Home-made Non-Toxic Natural Household Cleaners

As we anticipate spring, warmer weather, longer days and the age old tradition of Spring Cleaning we offer you some simple ways to clean your home naturally.  Natural cleaners are not only cost effective, they are simple to make, safer and gentler for our health & our environment, and are very effective cleaning agents.

Before mass produced household cleaners were available on store shelves, families relied on simple accessible ingredients that they had in their pantries to clean their homes. Although times have certainly changed and many folks may not have castile soap or borax in their cupboards, these ingredients are still widely available and accessible today at most grocery and health food stores.

One thing that has not changed is the importance of our health and the health of our planet.  Here is a list of what you will need to achieve a cleaner, greener, more natural home:

Natural Cleaning Essentials

White Vinegar
A powerful antifungal and germ-killing liquid, also gets rid of hard-water stains and buildup. Removes mildew & odours, cuts grease & wax build up and makes a great glass cleaner.

Baking Soda
A natural cleaning agent that deodorizes, scours & polishes surfaces.

Borax
Prevents mold & odours, deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the power of soap.

Lemon Juice
One of the strongest food acids that works against most household bacteria as an antibacterial & antiseptic as well as controls odours.

Tea Tree Oil
Kills germs with its antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal properties.

Soap
Unscented soap in liquid, flakes,  powders or bars that are biodegradable will clean just about everything.

Spray & Squeeze Bottles
A few bottles to store your  home-made concoctions in. Just remember to label them.

Essential Oils
Ecualyptus, peppermint, lavender or anything else that you like the scent of.

Reusable Cloths
Microfiber cloths work magically for household chores, especially for easy glass cleaning; one dampened with water only, one dry to buff any potential streaks. (Norwex & Enjo are some options that we love)

Recipes

Lemon Soft Scrubber

  • 1⁄4 cup borax
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon biodegradable liquid soap
  • Water
  • 10 drops lemon or peppermint essential oil (or a mix of both)

To use:
In a jar, mix borax, soda and soap. Add water; stir to a thick but pourable consistency. Stir in essential oil. Use on tubs, sinks and counters. Use it to scrub pots and pans too.

Antibacterial Spray

  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 3 cups water
  • 10 drops grapefruit seed extract or tea tree oil
  • 1 teaspoon biodegradable liquid soap
  • 10 to 20 drops lavender or lemon essential oil

To use:
Combine ingredients in a 1-quart spray bottle. Spray on sinks, countertops or any smooth surface and wipe clean.

Natural Dishwasher Soap

  • 1/2 cup liquid soap
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 drops tea-tree oil
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup baking soda for every load

To use:

Combine soap, water, lemon juice, tea-tree oil and vinegar in 12 oz squeeze bottle. Shake well and store in dark, cool place.  For each dishwasher load, sprinkle a handful of baking soda over dirty dishes and place 1 Tbsp of the mixture in the soap dispenser of the washer. Run the dishwasher as normal.

All Purpose Cleaner

Add 1 Tbsp of borax and 2 Tbsp of vinegar to 2 cups of very hot water into a spray bottle (add a couple of drops of your favourite  essential if you like). Shake well to incorporate all ingredients. Apply & rinse.

Shower & Tub Cleaner

Add about 5 drops of Tea Tree Oil  oil per 1 cup of white vinegar and spray onto mildew stains. To prevent hard-water buildup and mildew from returning, combine 1 part white vinegar, 2 parts water and 10 to 20 drops tea tree oil, shake well and spray shower and bathtub.

Mildew & Mold Remover

Spray white vinegar directly onto mildew stains and mold, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then scrub and rinse. (use your lemon soft scrubber for extra cleaning power).

Toilet Bomb

Clean the toilet with vinegar and baking soda. Pour about a cup of baking soda into the toilet, followed by 2 cups of white vinegar. After the fizzing subsides, scrub the toilet with a toilet brush.

 

Happy Green Cleaning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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