It's easy and inexpensive to make your own household cleaners out of natural products. It is also safer on the environment to use natural products.
Many commercial household cleaners are damaging to the environment. Some people cannot use commercial cleansers because of health problems. Some household cleaners can also cause lung and sinus irritation. Making your own household cleaners is fairly easy and you can make many kinds of cleaners out of each item.
Kitchen
- Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the trash can with each new trash bag to combat odors.
- Mix baking soda with water and leave overnight to soak in pans with stuck on food to make removal easier.
- To clean linoleum or vinyl kitchen floors mix 1 cup vinegar and a couple drops of baby oil with 1 gallon of water.
- Wipe mold or mildew from the fridge or freezer with a rag soaked in lemon juice or vinegar.
- Disinfect your cutting board by rubbing a lemon over it.
- Scour flat top stoves with baking soda, since it will not scratch it.
- Mix 1 part vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle and spray and use to clean counters and kitchen table.
- Run a lemon or orange through the garbage disposal to freshen.
Bathroom
- Use baking soda to scour the bathtub like Ajax or Comet.
- Pour undiluted vinegar in the toilet, scrub, and let sit for a couple of minutes before flushing.
- To get rid of mold, mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water, spray on affected areas and let sit for an hour before wiping and rinsing off.
- To remove mildew in the shower, soak a sponge with vinegar and wipe areas and do not wipe or rinse off.
- Mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1/2 gallon of water and remove water deposit stains from showers, sinks, faucets, anywhere in the bathroom.
- To clean linoleum or vinyl bathroom floors mix 1 cup vinegar and a couple drops of baby oil with 1 gallon of water.
Carpets
- Spot clean spots from carpets by spraying mixture of half vinegar and half water, let sit for an hour, and scrub area with a soapy sponge or rag.
- Remove grease spots or make carpet look fluffed up by sprinkling with cornstarch, let sit for an hour, and vacuum.
- Use 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water with a couple drops of liquid Castille soap (a natural soap) and use to shampoo your carpets.
- For tough stains mix 1/4 cup borax, vinegar, and salt and rub into carpet. Let sit for an hour before vacuuming.
Other Household Uses
- Clean windows and mirrors with 2 tablespoons of vinegar mixed with 1 liter of water.
- Rub mayonnaise or toothpaste on water rings left on wood such as your coffee table. Wipe off completely when ring is removed.
- 1/2 cup of water and lemon oil drops work as a furniture polish. Wipe solution on furniture with a rag and wipe dry with a dry rag.
Copyright Ileona Lay. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Ileona Lay - I grew up in Great Falls, Montana and lived there for 24 years. I recently relocated from the beautiful Emerald Coast to the suburbs of ...
Join the Conversation