Homemade Cleaners

SODIUM BORATE - BORAX - LAB GRADE 1LBHomemade cleaners are much less toxic than the usual commercial cleaners purchased from the local store and far less expensive. You can prepare your own from products from stuff you already have sitting in your pantry. Wow. Less toxic, environmentally safe, and much less expensive. Count me in. Now we might be able to fill the gas tank again.

All you will need is a cleaning tool tote and some spray bottles and some cleaning cloths--so get busy.

LIVING ROOM AND HOMEMADE CLEANERS:

Windows---use 1/2 tsp. of liquid soap 3 TBSP. to 1/2 cup of vinegar, fill 1 qt. spray bottle with water. Mix. Use newspaper to dry.

Dusting---use damp cloth. This will "catch" the dirt. Or try this furniture polish- Mix in sprayer bottle 1 cup of olive oil 1/2 cup of lemon juice Shake well. Spray on cloth. Spread on furniture and use a dry cloth to polish.

Wood Floors---Add 1 cup of vinegar to pail of water. Mop.Carpet--------Sprinkle baking soda over surface to eliminate odors. Let sit 15 to 30 minutes. Vacuum.

Air Freshener-1 tsp. of baking soda, 1 tsp of lemon juice plus 2 cups of hot water. Spritz into the air.

BATHROOM AND HOMEMADE CLEANERS:

Could anything be grimier? A good all purpose sanitizer: 1/2 tsp. of liquid soap, 4 TBSP. of vinegar, 2 tsp. of borax, 3 to 4 cups of hot water. Mix in spray bottle. Spray on surfaces let stand a minute or two. Wipe clean.

Toilet-------Turn off taps. Flush a bucket of water down drain. Add 1/4 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of borax in toilet bowl. Scrub. Let sit for a while. Scrub again. Turn taps back on. Flush.

Tub and Tile Cleaner- 1 1/2 cup baking soda, 2 TBSP. of vinegar, 1/2 cup liquid soap, 1/2 cup water. Mix when you are going to use this as the vinegar will make the mixture bubble. Now scrub and rinse. For hard water stains you may need to use vinegar full strength.

Shower Head--Place 1/2 cup of vinegar in a plastic food storage bag. Secure this bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Leave on overnight. Rinse. Your shower head will be all clean and free from mineral deposits. Buff and shine.

Slow Drains--Pour 1 cup baking soda into drain. Add enough hot water to wash it down. Let stand overnight. Then flush with hot water. (Do not use this on blocked drains.)

KITCHENS AND HOMEMADE CLEANERS

1 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of water.

Use this for counter-tops and lightly soiled areas. Use baking soda on a damp sponge to remove food deposits or as a general sink cleaner. For "soft scrub" use equal parts baking soda and liquid soap, only make as much as you will be using each time. This dries out very quickly.

Cutting Boards in two separate spray bottles put vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide. Spray cutting board with one and then with the other. Let sit 5 minutes, scrub, rinse, and dry.

Microwaves--Usually simply wiping with soap and water will do. for extra grime use baking soda.

Metal Polish Aluminum, brass, copper, bronze. Use lemon juice. But for extra power add baking soda to lemon juice and scrub, rinse, dry.

Silver

Layer a glass bowl with aluminum foil. Sprinkle foil with salt and baking soda and fill bowl with hot water. Soak the silver in solution. Tarnish will migrate to the aluminum foil. Rinse, dry, and buff silver.

Floors------Put 1/2 cup borax into the bottom of a bucket and add 2 gallons of water. Use this to sanitize your floors. OR 1 TBSP of liquid soap and 1/4 cup vinegar to 2 gallons of water for general floor cleaning.

LAUNDRY AND HOMEMADE CLEANERS: Rinse cycle--add 1/4 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. Your clothes will not smell like vinegar but they will be soft. Brightener--add 1/4 cup lemon juice (strained) to the rinse cycle. OR- hang your wash outside in the sun to dry. Bleach- use hydrogen peroxide instead.

What I Use to Clean

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