Easy cleaning solutions

[Carmen]

I make a great disinfectant for my household. Just fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Top off with vinegar. Add about 50 drops of grapefruit seed extract, about 20 drops of tea tree oil. Grapefruit seed extract is a potent germ killer and tea tree oil also has anti microbial properties. Plus it's totally non toxic, safe to use around the children. I love that my daughter can pick up the bottle and spray it around and help me clean. She thinks it great fun and it keeps her occupied while I get some work done.

For scouring I just use plain old baking soda. Cheap and easy and it works!

For tough to clean hard water build up--straight vinegar works wonders. Just spray on and let sit for a while before rinsing off. We have glass shower doors and vinegar works better than Lime-away and CLR. I always had to scrub when I used those. With the vinegar I just spray, let sit, wipe down and rinse. (No, not the best smelling cleaner in the world, but at least there is the peace of mind that inhaling vinegar stink won't have any harmful effects on you or your children, unlike most commercial cleaners. Plus the smell fades pretty quickly anyway. )

These are so easy to make, very economical and you don't have to worry about having harmful chemicals around your house. I love using my homemade cleaners and I think they work just as well or even better than the cleaners sold in stores.

[marcia]

Hi Carmen..

Thanks for sharing this!
Where can we get tea tree oil?

Marcia

[Carmen]

Are you in the local group here in NPR? If so, you can get it from the Fronteir co-op in the essential oils section. If not, most natural food stores carry essential oils.

[Katie]

I don't know how the prices will compare, but I purchase essential oils in bulk for use in soapmaking. Shipping charges might outweigh any savings, but here is a price list of some essential oils that I have available. Size is 10 ml bottle.

Tea Tree $6.00
Orange $4.50
Peppermint $4.50
Lavender $6.50
Patchouli $7.00

I reduce the price when people purchase multiples. Example: deduct $1.00 off the overall cost for two essential oils, $2.00 for three, $3.00 for four, etc. Feel free to drop me a note if you are interested or have any questions.

[marcia]

Yes Carmen, I am in the local group, just joined last month. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

Katie,
Thank you so much for letting me know what you have to offer. 10ml =.33 oz and that is a good price. You may be right though, about the shipping.
I do appreciate your help!

[dulcie]

i get mine at walmart, though probably not as good as other places. growing up i had extreme reactions to cleaning solutions..such things as comet, fantastik, and others would put me into an instant asthma attack. so my mother had us use things like baking soda, vinegar and borax. along the way i found other things that would clean wonderfully. lemons and salt make good scouring solution, shampoo removes soap scum, things like that

[DaiseyMama]

I am loving these "cleaners" threads. Thank you for sharing such good information.

I am wondering ...what about windows and mirrors?

And what about dishwashing?? (I hand wash my dishes at the time)

Thanks ! ;D

[Katie]

Vinegar and water in a spray bottle works well for me when cleaning windows and mirrors.

We hand wash dishes too. I use one of those anti-grease detergents. It still works the best of many that I've tried. I do wear gloves on occasion when washing dishes, esp in the winter.

[DaiseyMama]

Thanks! I'll have to invest in some nice spray bottles now.

As for the dish washing...I've been using Palmolive..Bad Girl!

[Carmen]

For windows I use water in a spray bottle with a small amount of vinegar (1/8 to 1/4 cup) and a couple drops of dishsoap.

[homemom1fl]

for dishes you can use Shaklee's Basic H. I am not a Shaklee dealer but love that product. It is great on grease. You can smear butter in your hands a just one drop of Basic H with cold water will get it right off. You can go to their website to read about it.
His,
Chris

[Paula]

I'm really starting to get into natural cleaners and I've about decided that I can clean my whole house with borax, vinegar and/or baking soda! ;D

I read that you can wash dishes with equal parts borax and baking soda. Has anyone tried this and how well does it work? I also do dishes by hand.

Thanks!

Paula

[Dandelion]

What do you use to wash clothes?

[Mom2boys]

I used to make my own laundry detergent with bar soap and super washing soda, but it turned by whites very dingy eventually.

When I had a septic system. I would pour yeast down the toilet and that helped to break the stuff in the septic down.

[Paula]

I got this recipe from Katie (the soap lady) once:

1 c. borax
1 c. washing soda
1/2 c. baking soda
few drops orange essential oil (optional)

Use 1/8 cup per load.

I wonder if the added baking soda helps the clothes not get so dingy??

I have never made this recipe because I haven't yet been able to find washing soda here in my town. I'm still using the store-bought laundry detergent but would love to do something homemade.

I have been using white vinegar in the final rinse since I heard it will help cut out the need for a dryer sheet. So far (it's been about 4 weeks) things are going very well. My clothes and towels are soft and only a few things have been static-y (like slips, etc.) I'm not sure how well it will work in the winter, though. I may go back to the dryer sheets then (and just cut them in half as I usually do).

I feel like the blind leading the blind with my advice...