I’m often on this blog encouraging readers to use non-toxic, “green” cleaning supplies. All well and good, but what if you don’t want to shell out for premium eco-friendly products? You can make your very own solutions, very easily and very cheaply. The following “recipes” come from a green cleaning workshop I once attended, and thanks to my terrible memory, the author of them will have to take unnamed credit.
Note: for some of these solutions, a bucket will do, but for sprays, buy a reusable spray bottle or use a thoroughly rinsed Windex or similar bottle.
All-Purpose Cleaner
2 cups hot water
1 teaspoon borax
¼ teaspoon grapefruit seed extract
3 tablespoons white vinegar
½ teaspoon vegetable oil-based soap (eg. Sal Suds)
dash of lemon juice
Mix thoroughly.
All-Purpose Floor Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
1 pail warm water
For very dirty floors: add 1/8 cup vegetable oil-based soap
For disinfectant: add ½ cup borax or pine oil (beware! Pine oil can degrade waxes)
Drain Cleaner
½ cup baking soda
½ cup vinegar
Pour soda down and then vinegar. Let sit 15 minutes, then rinse with hot tap water.
Window Cleaner
¼ to ½ teaspoon vegetable oil-based soap
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water
Shake up in spray bottle.
Wood Grease & Dirt Remover
1 teaspoon vegetable-oil based soap
¼ cup vinegar
warm water
1. Spritz water generously over bottom of oven
2. Cover grime with baking soda.
3. Spray more water over baking soda.
4. Let sit overnight.
5. Use mildly abrasive pad to loosen spills.
6. Use clean sponge and vegetable oil-based soap to was and remove baking soda.
For touch stains and burns, add washing soda to baking soda.
Adapting to household cleaners is a good step. They are non toxic and bio degradable, which in turn makes no harm. They also give great results, so you need not compromise the quality. Great post Caitlin Morgan. Really appreciate it.