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Learn to make your own household cleaners
by Adam W.
You can make better alternatives to the harsh cleaners you default to every time you clean. Look at the ingredients in the cleaning products you routinely use. If the list is long and includes chemicals you can’t pronounce, it may be time to try some safer, more eco-friendly alternatives.
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:
- Combine the soap and water in a jar
- Add the glycerin and lavender (if using).
- Stir to blend.
- 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:
- Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle
- Shake to blend
- Spray
- Follow with a sponge
- Rinse
- 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:
- Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle
- Shake to blend.
- Spray on surface
- 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:
- Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle
- Shake
- Spray along the inside rim of the toilet
- Leave on for 15 minutes
- Scrub with a toilet brush.
Baking Soda Oven Cleaner
What You Need
- Small- to medium-sized box of baking soda
- Water
- Sprinkle the bottom of the oven with baking soda to cover
- Spray with water until very damp
- Keep moist by spraying every few hours
- Let set overnight
- In the morning, simply scoop out the baking soda — all the grime will be loosened — and rinse the oven well
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Reviews
baking powder/vinegar didn't do the trick
liquid plumber did!
i prefer natural solutions all the time. the way plumbing is usually set up you can't reach in though and clean pipes with tools.
i gave baking soda/vingear a shot. actually 5 shots.
hot wash each time too.
finally, four applications of liquid plumber did the trick. unfortunate but true.
Ken's keywords: liquid plumber, baking soda, vinegerrrrelli
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.


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Shira K. says:
Borax kills bugs too, as every good New Yorker knows!