Alternative Household Cleaners and Recipes

Time to turn on the music and have a cup of Joe...

Saturday is a good day for deep cleaning.  I don't like using harsh, toxic chemicals with my human toddler and puppy children following me around.  Here are a few alternative ingredients that allow you to clean safely with little fingers and paws present...

Ingredients:

Baking Soda

Essential Eucalyptus Oil 

Essential Lemon Oil (or whatever scent you love)

White Vinegar

Borax

Liquid soap (castile, peppermint)

Corn Starch

Olive Oil

Water

Empty Spray bottle

In an Aromatherapy Diffuser, mix water with a few drops of (your choice) Eucalyptus Oil for a fresh, clean and motivating environment to work in.

Do a little cleaning dance, and begin with the bathrooms.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe:

Sprinkle generous amounts of baking soda in your toilets and cover with white vinegar and a dash of essential oil of your choice.  Let sit and...

Whip up a great general household cleaner recipe... grab an empty spray bottle pour in 1/2 c. borax, either a few (5-10)  drops of essential lemon oil or lemon juice or squeeze lemon, or grapefruit, or orange (whatever is on hand), 2 tsp. liquid soap, 1/2 c. vinegar, 1/2 c. baking soda, 4c. warm water and gently shake.

Now go back to toilet and use brush to scrub a sparkly clean bowl and flush.    

With your homemade cleaning spray go to town saturating entire shower, ceiling, walls, counter tops, anything that needs a good wipe down.  Move to kitchen and use on cupboards, counters, sinks, etc.

Naturally Unclog Drain Recipe:

Cover drain with baking soda, pour white vinegar, let sit several minutes and flush with hot water.

Oven Grease Cleaner Recipe:

Make paste with baking soda and water with some fresh squeezed lemon.  Let soak in for a few minutes and scrub with sponge.  Rinse away grease!

Dusting Furniture Polish Recipe:

Mix 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts olive oil in spray bottle.  With soft cloth rub in wood let set for a while before wiping off.

Window Cleaner Recipe:

In an empt spray bottle mix equal parts white vinegar and water or 1/3 borax and 2/3 warm water. Wipe clean with recycled newspaper for streak-free shine.

Random ideas:

Baking soda makes a terrific paste, salt or sugar helps gently scrub too.   

Corn Starch works great to lift fresh stains from carpet.  Just sprinkle and let dry then vacuum up.

Baking soda is also a great teeth whitener just don't swallow.  For a minty fresh mouth mix some Essential Tea Tree Oil with water and swish around, be sure not to swallow!

Essential Eucalyptus Oil soaked cotton balls or washcloth will rub out stains, safe on white fabric too.  Leaves a great fresh scent.

For clean humidifiers, add white vinegar and leave on during day.  Rinse well and fill with fresh water and a drop or two of Eucalyptus Oil.  (I'm kind of obsessed with the stuff).  

For fresh and clean garbage disposals, throw in a bit of ice and lemon, orange or grapefruit peels and grind.

Ground coffee right out of the bag, grinder, or jar is a terrific odor eliminator and leaves a delicious scent.  Just put some ground coffee in a bowl and set out.  You can sprinkle on rugs too but careful to vacuum up soon so it won't stain carpet.  Put some ground coffee in a glass and leave in your car, I like French Vanilla flavor.

Leaving a small glass of white vinegar out is another way to absorb yucky odor, great for kitchen after cooking fish.