Greener, Natural Cleaning - recipes

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Greener Cleaning

 

Homemade Household Cleansers.

 

Needed supplies:

Baking

Soda

Borax (some people have issues with borax, it does have its

ecological and health downfalls)

Liquid castile soap (Dr. Bonners is great, and one of the easiest to

find sources)

Lemon Juice** (or lemon essential oil)

Murphy's oil soap

white vinegar

washing soda

bleach (last resort-bleach is not your friend unless all else fails)

ammonia (same as above.)

 

*DISCLAIMER*

bleach and ammonia are not non-toxic-when using them, use gloves and

ventilate, AND DON'T MIX!!!

 

..if you are looking for all-natural cleaning remedy, don't use

these. .they are included because they can be used from common(and

cheaper) home products, and are effective, but they are not green.

(though used SPARINGLY, as a LAST RESORT, they do have their place)

 

REPEAT: NEVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA

Essential oils:

lavender**

tea tree**

citrus (lemon**, orange, etc)

mint

evergreens (pine, cedar,ect)

rosemary

lemongrass

 

**=antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal

 

All-purpose cleaner recipes:

 

Scrubs:

1/4 c borax (optional)

1/2 c baking soda

4 drops lavender

4 drops citrus essential oil

 

Combine into a shaker container to make a cleaning scrub.

 

Sprays:

 

1 quart warm water

4 tablespoons baking soda

1 teaspoon vinegar

 

1 c water

1 c vinegar

1/2 c lemon juice

5 drops tea tree oil

5 drops lavender oil

1 teaspoon liquid castile soap

1/8 c white vinegar

1/4 c lemon juice

2 c water

6 drops citrus oil

1 teaspoon borax

 

Combine into spray bottle, fill with water and shake well before each

use.

 

½ teaspoon washing soda

2 teaspoons borax

½ teaspoon liquid soap or detergent

2 cups hot water

put it in a spray bottle

 

1/4 cup baking soda

1 cup household ammonia

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 gallon warm water

Fill spray bottle and clean.

 

All-Purpose Cleaner

 

1/2 c lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dr. Bonners lavender soap

10 drops lavender oil

10 drops lemongrass oil

 

Add to spray bottle, fill with water and clean.

For really gritty, greasy messes, keep baking soda in a shaker.

Sprinkle on the dirty area, and add a 1/2 c of vinegar to the

cleaning spray. Spray where the baking soda is and scrub.

 

Special Surfaces:

 

Glass and window cleaner:

 

Club soda and rubbing alcohol plus water.

Half-part vinegar plus half-part water.

Table spoon ammonia and tablespoon vinegar in a spray bottle filled

with water.

 

Wood polish:

 

Two parts vegetable, grapeseed or olive oil, plus 1 part lemon juice.

If you use juice, this must be refrigerated. You can substitute lemon

oil.

 

Polish/cleanser

 

Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1/2 cup of veggie, grapeseed or olive oil

Apply to the wood floor in a thin even layer and buff.

 

Kitchen Floors

 

1 gallon hot water

2 tablespoons liquid castile soap

10 drops pine essential oil

5 drops cedar essential oil

(OR.replace essential oils with 15 drops orange oil and 1/3 c lemon

juice

1 gal hot water

2 tablespoons liquid castile soap

1/4 c washing soda

1 c vinegar

20 drops tea tree oil

 

Carpets/Upholstry:

 

Carpet refresher:

 

3/4 cup baking soda, 2 tbsp corn starch, a few frops of lemon or

orange oil

Break up clumps and mix together. (Quick note-use an old parmesean

cheese shaker to sprinkle on carpet).

Baking soda with a few pinches of ground spices such as cloves or

cinnamon OR add a few drops of essential oils to the baking soda.

Use a fork to mix together and break up any clumps. Let sit for 15-30

min befor vaccuming.

For deoderizing: mix two parts cornmeal with one part borax; sprinkle

liberally, leave for one hour, then vacuum.

 

Carpet stains:

 

Baking soda plus water or club soda or shaving cream. Put it on the

stain, and scrub.

 

Misc appliances and household fixtures:

 

Toilet bowl cleaner:

 

1 cup liquid soap

2 cups baking soda

 

Mix well. Add cup water plus 2 tablespoons vinegar to make foam.

A can of cola; let it sit 10 minutes in bowl and flush.

Fizzy dentures cleaning tablets - Drop 2 in the bowl and 2 in the top

part and let sit overnight.

 

Oven cleaner:

 

Cover spills with baking soda or salt(for grease)and soapy water

(while oven is still warm).

