Homemade cleaning productsHomemade cleaning products are easy to make and use. You just need some basic supplies, like castile soap, baking powder, vinegar and lemon juice. I like to add in essential oils as well. Many commercial household cleaners are toxic and even having poison warnings on them. I don't want them near my food, pets, plants, husband or me! About 90% of accidental poisonings occur in the home so I'm removing this danger. Toxic cleaning products go beyond the home to pollute our groundwater, too. They irritate or skin, nose, lungs and eyes with their fumes and smells. Green cleaning products are better all around. Here's some recipes for homemade cleaning products. Basically, use soap to clean, vinegar or lemon to cut grease, and baking soda to scour and scrub. 1. Basic household cleaner 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap ( I like Dr. Bonners) squeeze of lemon juice or vinegar 1 quart warm water Mix up in a pale and cleans everything. Optional: Use baking soda on stains to scour. Put on the stain, let sit 10 minutes, then add elbow grease. 2. Toilet bowl cleaner: 1/4 cup baking soda 1 cup lemon juice or vinegar Let sit 1/2 hour, then scrub. 3. Basin, tub and tile cleaner: 1/2 cup baking soda 3 Tbsp. liquid castile soap scrub as usual. 4. Drain cleaner/deodorizer 1/2 cup baking soda 1 cup hot lemon juice pour down the drain and follow with lemon juice. Let sit 10 minutes, then run water for 30 seconds 5. Glass and window cleaner: 4 Tbsp vinegar 1/2 gallon warm water 6. Glass cleaner#2: Makes a smaller amount 1/4 tsp liquid soap 3 Tbsp vinegar' 2 cups water mix all and add to a spray bottle. 7. Mold killers 2 tsp tea tree oil 2 cups water Combine in spray bottle and apply to problem areas. Do not rinse. Straight vinegar reportedly kills 8o% of mold. Spray it on and do not rinse. 8. Furniture polish 1/2 tsp olive or jojoba oil 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice Mix ingredients in a jar. Use with a soft rag, cover jar and keep indefinitely.
Essential oils are fun additions to your homemade cleaning products. If you are like me and you don't really enjoy housework, cleaning with essential oils can elevate house cleaning to a ritual, you are now space clearing and lifting the energy. Good oils to use are eucalytus, lemon, pine, juniper, thyme, and rosemary. Use a natural sponge, since the oils may react to plastic. Just Add a few drops of the oil to your homemade cleaning products. And use a bright colored pail and polka dotted gloves! Tea tree oil is a disinfectant that smells super clean Eucalyptus is a disinfectant Lavender repels moths and the smell is calming Orange gets stains out Lemon is good for furniture polish Pine oil smells clean and I've heard it clears "negative energy". Good for Feng shui! Have fun creating your own homemade cleaning products, knowing you are being green and bringing in clean fresh energy. Food for Thought: Cleanliness is next to Godliness--old proverb "Being clear of clutter is one of the greatest aids I know to discovering and manifesting the life you want"--Karen Kingston
|
