Homemade cleaners

You will need...

White vinegar

Baking soda

Lemons and/or lemon juice

Salt

Olive oil

 Bar soap

Liquid dishwashing soap 

Washing soda

Borax

Essential oils (I like lemon, lemongrass, & eucalyptus)

Glycerin

1. Bathroom Cleaner: 

3/4 c. baking soda

Juice from 1/2 a lemon (about 1/4 c)

3 tablespoons salt

 3 tablespoons liquid dishwashing soap

1/2 cup vinegar

10 drops essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl to make a paste; use scrub brush or sponge to apply to tub, shower walls, & sinks.  (Be sure to test a small area to make sure paste does not scuff tub surface; if so, eliminate the salt from the mixture!  Rinse well with water and a wet rag, then dry with a clean rag or old towel.

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2. Toilet Bowl Cleaner:

1 cup baking soda

1 cup vinegar

10 drops essential oil (optional)

Pour in baking soda, then slowly pour in vinegar, being sure to get vinegar to cover as much of the bowl surface as possible, then add essential oil.  The baking soda will react with the vinegar–this is normal!  Use your toilet brush to scrub surface & remove any rings or stains and then flush.

3. Furniture Polish

3/4 cup olive oil

Juice from 1/4 lemon

1 tablespoon vinegar

3-4 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

Dampen rag & squeeze out excess water.  Dip damp rag into furniture polish, the wipe on surface of furniture.  Buff off with an old dry towel.  Can also be used to polish stainless steel!

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4. Glass Cleaner

1 1/2 cups vinegar

1 1/2 cups water

5-10 drops essential oil (optional)

Mix vinegar, water, & essential oil together in spray bottle.  Spray on glass & use squeegee, crumpled newspaper (Tip: use newspapers that are at least 2 weeks old to avoid black fingers!), or a lint-free rag to get a streak-free shine.  Also works well to shine chrome and countertops after you’ve disinfected them.

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5. All Purpose Cleaning Spray

1 tablespoon borax

1 tablespoon washing soda

1 teaspoon dishwashing soap

1 cup vinegar

4 cups hot water

25-30 drops essential oil (optional)

Whisk all ingredients together well in large bowl, then pour into spray bottle.  Spray on, then wipe surface clean with a damp cloth.  Can be used to clean and disinfect almost any surface!

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6. Stainless Steel Cleaner

2 tablespoons baking soda

1/2 cup vinegar

2 cups warm water

Mix ingredients in spray bottle.  Mixture will foam up; when it stops bubbling, put on cap and spray stainless steel surface, then wipe clean & dry with lint-free rag.  To add extra shine, use furniture polish above.

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7. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

1 cup baking soda

1 cups borax

1/2 cup salt

Vinegar (add to rinse compartment!)

Mix first three ingredients well & store in airtight container.  To use, add 1 tablespoon to each of the 2 compartments in your dishwasher and 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your rinse compartment.

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8. Floor Cleaner

1 cup vinegar

1/2 cup baking soda 

8-10 cups hot water

1 tablespoon borax

1 tablespoon washing soda

30 drops essential oil (optional)

Mix vinegar & baking soda together in bucket; add hot water, Borax, washing soda, & essential oil and mix until all powder is dissolved.  Use mop or sponge to wipe down floor; wipe dry with clean dry towel.

9. Homemade Laundry Detergent

1. Grate one bar of soap with cheese grater or food processor.
2. Put grated soap in pan with 2 quarts water and gradually heat, stirring constantly until soap is completely dissolved.
3. Put 4.5 gallons of really hot tap water in a 5-gallon bucket
4.  And stir in 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda until completely dissolved.
5. Pour soap mixture from pan into 5-gallon bucket. Stir well.
6. Cover and leave overnight.
7. Shake or stir until smooth and pour into gallon jugs or other containers.
8. Use 1/2  cup per load

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10. Fabric Softener

½ cup Vinegar

Essential oil (optional)

½ cup water

You can add a tbs of glycerin to help the oils stick to the cloths. 

Add to a jar with sponges.  Ring a sponge out and add to your close dryer.

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Amy’s Hand soap

Grate 1 Bars of soap

Add to a blender

Top with one cup very hot water

Whip it

Add 1 tb honey

And 1 tsp glycerin

Mix it and let it sit 15 mins

Top the mixture with 4 cups hot water

Blend it carefully, then store it.