Safer Homemade Cleaners

By Yvonne Vinson

Why use homemade cleaners? When you use your own homemade cleaners, you are being kind on the environment, and not exposing yourself or family to any unknown, hazardous chemicals.
Homemade cleaners are also cheaper to use! Here are some good recipes for creating your own.


Basic Laundry Detergent

1 cup soap flakes
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 Borax
 

Liquid Laundry Detergent

1 cup of the above mixes
2 Tbl glycerin
2 cups warm water

For the detergent recipes, mix all ingredients and store. To use measure 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of the mix and add to the laundry. Launder as usual. Each of these recipes yields approx. 12 oz.

Note: you can buy glycerin at many pharmacy's or health food stores



Homemade Pre-treating Stain Remover

1/2 cup ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tbl. liquid soap
2 qts. water

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray the liquid onto the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Launder as usual.

Fabric Softener

1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white vinegar

Fill washing machine or basin with water. Add the baking soda, stir it around to dissolve, then add the clothes. After rinsing the clothes, make a final rinse and add the vinegar to it. Another way to soften clothes is to add 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash water, or use 1 part soap flakes and 1 part borax in the wash water before you add the clothes.
 

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 cup borax
1/2 white vinegar

Flush the toilet to wet the sides. Sprinkle the borax all along the sides of the inside of the bowl. Drizzle the vinegar over the borax and leave over night. Next day, scrub with a toilet brush and flush.

All-Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant

1 tsp. borax
1/2 Tsp. washing soda
2 Tbl. lemon juice

In a spray bottle that will hold at least a pint, combine the ingredients. Add 1 cup very hot water and shake well, mixing and dissolving the dry ingredients. To use, simply spray and wipe. This can be stored indefinitely.

Lemony Furniture Oil

1 cup olive oil
1 tsp lemon essential oil

Mix well. Apply with a soft rag. Wipe and buff well to a gleaming shine.



Window cleaner

2 tbl. vinegar or lemon juice
1 qt. water

Combine the ingredients and put them in a spray bottle. Use like any window cleaner.
Tip: Use newspaper to dry your windows. It's cheaper than paper towels and it leaves windows shiny and streak free. Also, coffee filters work well!



Dishwasher Rinse

1- 1 1/2 white vinegar added to the rinse compartment of your dishwasher.
Don't overfill. Add before washing.



Dishwashing Liquid
This inexpensive soap does not suds up very much, but it cleans so well. Use with hot water. Do not use in an automatic dishwasher.

1/4 cup soap flakes
2 cups hot water
1/4 cup glycerin
1/2 tsp. lemon essential oil

In bowl combine soap flakes and water and stir until the soap is dissolved. Cool in lukewarm water. Stir in the glycerin and the essential oil, leave to cool. As it cools it will form a loose gel. Stir with a fork and break up the gel and then pour into a narrow-necked bottle.
An old shampoo bottle makes an excellent container. To use, squirt 3 tsp. into hot running water.
 

Oven Cleaner

1 box baking soda (16 oz.)
1/4 cup washing soda

In a container mix the ingredients well. Wet the floor and walls of the oven using a rag or paper towels. Generously sprinkle the walls and floor with the mixture.

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