DIY Natural Cleaners

I've tried numerous DIY cleaner recipes some with luck and some have left me wondering how it worked for someone else. For this reason, I wasn't very consistent with using them. But I found myself making the kids watch a movie while I cleaned bathrooms so they wouldn't come in and smell that stuff. I was taking a shower a few hours after cleaning because I didn't want the smell to engulf me as I was trying to get clean. I was constantly seeing my kids lick mirrors and glass as they admire themselves or put anything in their mouth, I knew I had to keep working on finding the right combination. Anyone else know those feelings?!? I also wanted to be able to make the cleaners with common things I had at home (I did have to get a few extra essential oils though). I now have the recipes dialed in and I am hooked!



A few things that you may not be familiar with right away is Borax or Castile Soap. To my delight, Borax is getting so common it's in most grocery stores in the cleaning aisle. It's looks like baking soda and has a ton of cleaning boost as well. For all you scientists ... "Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate: a naturally occurring substance produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes" per the 20 Mule Team Borax site. Castile Soap for most of us is Dr. Bronners. That crazy guy with a million quotes on his bottle that made a terrific soap. Back before kids when we could go camping on a whim I felt like we lived on Dr. Bronners ... you can wash your hair, hands and even your teeth with it! Don't get me wrong, we still use it for camping trips with the kids we just don't use it every other weekend!

I have read that essential oils and plastic aren't great friends after awhile so try to use glass bottles ... and you can make your own spray bottles with items you already have! Find out how now!

Labels are key! Once I used my dusting spray as a window cleaner ... Just in case I didn't know before, olive oil does not clean windows! Here is a template for 2' diameter Avery Labels. I used Avery 22807. Download my free template now!

Seriously, try a few of these out -- your house will never feel so clean!

Cleaner Recipes

Disinfectant

2 oz vodka
6 oz hot water
1 t castile soap
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil

All Purpose Spray

3/4 c hot water
3 c hydrogen peroxide
1 T washing soda
1 T borax
1 t dish soap
40 drops essential oil (I like using tea tree, eucalyptus and lemon)

Bathroom Cleaner

2 c hot water
1 t borax
1 t baking soda
1 t castile soap
4 drops lemon essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil

Toilet Cleaner

1 c vinegar
1/4 c borax
Let sit in toilet for 15 minutes before cleaning

Dish Soap

1 3/4 cups water
1/4 cup grated castile bar soap, tightly packed
1/4 cup + 2 T liquid castile soap
2 t super washing soda
1 t vegetable glycerin
30-40 drops essential oil (I use 20 lemon to help cut the grease, 10 lavender and 10 tea tree)

Mix water and grated bar soap in a pot. Bring it to boil and mix it until the bar soap has completely mixed in. Meanwhile, add your liquid castile soap, washing soda, vegetable glycerin and essential oils to your container. Once your water and bar soap has completely mixed, add it to the remaining ingredients. Mix well. It will take a day to thicken up.

Dusting Spray

1 c hot water
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1 t olive oil
10 drops lemon essential oil

Glass/Mirrors

1/2 lemon
Just rub the lemon over the glass and mirror. Wipe with damp microfiber cloth and polish with a dry cloth.

Stainless Steel Cleaner

Drop 1-2 t of olive oil on a damp microfiber cloth and polish away!! It's best to go with the grain.