Homemade Cleaning Products are a great way to be environmentally friendly – and to save money$!$!
Many of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen or bathroom- Right Now.
Some of the basics are:
White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Rubbing Alcohol
Lemon Juice
Ammonia
Olive Oil
Borax
Essential Oils for scent
Basic “All Purpose” Cleaner
1 Cup White Vinegar
1 Cup Water
This cleaner is good for:
Counters
Floors
Outside of the toilet
Soap Scum in the shower
For really difficult soap scum you can use a stronger concentration of Vinegar to get it off, or even full strength.
Hard Water Build-up
Shower Head
White Vinegar
Ziploc Bag
Rubber Band
One common place to fine hard water buildup is on your shower head. When this happens I dump some white vinegar into a baggie before bed and tie it to the shower head using a rubber band. I let it sit overnight and by morning my shower is brand new! This can be used on other fixtures using other things aside from a baggie and rubber band to get the vinegar to stay put.
Hard Water Build-up
Dishwasher
Toilet
Washing Machine
Is your dishwasher leaving spots on your dishes or not working as well as it used too? Try dumping about a cup of white vinegar in the wash and see if that helps. Another option to leave your dishwasher smelling nice and clean is one packet of Lemon-aid flavor Kool-aid in an empty dishwasher, run wash cycle as normal. The acidity in the Kool-aid will clean the dishwasher and leave it smelling fresh.
If your toilet is giving you issues like running, try putting a little vinegar in the tank before bed and letting it sit. This should help dissolve any hard water build up and may fix your problem. Vinegar can also be used straight in the toilet bowl to help remove any hard water or other stains.
Mold/Mildew
Lemon Juice
White Vinegar
Use either Lemon Juice or White Vinegar at full strength to mold or mildew and scrub.
Deodorizer
Carpet
Baking Soda
Dried spice like lemon grass or cinnamon (optional)
Sprinkle baking soda into the carpet and let sit. The baking soda will absorb the odor. Vacuum up. To add a little scent to it simply add a little of your favorite dry spice to the mix.
Garbage Disposal
Slice a lemon up into quarters and throw it in the disposal, turn it on and let it chop! The lemon will clean the disposal and leave it smelling nice and fresh.
Adding Scent to the Air
Simmer cinnamon sticks and water on the stove
Air Freshener Spray
2 cups hot water
1/8 cup baking soda
½ cup lemon juice
Mix the hot water and baking soda together in a spray bottle until soda is fully dissolved. Add the lemon juice and mix. Spritz into the air to freshen up! A spray bottle that can produce a fine mist is best for this application.
Or
Air Freshener Spray 2
Water
Your Favorite Essential Oil
Fill your spray bottle with water and add 12-15 drops of your favorite essential oil. – spritz and enjoy. A spray bottle that can produce a fine mist is best for this application.
I plan to add more recipes as I have time, here is a good book with many more recipes and green cleaning tips. Green Cleaning For Dummies![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vuPzEdUrQQI4xnbwiBfB-7hggTn-sbkqyVTdtd-zoJpEBB7R1fWJ_ZXqpqy3Y1nwDjX-XWp7H-uqJd1FPXOdwsCYr__i8EYktJzkhJt0tkp6-vZmQKqbTUx73-jQ=s0-d)
Remember that green cleaning also means money saving for you ;)
Remember that green cleaning also means money saving for you ;)