Cleaning Products You Can Make At Home

Whether you want to save money, have run out of cleaning products, or just want healthier alternatives, here are some easy cleaning supplies you can make at home.

Furniture Polish

Mix one cup of vegetable or olive oil with a half-cup of lemon juice.

1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)

1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice

Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a cloth into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

Crayon Remover

Put some toothpaste on a damp rag and rub the surface of the floor or table. Avoid using on wallpaper or a porous surface.

Barbecue cleaner

Roll a lemon under your foot or hand without crushing it. Slice it in half and sprinkle with salt. Rub the lemon on your barbecue's grill grate and scrub will a grill brush after a few minutes.

Cleaner for bathtub and sink

Sprinkle baking soda on a wet surface, then rub with a rag that has some liquid castile soap (available in most soap aisles). Rinse well.

Disinfectant

Combine 50 ml to 100 m of eucalyptus oil with one liter of water. Put in spray bottle and shake before using.

Or

Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning r add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with damp cloth or use spray bottle.

To disinfect kitchen sponges, throw them in the dishwasher when running a load.

All-purpose Cleaner

Combine 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Great for removing water deposit stains on showers, chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, …

or

1/2 teaspoon washing soda

A dab of liquid soap

2 cups hot tap water

Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.

Air Freshener

• Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.

• Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.

• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.

• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.

Bathroom Mold Remover

Combine one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet Stain Remover

Combine equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, then clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

As a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Deodorizer

Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda

Garbage disposal units in the sink - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit

Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming

Garage, basements, storage areas - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Drain Cleaner:

As a light drain cleaner, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain.

For a stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. After about 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue.

Or

Pour 1/2 - 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 - 1 cup of vinegar in after it. Cover the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes. It might bubble like a volcano but that just means it's working. Then flush with a gallon of boiling water. For tougher clogs use a plumber's snake.

Or, drop 3 tablets of Alka Seltzer into drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run hot water.

*Caution: only use these methods with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Laundry Detergent:

Combine 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads.

Oven Cleaner:

Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots.

Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Baking soda and water are excellent for cleaning the oven. Sprinkle a cup or more of baking soda over the bottom of the oven, then cover the baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste. Let the mixture set overnight. The next morning the grease will be easy to wipe up because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven.

1 cup or more baking soda

Water

A squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:

Combine 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into toilet bowl and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with a brush then rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.

Tub and Tile Cleaner:

Rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water.

For tougher cleanings, wipe surface with vinegar first and then follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)

Window Cleaner:

Combine 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying.

Or

1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent

3 tablespoons vinegar

2 cups water

Put everything into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand.

Remove Deposits from Faucets/Shower heads

To remove deposits from metal showerheads, combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and one quart water. Completely submerge the showerhead and boil 15 minutes.

Here is a list of environmentally safe products you can use in your home for cleaning.

Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.

Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.

Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.

White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.

Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.

Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)

Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.

Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)

Sources:

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

http://www.ecollo.com/post/2008/10/DIY-Easy-cleaning-products-to-make-at-home.aspx

http://www.henrysmarkets.com/h/health100610/

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html#