DIY Cleaning Products

So if you are regular reader or just stumbled upon my blog on you need to know that I try to make everything for my home. So I am going to list a few recipes and tips for a more natural, harsh-chemical free cleaning in your home. Not only is it better for you and your family, babies and pets alike, it is better for the enviornment. Less waste, less chemicals, and more money in your pocket. And I am ALL about saving money. Not to mention the personal pride you will having knowing you can clean your home with safe products YOU made! 

A few basic items I always keep on hand in my home are: vinegar, salt, baking soda, lemon juice, peroxide, rubbing alcohol and spray bottles. You can pretty much get all of these things at your local dollar store. No sense in spending more money. Also labels will come in handy.

My favorite all uses cleaner is a vinegar citrus spray. I take old spaghetti sauce jars that I saved, fill with whatever citrus peels are available and fill the rest of the way with vinegar. after soaking for about a week I pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and label.(50/50 vinegar and water)

LAUNDRY:

M-OXICLEAN:

 1 part baking soda  

1 part hydrogen peroxide 

2 parts water

Mix it all in a container to spot treat or just add straight to laundry if presoaking. (I've tried it on a couple things and it works AMAZING!) You just have to shake it before you use each time. With hydrogen peroxide I would suggest you use a darker colored bottle to make it last longer. Also I would spot test in an inconspicious area to make sure there is no color change.

BLEACH ALTERNATIVE:

To Whiten Clothes

Add a cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to boost the whitening action of your laundry detergent.

STAIN REMOVAL:

Pour lemon juice over the stain. Then, rub the area with salt; and place the garment out in the sun for several hours. Wash as usual. I do this very often! It gets poo stains out of diapers, tomato sauce out of my husband's white shirts. It is such a simple trick that really works.

KITCHEN:

To clean cooked on stove top messes or baked on metal tray messes I dust a light layer of baking soda and spray with my vinegar citrus spray as I previously mentioned. the bubbling action lifts hard to clean baked on messes. I also use for stuck on stains on my counters.

Plain old white vinegar can be used as a rinse aid in your dishwasher.

The same citrus vinegar I use to clean my hard floor surfaces. I have a libman's refillable spray mop that I put 1 part mix, 3 parts water and a little elbow grease. No heavy fumes and cleans so well!

BATHROOM:

Prepare to have your mind blown! You can clean your tub with fruit! YUP! What you need is a grapefruit and salt. Cut grapefruit in half, sprinkle salt on it and scrub away! That's it! but be forewarned if you scrub too hard you may scratch your tub, so start slow and work your way up.

If you're not into the fruit thing you can clean your tub the same way as the oven. Sprinkle baking soda and spray with cirtus vinegar. wait about 5 minutes and wipe clean.

TOILET BOWL CLEANER:

1/2 cup of baking soda in the bowl

a couple of drops of essential oil

and a splash of vinegar in that order.

Wait for it to stop fizzing then scrub with brush and flush!

VARIOUS HOME CLEANERS

GLASS CLEANER

 Funnel

Measuring cup and spoons

32-oz. spray bottle

Newspaper

INGREDIENTS

3 cups water

         2 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol

    ¼ cup distilled white vinegar

         5 drops lavender essential oil (optional, for scent)

     ½ Tbsp. liquid castille soap

In a well-ventilated area, use funnel to pour water, alcohol, vinegar and oil, if desired, into bottle. Shake. Add soap. Shake well. Spray windows or mirrors; wipe with newspaper.

I have faux suede couches that stain easily. so to clean them I just spray with rubbing alcohol and wipe clean with a white rag.

I think that's all I have for now, but if you have any of your own recipes you'd like o share you are more than welcome to post them in the comments. If you can even replace one cleaning product with its more natural counter part it is a step in the right direction. Thanks so much for reading!