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This week our green audit is cleaning supplies. We’ve already discussed the dangers of traditional, commercial cleaning supplies, so now we’re moving on to solutions. I will be going over some options available for purchase this week, but first we’re going to look at homemade cleaners.
Benefits of homemade cleaners:
- Less packaging waste. You’re not buying new bottles over and over.
- Less expensive. I actually started making homemade products before I was really all the way green – why? To save money.
- Less harmful (often not harmful at all) to humans, animals, and the earth.
- Less noxious home smell. Homemade natural cleaners always smell better than store bought. Well, except vinegar – but I have major vinegar issues. There are ways to mask the smell of vinegar though – not completely, but somewhat. Lavender essential oil and lemon juice both work some to hide the icky vinegar smell.
Here we go. Homemade cleaners, from basic recipes to a few that are more advanced…
1. Clogged sink and bathtub drains: prevent clogs altogether with the amazing drain trap. I’m shocked at how many people don’t use a drain trap. I got one at Home Depot for under two dollars – five years ago. If you have a sluggish drain, pour a cup of white vinegar plus one cup baking soda into the drain. Let that sit for a few minutes (it will bubble). Flush with a teapot full of boiling water. If you really have issues, use a snake or plunger. Drain cleaner is honestly something you should never have in your home – it’s hands down one of the more dangerous cleaning items.
2. Air freshening options: Light a natural candle, burn organic incense, boil orange peels and spices on your stove top, diffuse essential oils, open your windows, buy some air cleaning plants, use cedar blocks sprinkled with lavender in your closets, or make potpourri. Learn more:
3. Soap scum removal: Apply baking soda (it is non abrasive). Scrub with a damp cloth or sponge. I have an older bristle brush I use for icky scum – like when I go to long without cleaning (bad me). You can use Borax or vinegar too; but Borax can scratch. Vinegar can be applied directly, left to sit, and scrubbed down.
4. Small carpet stain: Two words – club soda!
5. Bigger tougher carpet stains: Sprinkle Fuller’s earth or cornstarch onto the spot. Allow it to sit for about 20-30 minutes. Scrub with one cup vinegar mixed with three cups water. If it really won’t come out try a natural soap based carpet cleaner.
6. Carpet deodorizer: Sprinkle baking soda around the room – my son thinks this is the most fun ever. Add some dried crushed lavender or basil. Wait about 1/2 hour. Vacuum.
7. Oven cleaning prevention: Don’t let spills sit. That’s the best cleaning procedure hand’s down. Clean the oven sooner rather than later. Line your oven bottom with foil to catch spills.
8. “Oh no, I didn’t follow the oven cleaning prevention tip above!”: Ok, if you have a hot spill, sprinkle it with salt. Mix some baking soda – I just toss maybe two tablespoons with into a cup, with some water to make a thin paste. Use an old toothbrush or bristle brush to scrub it down.
9. Everyday toilet cleaning: Sprinkle some baking soda and lemon juice into your toilet and walk away. Eventually you’ll want to return and scrub it with a toilet brush.
10. Bachelor pad toilet cleaning: No offense guys – I’ve seen my fair share of bachelor pads though. Spray vinegar around the bowl, sprinkle with baking soda, scrub.
11. Metal rust: Mix 2 tablespoons salt with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Apply and rub well.
12. Musty stuff: Say you have an old suitcase or truck that’s all musty, but you’d like to use it. Fill it with recycled crumpled newspaper let it sit for a week. The paper will absorb the smell (mostly) then, fill a mister bottle with water, add a few drops of tea tree oil, lightly spray the case and leave it open to dry.
13. Burnt food or fishy kitchen smells: Set aside a thrift store pie plate for times like these. Sprinkle the pan with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a dash of orange essential oil – place in the warm oven, and let it sit as the oven cools.
14. Disinfectant all purpose cleaner: Mix a few drops of natural soap, 2 cups water, and 15 drops each of tea tree and lavender essential oil (you can use just the one oil- but 30 drops, I just like the mix). You can spray this on all surfaces, like cutting boards, counters, toilets, walls, (except it will streak glass). This stuff disinfects but is so safe you can actually spray it on your baby – you can’t say that about most commercial household cleaners.
15. Mold removal: Try not to let mold invade your home. You can prevent it – believe me I lived on the cold, foggy, always wet beach in Humboldt, you CAN prevent mold. Clean often with the disinfectant above and scrub down places that might develop mold with Borax once in a while. Borax will prevent mold and disinfect.
16. Basic furniture polish: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 3/4 cup olive oil OR mix 1/4 cup lemon juice with 1/2 cup olive oil. Wipe down furniture with a soft cloth and the solution.