Let sit 10 minutes and wipe off. A pumice stone can be used on tough

stains.

 

Fill a small glass bowl with 1/2 cup full-strength ammonia, place in

oven and close. Let stand overnight, then wipe loosened dirt with

paper towels or newspapers. If necessary, rub surfaces with a

suitable abrasive, such as fine steel wool, then wash with warm soapy

water and rinse. Repeat process if necessary.

 

Polishers/Metal cleansers.

 

Rust Remover:

Use a mixture of equal parts salt and lemon juice.

 

Jewelry cleaner:

 

1 teaspoon salt plus 1 teaspoon baking soda. Fill jar halfway with

quarter-size bits of aluminum foil. Add warm water. Drop jewelry in

for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Polish with a soft cloth.

 

Mix 1 cup of warm water and 1/4 cup ammonia - OR mix 1/2 teaspoon

liquid dish soap & 4 teaspoons ammonia.

 

Take a soft bristle brush, dip it in the solution and gently scrub.

Then put the piece of jewelry into the cleaning solution and let it

soak for 15-20 minutes. Remove and rinse with warm water and either

air dry or dry with soft cloth.

 

Aluminum cleaner:

 

Heat a solution of 1 tbsp vinegar per qt of water, or 2 tsp cream of

tartar per qt of water in each pan until discoloration disappears.

 

Stainless steel:

Use baking soda and soft-sided sponge.

 

Copper and brass polish:

1 cup vinegar plus 1 tablespoon salt.

 

Silver cleaner:

1 piece aluminum foil(big enough to cover the bottom of the cleaning

container)

1 to 2 tablespoons baking soda

2 quarts very hot water

 

Lay the aluminum foil along the bottom of a plastic or glass

container. Place the tarnished silver on top. Sprinkle the silver

with baking soda, and cover it with very hot water. Soak until

bubbles stop, then rinse and polish the silver with a soft cloth.

 

*removes tarnish uniformly, so don't use it with antiqued silver*

 

Pest Deterrents:

 

Insecticides for plants:

 

2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce

2 teaspoons liquid soap and water

 

Spray on plants LIGHTLY

 

Pest deterents:

 

6-8 drops peppermint or citronella essential oil can be put on a damp

sponge an used to wipe down surfaces to deter ants, centapedes,

silverfish and earwigs. The oil can also be added to water & used to

clean those areas.

 

Place bay leaves in cabinets and drawers to deter insects in general.

A few whole nutmegs put in flour bins will deter weevils.

A few sprigs of peppermint placed, or a few drops of peppermint

essential oil sprayed in areas where mice droppings have been noticed

should deter mice.

 

Sinks, Drains and Such:

 

Drain cleaner/deodorizer:

 

To keep drains clear, flush daily with scalding water.

For grease buildup, dissolve 1 lb washing soda in 3 gal boiling water

and pour down drain.

To unclog - Pour 1/2 a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by

a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Close the drain opening or cover it. Let the

mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes, Then pour a full kettle of boiling

water down.

Do NOT use in conjunction with commercial products such as Draino.

 

Garbage Disposals:

 

To deodorize: Put a lemon peel through the garbage disposal, along

with 1/4 c baking soda, 1/2 c vinegar, 3 drops lavender and lemon

essential oil. Combine and pour in sink (makes a great fizzy scrub

also). Rinse with vinegar and hot water.

 

Laundry:

 

Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the

rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the

added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively.

Add about 10-20 drops of essential oil for a better scent.

 

Mix detergent half & half with baking soda(use 1/2 the recommended

amount of detergent).

 

For stain removers -

Make a paste of washing soda and water for dirty spots.

Make your own powder detergent:

 

5 cups soap flakes, 7 cups of Borax, 3 cups washing soda, 3 cups

baking soda(you can add some essential oil of your choice but be sure

to MIX WELL). Use 1/2 cup per load.

 

Liquid

 

1 ounce liquid castile soap

2 tablespoons glycerin

1 cup washing soda

1 cup baking soda

6 cups warm water

10 drops essential oil

 

Mix in heavy plastic container(like old laundry soap container), and

use 1/4-1/2 c per load. Shake before each use.

 

Diaper Whitener:

 

1/2 c borax

1/4 c vinegar

6-8 drops tea tree oil

pail of hot water

 

Combine and soak diapers 20-30 min. before washing.

 

Toss a scrap of cotton cloth with a few drops of a favorite essential

oil in the drier for some extra yummy smell.

 

 

" He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and

his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head, and his

heart is an artist. " -- St. Francis of Assisi

 

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