Safe Cleaning Supplies, Homemade

Alright you little Mad Scientist, you!  Time for some fun recipes for homemade cleaning supplies.  This is going to be easy and fast, and I think you'll love it!  These recipes are basic - using basic ingredients - just like Grandma used to.  And there are only 5 main recipes + 2 for carpet cleaning.  Simple.

For dishwasher detergent and dish soap, I still recommend that you stick with a natural brand that you like (see my other post for ideas for these).  Same goes for laundry detergent.

When it comes to homemade cleaning supplies, Vinegar rocks.  Seriously, it's amazing.  It kills mold and bacteria and is non-toxic!  Vinegar has a strong smell, as we all know, but when it dries, the smell will dissipate.  If you hate it that much, you can add essential oils to any of your cleaning recipes and they will make it smell yummier while helping in the cleaning process.

The beauty of these recipes is that they are NON-TOXIC.  Seriously.  We let Douglas help make the All Purpose Surface Scrub, which is super fun because the vinegar makes the mixture fizz!

Well, he ate a little.  Shocker.  He eats "a little" of everything.  Micah and I were sitting RIGHT THERE with him, mind you.  But he's a quick one!  Anyway, he did not like the taste at all.  But that was it.  No panic, no trauma about him eating toxic nastiness.  I reveled in the fact that my little tester had proven the worry-free part of natural cleaning to be true.

Buy a few spray bottles and go to town!  Just make sure you label them.  I put a piece of tape on the bottle, then with Sharpie I write down either what it is or how I made it.

The Basics

All-Purpose Vinegar Spray (sinks, toilets, counters, appliances, etc.)
-- You can also use the Glass/Mirror Cleaner for All Purpose uses

Basic Recipe
1 part Vinegar
2 parts Water
2 T. Baking Soda

Dissolve Baking soda in a little bit of warm water.  Pour into squirt bottle.  Slowly add Vinegar (it will fizz, remember?!), then add the water and shake.

 * This is on the stronger side.  You may want to start with less Vinegar and work your way up until you find an amount that suits you.  Some recipes call for as little as 1/2 c. Vinegar in a squirt bottle filled with water (though, to me, that seems like you're basically just rubbing water on your counters!).  Just see what works for you.

Add to Basic Recipe if you want to get fancy schmancy:
* More Vinegar (you probably won't need to, but for intense jobs you may...)
* More Water to make it weaker (if the smell is too strong for you).
* a small squirt of natural liquid dish soap or Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (Target sells it, and I love the lavender one!) to help with cleaning and for a nice smell.
* 15 or more drops of essential oil to make it smell nice (citrus works well - try lemon, orange, grapefruit - as does lavender).

**Caution: Don't use Vinegar on marble

Floor Cleaner

1 c. Vinegar
1 gal. Warm Water

* Add a small amount of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap or your natural dish soap diluted in water to the above recipe for a nice smell and a little extra cleaning help.

Note: Castile Soap has a slightly strange smell - it takes some getting used to.  If you don't like it, use your natural dish soap instead.

All-Purpose Scrub (can be used on showers, sinks, counters, toilets, etc.)
Pour Baking Soda into a bowl, add natural dish soap or Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (my recommendation) until very thick paste forms, then add Vinegar until desired consistency.  Add Lavender or Tea Tree essential oil if desired (you won't need to if you use Castile Soap which already has essential oils in it).

You can't go wrong here - just add slowly until you get the right consistency.  (I tried making this ahead of time and putting it in a travel shampoo bottle.  It worked, but it does leak a tiny bit, I think because of the effervescence of the vinegar/baking soda combo).

* For tougher dirt, first rub vinegar onto the area, then rub with paste.
* For mold, use Vinegar full strength

Window / Mirror Cleaner

1/4 c. Vinegar
Several chunks of lemon peel (take peeler and just peel a few chunks off the lemon, don't add any juice)
Fill the rest of the spray bottle with water

Dusting Spray

1 t. Olive Oil
1/2 c. Vinegar

* Shake and spray onto the rag you're dusting with

Special Situations

Carpet Stain Remover

1 part Vinegar
2 parts Warm Water

Carpet Deoderizer

Add a few drops of essential oil (optional) to Baking Soda.  Sprinkle on carpet and vacuum it up.

Other Tips:

- Lemon/orange peels in disposal for a fresh scent and to clean disposal
- Put lemons in sink and steep in boiling water to remove stains in white Corian sinks