Recently, the NY Times ran an article about the growing boom in alternative cleaning products. The people profiled were parents concerned about their children’s health. It’s no wonder! Most commercial cleaners contain everything from ammonia to phosphates and a whole bunch of other words too long to list here. If I did, you probably wouldn’t be able to pronounce them, anyway! I know I can't.
A few years ago, we tossed all our commercial cleaners and started buying alternatives such as Seventh Generation. While these cleaners worked great, we started thinking: Why not make them ourselves? We never looked back. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
For the Bathroom
All-Purpose Cleaner: ½ cup vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda, mixed with ½ gallon water. Add a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus for a nice fresh scent.
Mold: Two teaspoons tea tree oil, mixed with two cups water.
In the Kitchen
Disinfectant: Two teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water.
Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts borax and washing soda. (this one has saved us so much money!)
Grease: Equal amounts of vinegar and salt
The Rest of the House
Bare Floors: Equal parts vinegar and water.
Carpet: ¼ cup each of salt, borax and vinegar.
Furniture Polish: Two parts olive oil, one part lemon juice (this works unbelievably well—not only does the wood sharpen up nicely, the dust doesn’t seem to cling quite as quickly afterwards)
Glass: ¼ cup white vinegar mixed with 1 quart of water
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You can find more homemade recipes online at: Makin’ it Myself
For a list of ingredients in commercial cleaners worth avoiding, click here: Unhealthy Cleaners
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