What are you cleaning with? Do you reach for Dawn to wash your dishes or Windex to clean your windows?
Did you know that most commercial cleaning products contain endocrine and immune system disrupting chemicals? Bleach, toilet bowl cleaners, disinfecting sprays, deodorizers and many other cleaning products have ingredients in them that have been linked to cancer and other serious health issues.
When I first started making my own beauty and cleaning products (15 plus years ago) I did so because I wanted to avoid using harsh chemicals around my children. Growing up I remember cleaning my grandma’s windows with scraps of paper and distilled vinegar. So naturally I began to incorporate vinegar in many of my cleaning recipes along with baking soda and a few organic essential oils.
I thought about posting some of my cleaning recipes but just haven’t had the time. I do however want to share some simple recipes from the Women’s Voices website. Right now it is easier for me to share their recipes instead of typing and posting all of mine which I might get to some day in the future. 😊
At home we have been using a few of these recipes along with some of my own mixes for several years and they work quite well.
Note that some people are sensitive and or allergic to the compounds in essential oils so use caution when preparing these recipes if you or someone you know has MCAS, MCS or TILT. Also when choosing essential oils please only use organic and or wildcrafred oils. Do not use fragrances that mimic essential oils.
The below recipes are from the Womens Voices website.
All-Purpose Cleaner
suggested uses: hard surfaces like countertops and kitchen floors, windows and mirrors
2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 cups water
Tip: Warming in microwave until barely hot will boost cleaning power for tough jobs. Only microwave in a glass container.
Creamy Soft Scrub
suggested uses: Use this creamy soft scrub on kitchen counters, stoves, bathroom sinks, etc.
2 cups baking soda
½ cup liquid castile soap*
4 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (acts as a preservative)
Mix together and store in a sealed glass jar, shelf life of 2 years.
Tips: For exceptionally tough jobs spray with vinegar first—full strength or diluted, scented—let sit and follow with scrub.
Dry soft scrubs can be made with baking soda or salt (or combination of both)
*WVE recommends using a liquid castile soap that does not contain sodium lauryl (laureth) sulfate (SLS) or Diethanolamine (DEA), which may have harmful side effects.
Furniture Polish
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
Shake well before using
(2 teaspoons lemon juice may be substituted for lemon oil but then must be stored in refrigerator)
Dip a clean, dry cloth into the polish and rub wood in the direction of the grain. Use a soft brush to work the polish into corners or tight places.
Tips: To remove water spots rub well with toothpaste. To remove scratches use 1 part lemon juice and 1 part oil, rub with soft cloth.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Option 1
Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, drizzle with vinegar, let soak for at least 30 minutes and scrub with toilet brush.
Option 2
Put ¼ cup borax in toilet bowl and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Swish with a toilet brush and then scrub.
Tip: Let ingredients soak for a while to make for easy scrubbing, especially on persistent stains like toilet bowl rings.
Drain Opener
½ cup baking soda
½ cup vinegar
Pour baking soda down the drain and follow with vinegar. Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Flush with boiling water.
Tip: Prevent your shower from clogging by using a drain trap to catch hairs.
Laundry Detergent
1 cup soap flakes
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Borax
Soap flakes can be made by grating your favorite pure vegetable soap with a cheese grater. Mix ingredients together and store in a glass container. Use 1 tablespoon per load (2 for heavily soiled laundry), wash in warm or cold water.
This standard recipe can be adjusted for soft water by using 1 cup soap flakes, 1/4 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. For hard water, use 1 cup soap flakes, 1 cup washing soda, and 1 cup borax.
Note: Borax should not be ingested.
Tips: Add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to rinse as a fabric softener. For a whitener, use hydrogen peroxide rather than bleach. Soak your dingy white clothes for 30 minutes in the washer with 1/2 cup 20% peroxide. Launder as usual.
For Natural Ways to Clean a Stone Tile Floors click here
For more great recipes, visit care2.com
