First, let’s go shopping. You will need distilled white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, unsweetened lemonade drink mix, Epsom salt, Kosher salt, liquid dish soap (I used Dawn Original), laundry soap bar (Fels Naptha), washing soda, and borax. You can also invest in some essential oils if you like but it is not required. It definitely helps to have plenty of rags & sponges, a couple spray bottles and some resealable containers. You will need a fine grater for the laundry soap (although I have read that you can microwave the soap for 2 mins to melt it and then stir briskly until it starts to flake). Remember, Dollar Tree is your friend. In fact, I use the cheap brooms from Dollar Tree as long handled scrub brushes for those stubborn spots and the corners. I bet the cheap mops can also be used to wipe down shower walls or clean tall windows. I just haven't tried that yet.
Now, let’s make our products …..
Bathroom Cleaner:
3/4 c. baking soda
juice from 1/2 a lemon (about 1/4 c)
3 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons liquid dishwashing soap
1/2 cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl to make a paste; use scrub brush or sponge to apply to tub, shower walls, & sinks. (Be sure to test a small area to make sure paste does not scuff tub surface; if so, eliminate the salt from the mixture! Rinse well with water and a wet rag, then dry with a clean rag or old towel.
My results: I got a pretty mint green foam instead of a paste. I used the foam to wipe down the bathroom and I must say that I was impressed. The porcelain and chrome gleamed. I dumped the left over foam into the toilet and ran a brush around. It didn't remove that stubborn water ring but so far neither has anything else.
Bonus: This can also be used on pets since all the ingredients are non-toxic. Dawn Original and vinegar are both suggested for flea control by several sources.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional)
Turn off flow valve to toilet & flush 1 or 2 times until water is drained. Pour in baking soda, then slowly pour in vinegar, being sure to get vinegar to cover as much of the bowl surface as possible, then add essential oil. The baking soda will react with the vinegar–this is normal! Use your toilet brush to scrub surface & remove any rings or stains. Turn water back on and flush.
My results: Meh. Turning the water on and off is more work then I'm willing to do on a regular basis but the water level in our bowl is normally low enough that I can still use this method. It's cheap and there are no added chemicals so I use it. Actually, I will first scrub with just the baking soda, then add a little bit of vinegar and scrub again. It keeps the water ring knocked down but doesn't completely remove it.
All Purpose Cleaning Spray
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon washing soda
1 teaspoon dishwashing soap
1 cup vinegar
4 cups hot water
25-30 drops essential oil (optional)
Whisk all ingredients together well in large bowl, then pour into spray bottle. Spray on, then wipe surface clean with a damp cloth. Can be used to clean and disinfect almost any surface!
My results: Note to self, read and follow all directions. I tried to mix this directly in the bottle and it took a long time to settle down so I could actually use it. Since I have adobe tile counter tops, it's kinda difficult to actually see the dirt and stains but I think it did a good job. The dish soap helped tame the vinegar smell plus that smell disappears once the surface is dry. Next up was the stove . I admit I am not the world's best housekeeper and our stove shows that. Everything just wiped right off using this cleaner. The vent hood wiped clean easily too. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
Glass Cleaner
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
5-10 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix vinegar, water, & essential oil together in spray bottle. Spray on glass & use squeegee, crumpled newspaper (Tip: use newspapers that are at least 2 weeks old to avoid black fingers!), or a lint-free rag to get a streak-free shine. Also works well to shine chrome and counter tops after you’ve disinfected them.
My results: I don't do windows .... I mean I haven't tried this yet
Furniture Polish
3/4 cup olive oil
juice from 1/4 lemon
1 tablespoon vinegar
3-4 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Dampen rag & squeeze out excess water. Dip damp rag into furniture polish, the wipe on surface of furniture. Buff off with an old dry towel. Can also be used to polish stainless steel!
My results: I don't have any furniture that needs polishing. Laminate over press board just doesn't need the same type of care as real wood. If anyone would like to try it and report back that would be fantastic.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
2 tablespoons baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar
2 cups warm water
Mix ingredients in spray bottle. Mixture will foam up; when it stops bubbling, put on cap and spray stainless steel surface, then wipe clean & dry with lint-free rag. To add extra shine, use furniture polish above.
