Make Your Own Green Cleaning Products - 5 Eco-Friendly DIY Recipes
Last Week I wrote about 8 Simple Household Ingredients that you can use to clean your home. Instead of harsh store-bought cleaners, try some of these DIY green cleaning recipes to get your house squeaky clean with no toxic residue.
Borax, Baking Soda, Dr.Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap, White Vinegar, and Essential Oils
- All-Purpose Cleaner - Fill an empty spray bottle half way with white vinegar, then top it off with water. Add 5-20 drops of your favorite essential oil ( I prefer Lemon, Wild Orange, Lavender, or Melaleuca.) This will not only help cover up the strong vinegar odor, many essential oils offer some added disinfectant power. NOTE: Due to vinegar's acidic nature, it can possibly damage certain surfaces such as granite counter tops. Always test in a small inconspicuous area.
- Laundry Detergent - You will need Washing Soda, Borax, Baking Soda, and your favorite bar soap. My favorite is Dr.Bronner's Magic Soaps. The first step is to grate two cups of the soap. Next, add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax. Be careful to mix slowly, so you don't inhale any of the borax dust. Finally, mix in 1 cup of baking soda and make sure all the ingredients are thoroughly blended. Store in a glass mason jar, and start enjoying the health benefits for only pennies a load! Use 1 tablespoon of this laundry soap per load. I recommend using warm or hot wash cycles for the soap to be most effective.
- Oven Cleaner - Spray inside of the oven with the All-Purpose cleaner I mentioned earlier. Then liberally sprinkle baking soda all around the affected area. Let stand for at least 10 minutes. Scrub off with steel wool, or a wire brush. For serious stuck-on stuff, let the mixture sit for several hours, or even over night before scrubbing. Use this cost effective method to get your oven looking like new! Avoid the harsh chemicals typically found in off the shelf oven cleaners.
Vinegar Solution, and Baking Powder
- Toilet Cleaner - One cup of vinegar and a squirt of liquid castile soap are all you need for a sparkling clean, deodorized toilet bowl. Pour in vinegar, squirt castile soap under the rim, scrub with a toilet brush, and flush. Add essential oils of your choosing for desired scent.
- Carpet Cleaner/Stain Remover - Always test in a small inconspicuous area first!
- 1 cup baking soda
- 18 drops natural/organic essential oil
- 1 teaspoon liquid soap (Dr. Bronner's)
- Mix baking soda and essential oil.
- Add liquid soap and mix, until a creamy paste forms.
- Apply to spots on carpet. Scrub and blot dry.
I hope this list helps you get one step closer to moving away from all toxic store bought cleaning products. Not only will you find these methods to be just as effective, they are considerably more affordable, while improving your indoor air quality at the same time!
If you have any questions or some of your own recipes, please share below!
