Make your own housecleaning products
Whether you're out of your normal cleaner or you want to reduce the chemicals you use around the house, these tricks should work.
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Making your own cleaning products is a good way to save money and control the use of chemicals in your home. Most of the following recipes are made from non-toxic ingredients, but there are some chemicals as well. If you store any of these, be sure to label them so you know what is in the container —and keep these and any household cleaners out of the reach of children and pets!
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Shake baking soda on surface or damp sponge and scrub
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1 part baking soda
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1 part lemon juice
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Baking soda
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White vinegar
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1 part water
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1 part bleach
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1 part hydrogen peroxide
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2 parts water
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1 cup white vinegar
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1 cup of baking soda
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1/4 cup white vinegar (or 1/2 cup lemon juice)
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3/4 cup olive oil
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2 cups hot water
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2 tablespoons baking soda (add an essential oil or cologne for fragrance if you want)
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1/2 cup vinegar
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1 gallon water
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Few drops of dish soap
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1 gallon of warm water
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1/2 cup liquid castile soap
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1/2 cup water
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1 teaspoon lemon juice
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3 drops tea tree extract
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1/4 cup white vinegar
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White vinegar
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1 bar of shaved bar soap (Ivory, Fels-Naptha or Zote)
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1/2 cup of washing soda
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Comments
This works good, but, if you put something to cover the drain, the volcano effect will work in reverse. It really works good! I do this weekly. There is no damage to the pipes and it makes the drains fresh.
My laundry detergent recipe - 2 cups Arm&Hammer Super Washing Soda, 2 cups Borax, and 2 bars of Ivory soap shredded. I use this for all of our laundry including cloth diapers with great success. It takes care of stains and smells completely. It's also easy to make and easy on the wallet.
My recipe is similar: 2c Borax, 2c washing soda, and 4-6 tsp Dr. Bronners. It works well, and keeps that stale smell out of the towels. Just be sure to use 1/2-1c vinegar in the rinse cycle on your dark clothes. I keep it in a re-used peanut butter jar.
Why would you ever recommend using bleach? Borax or vinegar work well on mold.
Something that I use for a bug repellant. I use this around baseboards and windows to prevent bugs from coming in, and I also use this as a spray when going outside. About 10 drops each of Tea Tree oil and Eucalyptus oil. For my kids I put garlic cloves in their pockets when they're going outside during mosquito season. It might smell a bit funny, but if they get it in their mouths it won't hurt them. And I find that it works great.
I forgot to mention 10 drops each of Tea Tree and Euclyptus, put this in a spray bottle and add water.
Below are the "textbook" reasons not to use ammonia, but even these descriptions fail to convey how toxic of a chemical ammonia is to have in the house.
Whether you have kids, dogs, or just you and your significant other its not worth having around. Not when you can have vinegar which kills in a non-toxic way 99% of bacteria. I use it for everything now, cleaning the toilets, mirrors, glass top tables, countertops everything! The vinegard smell dissipates quickly and your left.... More
The link to the Networx article is actually http://www.networx.com/article/make-your-own-housecleaning-products