My results: I don't have any stainless steel so I really can not evaluate this one. Anyone want to try it and report back on your results?
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent #1
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Washing Soda
1/4 Cup Epsom Salt
Lemon Juice
Mix dry ingredients together. Gradually add enough lemon juice to get everything clumping together. You will end up using approximately 8 tablespoons, maybe more, maybe less. Firmly press the mixture into ice cube trays and then let sit out over night to dry.
My results: We have mixed opinions on this one. I have found it to work best when you add a little vinegar to the rinse dispenser. It is also very important to pre-rinse greasy dishes and to make sure the water is hot from the very beginning. Which means in actual practice, we often end up with cloudy and/or greasy dishes. I believe part of that comes from the fact that we need a new dishwasher but in the mean time the experiment continues.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent #2
1 Cup Washing Soda
1 Cup Baking Soda
3 packages unsweetened lemonade drink mix
1 Cup of Kosher Salt
1 Cup Water
Mix all dry ingredients together.
If you are using this as a dry powder: Omit the water. Then pour all dry ingredients into an airtight container. Add one tablespoon of dry powder mix to your dishwasher dispenser.
If you are making tabs: Add water, wait for fizzing to stop (about 1-2 minutes). Then add your mixture to ice cube trays, pressing with your fingers or back of a spoon. Let dry in a warm and sunny spot for 24 hours or till completely dry. Remove and add to an airtight container. Add one tab to the dishwasher dispenser.
My Results: The daughter didn't like this when using 1 Tbsp but I had good results with 2 Tbsp of powder. Adding vinegar to the rinse dispenser is a must. We also need to run the hot water in the sink so that we start with hot water in the dishwasher. May as well pre-rinse the dishes while running the water. Daughter is convinced that homemade cleaning products do not work. Period. I am convinced that the problem is the dishwasher. The store bought stuff doesn't always work either.
Fabric Softener
vinegar
essential oil (optional)
Add 1/4-1/2 cup vinegar with several drops of your favorite essential oil to the rinse cycle (or simply place in fabric softener compartment of your front load washer.)
My results: Vinegar is also a whitener/brightener plus a natural deodorizer. I have 4 dogs and 3 cats. I love my lab but his natural oils darken everything and he stinks. Between the homemade laundry detergent and the vinegar, his blanket comes out clean and fresh every time. Even cat urine odors are eliminated. Since I don't have a fabric softener dispenser in my machine and I always miss the rinse, I put the vinegar into the bleach dispenser. Use tin foil balls in the dryer to eliminate static.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (or similar hard bar soap)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing powder
This homemade laundry detergent is so cheap and easy to make that you will kick yourself for not trying it until now. Grate Fels Naptha then stir in borax and washing powder. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load. (Tip: This detergent works best in warm or hot water; for cold water washing you may want to first dissolve in 1/4 c. of hot water.)
My results: I have been using this for several months now and I will not go back. The Fels Naptha has a pleasant lemony scent which makes the grating almost a pleasure. My clothes come out of the washer smelling like clean, wet cloth. There are no heavy perfumes. I have very sensitive skin and I react to most laundry detergents but I have had no issues since switching. When I calculated the cost this came to about $0.07 per tablespoon. Odors are eliminated instead of just covered up which means odor causing microbes are eliminated. In the past, I have pulled “clean” clothes out of the dryer that I could still smell my perfume on. It always made me wonder what else was being left behind.
Bonus: I spend less time treating stains! I wash everything on cold and have not had a problem with the detergent dissolving except when I tried a different soap.
Floor Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
8-10 cups hot water
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon washing soda
30 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix vinegar & baking soda together in bucket; add hot water, Borax, washing soda, & essential oil and mix until all powder is dissolved. Use mop or sponge to wipe down floor; wipe dry with clean dry towel.