17. Herbal disinfectant: Choose one fresh herb – lavender, eucalyptus, juniper, sage, thyme, or rosemary. Simmer the leaves and stems for 30 minutes. You can use any amount of water, but the less you use the stronger the solution and disinfectant properties. Strain, pour liquid into bottle, and use on any surface but glass. If you add a dash of natural soap or biodegradable dish detergent it will cut grease.
18. Homemade herbal scouring pad: Horsetail stems are just like a scouring pad for pots and pans and won’t scratch. Simply rub a handful of dried (leafless) stems on the pots and pans. It will leave a bit of a green color – but that washes right off in water. Since you’re washing dishes anyhow it won’t be an issue.
19. Wood floor wax: Mix equal parts olive oil and vinegar. Apply a very thin coat and rub -you can simply stand on an old towel and sort of surf around the floor.
20. Window / glass cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with one gallon water – spray and wipe.
21. Glass cleaner that does not smell like gross old vinegar: Use straight up lemon juice or club soda. If you use club soda than newspaper is the best scrubber to use. If you use lemon juice than use an old less linty cloth.
22. Sink cleaner: Scrub with baking soda and water.
23: Microwave cleaning: Place a bowl of straight vinegar or a bowl of water with 15 drops tea tree oil in the microwave. heat for about 2 minutes. Microwave will steam itself and be easy to wipe out with a wet cloth. I don’t have a microwave, but I did this at my friend’s house and it worked.
24. Silver polish: Rub silver with plain old toothpaste and rinse with water.
25. All over home cleaning: Never underestimate good old hot water and some scrubbing. If you really want to get fancy add a few drops of natural soap, but honestly hot water will clean just about anything. Alone it won’t completely disinfect, but it does kill many germs and removes dust. Hot water is especially useful for basic floor mopping.
Whew, that should at least get you going.
What natural cleaning products do you make at home?
Cleaning up the kitchen is part of cooking.Kitchen is now very important part of every home. In my view, kitchen should be clean and there should be useful things in the kitchen for the work.Excellent tips!
Regard,
Online Kitchen Cabinets
Best Homemade Wax To Get Rid Of Unwanted Facial Hair
http://www.pakladies.com/best-homemade-wax-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-facial-hair/
48 days ago
[...] In honor of Earth Day coming up in just one month, we’d like to spotlight one very important way to go green in your Little Rock apartment. Of course conserving water and energy are very important as well as recycling, but we’d like to focus on ways that you can reduce harsh chemical waste, namely by using safe, non-toxic, homemade cleaning agents. [...]
My point in this is if a cleaning product is not toxic then it is not going to kill the bacteria and all those unwanted gems. unless otherwise i am living in my own world. nice post though. Cleaning Services Johannesburg
Great article share. Thank you and in my opinion lemons are perfect for neutralizing bad odor in your home.
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I agree im 25 with three kids and the house is always smelly and stinky and lemon masks the gross smell right up!Oh and call me for more tips at 1800-354-4352!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful!
160 days ago
[...] All purpose cleaner from BlissTree.com [...]
162 days ago
[...] also use diluted white vinegar, liquid disinfectant, witch hazel, lemon juice or bleach, or any homemade cleaner recipe you like. You could store different solutions in different parts of your home, according to what [...]
Thanks for giving wonderful information. Non-toxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in knowing that your family’s health is protected. I appreciate your suggestion. You have provided nice information.
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Absolutely agree with your perception because natural and home made is the most safe to use so we don’t need to afraid for our kids.
How to Clean Hardwood Floors
Yes, we use *many* of these methods and they really work! We even make our own laundry soap using borax, a simple soap (Ivory), and baking soda. Saves money and works really well. – Emu Art Tile
This article is beautiful, like me, and the rest of my internal organs!
We are wood flooring company in New York. Thanks for the article for non toxic cleaning tips. Lots of customers asking for this. Wood flooring NYC
Thanks for giving wonderful information. Non-toxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in knowing that your family’s health is protected. Making your own nontoxic cleaning kit will take you no time at all with these simple, straightforward directions.
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Thanks so much! The clogged drain and carpet stain tips are definitely on my list to try!
For really low shower maintenance, I use a non-toxic method to prevent mold in the first place, no scrubbing or chemicals required!!!! A friend told me about the air-it-out shower hook. It’s basically a suction cup with a hooked tube on it to pull the middle of the shower curtain away from the tub siding after you’re done showering. This lets air underneath it to help dry out the area and voila!! It destroys molds breeding ground and stops it before it starts. I found it at http://www.air-it-out.weebly.com
Enjoyed researching what you have written. Theres a lot here. Thankyou for sharing
802 days ago
[...] here for Bliss Tree’s comprehensive list of homemade [...]
I have linked to this on my website. These are some great recipes. Thanks for posting them.
817 days ago
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