DIY cleaning supplies: cleaning your house safely

Considering we already spend more money on drinking water than on gasoline, it is absurd that we also buy cleaning supplies some of which are more than ¾ water. Here is how to make non-toxic cleaning supplies with items in your pantry and from your sink.

Make your own cleaning supplies:

Window Cleaner
All-purpose Cleaner
Dish Soap
Citrus Disinfectant
Herbal Carpet Freshener
Dishwasher Detergent
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Drain OpenerSupplies Needed
32-ounce spray bottles (recycle cleaning product containers)
White vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
Borax (powder comes in a box, found in the laundry aisle)
Washing soda or baking soda
Liquid Castile Soap (For example, Dr. Bronner’s)
Rubbing alcohol
Water
Measuring cups and teaspoons
Containers with lids

Window Cleaner

1/3 cup white vinegar1/4 cup rubbing alcohol3 ½ cups of water32-ounce spray bottleMix all ingredients in a spray bottle, shake, and use.

All-Purpose Cleaner

1 teaspoon of Borax1 teaspoon of washing soda or baking soda 1 teaspoon of liquid Castile soap1/2 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar 3 ½ cups of hot water 32-ounce spray bottleMix all dry powders in the bottle first. Place the bottle in the sink and pour the Castile soap and vinegar.

Slowly pour the hot water into the container. When it begins to fizz, stop pouring water to prevent it from filling with foam.

Let the concoction settle and cool before placing the spray top. Shake carefully and use.

Label your containers so you have the recipe available when you run out.Here are some other cleaning recipes…

Dish Soap

2 cups Castile Soap1/2 cup warm waterA few drop of your favorite essential oilRecycled dish soap squeeze bottleShake before each use.

Citrus Disinfectant

Peel from 1 orange, grapefruit, lemon or lime 3 cups of white vinegar 32-ounce spray bottle

Herbal Carpet Freshener

1/2 cup lavender flowers 1 cup baking sodaCrush flowers and mix in baking soda. Pour the mix into a cheese shaker or a can with holes punched into the lid. Sprinkle on the carpet and wait 30 minutes before vacuuming.

Dishwasher Detergent

2 cups of Borax2 cups of washing soda or baking soda 32-ounce plastic container with cover Combine borax/washing soda or baking soda, mix and seal the container tightly for storage. For each dishwasher load put 2 tablespoons in the dispenser

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 cup Borax 1/2 cup white vinegar Flush the toilet so the sides of the bowl are wet, and sprinkle borax around the toilet bowl, then drizzle vinegar on top and let it sit for 3-4 hrs (overnight is most convenient) before scrubbing with the toilet brush.

Drain Opener

1/2 cup baking soda 1 cup vinegar1 teapot of boiling water Pack the drain with baking soda and pour in the vinegar. Keep the drain covered for 10 minutes, and then flush it out with boiling water.

For more DIY cleaning recipes check your baking soda and Borax boxes.There are many uses for both.Baking soda as a minor skin irritation aid.

Make a paste of 3 parts Baking Soda to one part water, apply the past on the irritated area. It helps soothe the pain and itch of many skin aliments including insect bites, stings, poison ivy and poison oak.

More on Baking Sofa (Sodium Bicarbonate)

Both Baking soda and Borox are also laundry aids. Either add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda to your liquid laundry detergent or add 1/2 cup of Borox powder to your liquid laundry detergent to remove tough stains, deodorize and naturally soften hard water.

More on Borox (Sodium Tetraborate)

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