Homemade Cleaners, Recipes that are Natural, and Chemical Free

Chemical cleaners? Forget about it! You can clean and disinfect nearly every surface in your home with all-natural ingredients that you probably already have in your cupboards.  Luckily, if you’re missing any of the following ingredients they, are cheaper to buy than regular cleaners riddled with harsh chemicals.

Score one for your health and your wallet!

Glass Cleaner

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)
• 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil, which gives the solution a lovely smell (optional)

Combine the ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Spray on a paper towel or soft cloth first, then on the glass. Whatever you do, don’t clean windows on a hot, sunny day. The heat and sunlight will cause you green glass cleaner to dry too fast leaving you with lots of streaks.

All-Purpose Cleaner & Deodorizer

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons baking soda
• 1-quart warm water

Pour the solution on a clean sponge and wipe away!

White Ring Remover

Ingredients

• One part white non-gel toothpaste to one part baking soda

Dampen a cloth with water, add toothpaste/baking soda mixture, and rub with the grain to buff over the ring. Then take a dry cloth and wipe off. Use another soft cloth for a final shine. Polish as you normally would.

Don’t worry, if you use toothpaste that whitens, it shouldn’t turn your sea-foam green bathtub white.

Dishwasher Stain Remover

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup powdered lemon or orange drink

To remove rust from the inside walls, pour the powder (which contains citric acid or citric acid crystals) into the detergent cup and then run a regular cycle. Repeat until clean.

Brass Cleaner

Ingredients

• White vinegar or lemon juice
• Table salt

Dampen a sponge with vinegar or lemon juice, then sprinkle with salt. Lightly rub over the surface. Rinse thoroughly with water and immediately dry with a clean, soft cloth.

Marble Cleaner

Ingredients

• A drop or two of mild dishwashing liquid (non-citrus-scented)
• 2 cups of warm water

Mix the detergent and water, wipe marble with a sponge and rinse completely to remove any soap residue. Buff with a soft cloth and do not let the marble air-dry.

Caution: Never use vinegar, lemon, or any other acidic cleaner on marble or granite surfaces as it will eat into the stone!

Drain Cleaner

For Light Drain Cleaning

• ½ a cup of salt
• 4 liters of water

Mix salt with water, heat (do not bring to boil) and pour down the troublesome drain.

For Stronger Drain Cleaning

• ½ a cup of baking soda
• ½ a cup of vinegar

Pour the baking soda down the drain, then the vinegar. Wait for 15 minutes, your sink may look like a grade school science experiment but the chemical reaction breaks down grease into glycerin and soap that can quickly wash down the drain.

Oven Cleaner

Ingredients

• ¼ cup salt
• ¾ cup baking soda
• ¼ cup water

Mix all three together to make a thick paste, spread all through the interior of the oven. Let it sit overnight, remove with a spatula or squeegee and wipe clean. Use steel wool on the tough-to-clean spots.

Natural Cleaning Components – A Breakdown of What They Do

You may be saying to yourself “how can something that keeps my fridge from smelling also clean my bathtub?” Here’s a little breakdown of each green cleaning component and what they do!

There you have it! Next time you need to clean your house, hit the trifecta of savings – money, the environment, and your health – by making them yourself.

Sources

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/make-at-home-cleaners/