My results: That adobe tile on my counters came from what was left over after doing the floors. I went looking for a safe but effective method of cleaning the floors. My son-in-law is a tile setter and he recommended just using vinegar. Between the animals and the lovely clay dirt outside, I wasn't convinced that just vinegar would do the trick. When I found the above recipe I figured I would give it a try. My floor looks great (when I actually get a chance to clean it)! Instead of essential oil, I add a capful or two of bubble bath for the same smell good effect.
Works Cited
"Green & Thrifty Cleaning Products." Living Well Spending Lessâ„¢. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/03/13/green-thrifty-cleaning-products/>.
"Household Cleaning Products: What Every Woman Should Know." – Women's Voices for the Earth. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.womensvoices.org/issues/fact-sheets/basic/>.
"Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe." Happy Money Saver Homemade Freezer Meals Homesteading. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://happymoneysaver.com/homemade-dishwasher-detergent/>
Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional)
Turn off flow valve to toilet & flush 1 or 2 times until water is drained. Pour in baking soda, then slowly pour in vinegar, being sure to get vinegar to cover as much of the bowl surface as possible, then add essential oil. The baking soda will react with the vinegar–this is normal! Use your toilet brush to scrub surface & remove any rings or stains. Turn water back on and flush.
My results: Meh. Turning the water on and off is more work then I'm willing to do on a regular basis but the water level in our bowl is normally low enough that I can still use this method. It's cheap and there are no added chemicals so I use it. Actually, I will first scrub with just the baking soda, then add a little bit of vinegar and scrub again. It keeps the water ring knocked down but doesn't completely remove it.
All Purpose Cleaning Spray
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon washing soda
1 teaspoon dishwashing soap
1 cup vinegar
4 cups hot water
25-30 drops essential oil (optional)
Whisk all ingredients together well in large bowl, then pour into spray bottle. Spray on, then wipe surface clean with a damp cloth. Can be used to clean and disinfect almost any surface!
My results: Note to self, read and follow all directions. I tried to mix this directly in the bottle and it took a long time to settle down so I could actually use it. Since I have adobe tile counter tops, it's kinda difficult to actually see the dirt and stains but I think it did a good job. The dish soap helped tame the vinegar smell plus that smell disappears once the surface is dry. Next up was the stove . I admit I am not the world's best housekeeper and our stove shows that. Everything just wiped right off using this cleaner. The vent hood wiped clean easily too. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
Glass Cleaner
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
5-10 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix vinegar, water, & essential oil together in spray bottle. Spray on glass & use squeegee, crumpled newspaper (Tip: use newspapers that are at least 2 weeks old to avoid black fingers!), or a lint-free rag to get a streak-free shine. Also works well to shine chrome and counter tops after you’ve disinfected them.
My results: I don't do windows .... I mean I haven't tried this yet
Furniture Polish
3/4 cup olive oil
juice from 1/4 lemon
1 tablespoon vinegar
3-4 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Dampen rag & squeeze out excess water. Dip damp rag into furniture polish, the wipe on surface of furniture. Buff off with an old dry towel. Can also be used to polish stainless steel!
My results: I don't have any furniture that needs polishing. Laminate over press board just doesn't need the same type of care as real wood. If anyone would like to try it and report back that would be fantastic.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
2 tablespoons baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar
2 cups warm water
Mix ingredients in spray bottle. Mixture will foam up; when it stops bubbling, put on cap and spray stainless steel surface, then wipe clean & dry with lint-free rag. To add extra shine, use furniture polish above.
My results: I don't have any stainless steel so I really can not evaluate this one. Anyone want to try it and report back on your results?
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent #1
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Washing Soda
1/4 Cup Epsom Salt
Lemon Juice
Mix dry ingredients together. Gradually add enough lemon juice to get everything clumping together. You will end up using approximately 8 tablespoons, maybe more, maybe less. Firmly press the mixture into ice cube trays and then let sit out over night to dry.
