Learn to make your own household cleaners

Most of the following recipes come from Mother Earth News website. You can see the original listings at here and here.

You can make cleaning solutions for most household applications with water and a few ingredients: castile soap, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, washing soda and borax. You also can use lemon juice, salt, tea tree oil, club soda and rubbing alcohol, depending on the stain or item you want to clean.

Dish Soap

What You Need:

• 1 ounce liquid castile soap
  
• 2 cups water
  
• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
  
• 5 to 10 drops lavender essential oil (optional, but lavender is antibacterial)

Directions:

1. Combine the soap and water in a jar
2. Add the glycerin and lavender (if using).
3. Stir to blend.
4. Use as you would any other cleaner

Soap Scum-fighting Spray

What You Need:

• 1 teaspoon borax
  
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
  
• 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  
• 2 cups hot water
• Makes 2 1/4 cups

Directions:

1. Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle
2. Shake to blend
3. Spray
4. Follow with a sponge
5. Rinse
6. Repeat

Magic Window Wash

What You Need:

• 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
  
• 2 cups water
  
• A few drops of essential oils, for scent (optional)
• Makes 2 1/4 cups

Directions:

1. Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle
2. Shake to blend.
3. Spray on surface
4. Remove with a squeegee, paper towel or newspaper

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

What You Need:

• 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  
• 2 cups water
• Makes 2 1/4 cups.

Directions:

1. Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle
2. Shake
3. Spray along the inside rim of the toilet
4. Leave on for 15 minutes
5. Scrub with a toilet brush.

Baking Soda Oven Cleaner

What You Need:

• Small- to medium-sized box of baking soda
  
• Water

Directions:

1. Sprinkle the bottom of the oven with baking soda to cover
2. Spray with water until very damp
3. Keep moist by spraying every few hours
4. Let set overnight
5. In the morning, simply scoop out the baking soda — all the grime will be loosened — and rinse the oven well