Homemade cleaners really do work!

I’m a big fan of avoiding environmental toxins where I can, and skipping conventional household cleaners is an easy place to get started. Rather than having to call poison control, you can avoid the volatile organic chemicals  absorbed through both the skin and air by choosing plant-based cleaners. If you’ve ever cleaned your home with bleach or ammonia and then had trouble breathing afterwards, you know I mean.

While plant-based cleaners are a great alternative, sometimes they come with a hefty price. And it’s for this reason that I started to make some of my own homemade cleaners. DIY green cleaning is so much easier than you might think. Here are some recipes to get you started:

1. All-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner

Instead of pricey all-purpose sprays, I add 1 cup of white vinegar and dilute it with 1 cup of water. Add to an empty spray bottle. It’s just amazing how well diluted white vinegar cleans up your kitchen. It’s also great for scrubbing down the counters and cleaning out the refrigerator. Add 15-20 drops of citrus essential oils if the smell of vinegar isn’t appealing.

2. Furniture Spray

I got this recipe from the book “Homemade Cleaners, Quick-And-Easy Toxic-Free Recipes.” It’s a simple yet effective tool against dusty furniture. Because it has fresh lemon juice, the extra solution should be stored in the refrigerator.

1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water
5 drops of lemon essential oil.

Combine in a spray bottle.

3. Glass Cleaner

I used the vinegar and water concoction on glass and to be honest, I was pretty disappointed in the results. The glass was cloudy and cloudy glass makes your bathroom seem dirty. However, this simple homemade cleaner seems to work much better. It also comes from “Homemade Cleaners, Quick-And-Easy Toxic-Free Recipes.”

1/4 cup castile soap
1 quart of water

Combine in a spray bottle.

4. Heavy Duty Bathroom Scrub Powder

I got this recipe from Wellness Mama and it really does the trick on hard water stains that even elbow grease doesn’t seem to remove.

2 parts baking soda
1 part salt
1 part borax powder

Combine the dry ingredients in a jar. Sprinkle on the tub or sink and let set for 5 minutes and then scrub with a scouring pad. Rinse with water.

5. Wood Floor Cleaner

Combine 1 part vegetable oil to 1 part vinegar. Rub into wood floors well. It makes them shine while nourishing and disinfecting them.

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Image: HyperAitz

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I don’t know what it looks like under your kitchen sink, but mine is jammed-packed with recycling bins, garbage bags, cleaning supplies and old plastic grocery bags, waiting to be reused. It’s one of those spots in the house that could never be big enough. That’s why the new double duty dish soaps from Martha Stewart Clean and Earth Friendly Products caught my eye. Each one does two kitchen jobs, which means I have to cram one less product in the cabinet.

Martha never ceases to impress with her brilliance, so it’s no surprise that the dish soap from her new eco-friendly cleaning products line is a must-have. While you wouldn’t want to use most dish soaps to wash your hands frequently because they’ll dry out your skin, this one is free of sodium lauryl sulfate and other harsh ingredients and it comes in an easy to use pump bottle. The formula is more than 99 percent plant and mineral-based. And the true Martha finishing touch? The label peels off easily so you can leave a simple clear bottle on your counter in place of both your hand soap and your goopy dish soap bottle – how does she always manage to think of everything?

Earth Friendly Products Ecos DuoDish

Have you ever used hand dish washing soap in your dishwasher? Bad idea. But this double duty dish soap innovation from Earth Friendly Products is made to work for both hand-washing and the automatic dishwasher without causing problems. The 100 percent natural and biodegradable formula is scented with essential oils. Earth Friendly Products promises streak-free, spot-free and grease-cutting results!

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