again and get yourself a supply of the following:
White vinegar is a natural deodorizer and disinfectant. (And no, your bathroom won’t smell like a salad! Any vinegar aroma disappears when dry.) And because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar makes a great fabric softener. Mix in a sprayer bottle with water for regular cleaning, or straight for tough jobs, like hard water stains or soap scum. And use for cleaning glass and windows. Works especially well with newspapers instead of cloths or paper towels! Streak -free fast!
Baking soda’s mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Sprinkle and let sit for tough jobs.
Borax can be used instead of baking soda but not around food surfaces! It is dangerous to ingest, so use it in the bathroom where it kills germs and deodorizes.
Olive Oil mixed with lemon juice is wonderful for wood furniture and floors instead of using petroleum based waxes and polishes. Mix 1 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup lemon juice (or use straight).
Lemon Juice- see above
Castille soap is a great all-purpose soap to have around. It can be diluted so much that a bottle will last a long time. I dilute it for liquid hand cleaner, but it is also great for cleaning spots on the sofa, scrubbing grout…anything!
Essential oils like tea tree and cinnamon have disinfecting properties, but I use them just because they smell so great. I sprinkle a few drops in my vinegar concoction and I change it up with the season….fruity lemon or grapefruit in the summer, floral jasmine in spring, clove in fall, allspice in winter. If that doesn’t spark your homemade cleaning bug then I don’t know what will!