My results: We have mixed opinions on this one. I have found it to work best when you add a little vinegar to the rinse dispenser. It is also very important to pre-rinse greasy dishes and to make sure the water is hot from the very beginning. Which means in actual practice, we often end up with cloudy and/or greasy dishes. I believe part of that comes from the fact that we need a new dishwasher but in the mean time the experiment continues.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent #2
1 Cup Washing Soda
1 Cup Baking Soda
3 packages unsweetened lemonade drink mix
1 Cup of Kosher Salt
1 Cup Water
Mix all dry ingredients together.
If you are using this as a dry powder: Omit the water. Then pour all dry ingredients into an airtight container. Add one tablespoon of dry powder mix to your dishwasher dispenser.
If you are making tabs: Add water, wait for fizzing to stop (about 1-2 minutes). Then add your mixture to ice cube trays, pressing with your fingers or back of a spoon. Let dry in a warm and sunny spot for 24 hours or till completely dry. Remove and add to an airtight container. Add one tab to the dishwasher dispenser.
My Results: The daughter didn't like this when using 1 Tbsp but I had good results with 2 Tbsp of powder. Adding vinegar to the rinse dispenser is a must. We also need to run the hot water in the sink so that we start with hot water in the dishwasher. May as well pre-rinse the dishes while running the water. Daughter is convinced that homemade cleaning products do not work. Period. I am convinced that the problem is the dishwasher. The store bought stuff doesn't always work either.
Fabric Softener
vinegar
essential oil (optional)
Add 1/4-1/2 cup vinegar with several drops of your favorite essential oil to the rinse cycle (or simply place in fabric softener compartment of your front load washer.)
My results: Vinegar is also a whitener/brightener plus a natural deodorizer. I have 4 dogs and 3 cats. I love my lab but his natural oils darken everything and he stinks. Between the homemade laundry detergent and the vinegar, his blanket comes out clean and fresh every time. Even cat urine odors are eliminated. Since I don't have a fabric softener dispenser in my machine and I always miss the rinse, I put the vinegar into the bleach dispenser. Use tin foil balls in the dryer to eliminate static.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (or similar hard bar soap)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing powder
This homemade laundry detergent is so cheap and easy to make that you will kick yourself for not trying it until now. Grate Fels Naptha then stir in borax and washing powder. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load. (Tip: This detergent works best in warm or hot water; for cold water washing you may want to first dissolve in 1/4 c. of hot water.)
My results: I have been using this for several months now and I will not go back. The Fels Naptha has a pleasant lemony scent which makes the grating almost a pleasure. My clothes come out of the washer smelling like clean, wet cloth. There are no heavy perfumes. I have very sensitive skin and I react to most laundry detergents but I have had no issues since switching. When I calculated the cost this came to about $0.07 per tablespoon. Odors are eliminated instead of just covered up which means odor causing microbes are eliminated. In the past, I have pulled “clean” clothes out of the dryer that I could still smell my perfume on. It always made me wonder what else was being left behind.
Bonus: I spend less time treating stains! I wash everything on cold and have not had a problem with the detergent dissolving except when I tried a different soap.
Floor Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
8-10 cups hot water
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon washing soda
30 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix vinegar & baking soda together in bucket; add hot water, Borax, washing soda, & essential oil and mix until all powder is dissolved. Use mop or sponge to wipe down floor; wipe dry with clean dry towel.
My results: That adobe tile on my counters came from what was left over after doing the floors. I went looking for a safe but effective method of cleaning the floors. My son-in-law is a tile setter and he recommended just using vinegar. Between the animals and the lovely clay dirt outside, I wasn't convinced that just vinegar would do the trick. When I found the above recipe I figured I would give it a try. My floor looks great (when I actually get a chance to clean it)! Instead of essential oil, I add a capful or two of bubble bath for the same smell good effect.
Works Cited
"Green & Thrifty Cleaning Products." Living Well Spending Lessâ„¢. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/03/13/green-thrifty-cleaning-products/>.
"Household Cleaning Products: What Every Woman Should Know." – Women's Voices for the Earth. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.womensvoices.org/issues/fact-sheets/basic/>.
"Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe." Happy Money Saver Homemade Freezer Meals Homesteading. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://happymoneysaver.com/homemade-dishwasher-detergent/>
No comments:
Post a Comment