Never buy overpriced and toxic brand name products again!

I hate buying cleaning products, all these fancy names, not to speak of the price tags!
Homemade cleaners do work! Non toxic cleaners are not as powerful as the toxic chemicals you find in supermarket cleaners. You cannot spray and wipe but they work just the same if not better. They are good for the environment and safer for your home.
Making homemade cleaners is as simple as following a recipe for cooking. Like cooking, it is easier to make them up in bulk to save time and money. You may even have most of the ingredients in your cupboards already!

A good place to start

The ingredients you will be using are organic. They will still be harmful to some extent to ingest, so please use caution like you would to other cleaning products. Ensure all the bottles are labelled and kept in a safe place away from children and animals.

What you will need...

• Plastic spray bottles
  
• Coffee cans with lids
  
• Glass jars with screw tops
  
• Cotton cloths and rags
  
• Sticky Labels

If you are reusing spray bottles from commercial cleaning products, please ensure you wash them out thoroughly. You never know what concoction you may be creating if you mix them.

The Recipes...

1. Air Fresheners/Deodorizers

Air freshener spray Mix

• white distilled vinegar
  
• an essential oil (for fragrance)

Use in a fine mist spray bottle

Air purifying spray

• Mix oils of eucalyptus,
  
• lemon and thyme,
  
• water
  
• Use a fine mist spray bottle
  

Gel fragrance in a jar

• 225ml/1 cup water
  
• 1 packet of gelatin
  
• 1/8 teaspoon of clear alcohol (vodka - gin)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon essential oil (for fragrance)

Boil half a cup of water and add the gelatin. Then add the other half of cold water and stir. Add the other ingredients and pour into a jar. Do not place in a spot where it will get too warm because it will liquefy. If this happens please it in the fridge until solid.

Lemon and baking soda spray

• Dissolve baking soda in a 450ml/2 cups of hot water
  
• add hot water
  
• Use in a spray bottle
  

Lavender room aromatherapy

Use lavender on an oil burner to help regulate your mood. It is widely used by herbalists to treat depression.

2. All purpose cleaners

 

All purpose cleaner 1

• 3 tablespoons of vinegar
  
• 1/2 tablespoon of washing soda
  
• 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil based soap
  
• 450ml/2 cups of hot water
  
• Mix and add to a spray bottle or bucket
  

Tea tree oil spray

• 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil
  
• 450ml/2 cups of water
  
• Mix and add to a spray bottle
  

Spray onto a patch of mould and leave. The mould will dissipate in a few days. Can also be used as an antiseptic spray.

All purpose cleaner 2

• 1 tablespoon of borax
  
• 55ml/1/4 cup vinegar
  
• 900ml/4 cups of hot water
  
• mix in a spray bottle
  

3. Bathroom cleaners

Toilet bowl cleaner

• 115g/1 cup borax
  
• 110ml/1/2 cup white vinegar

Leave for several hours before scrubbing with toilet brush

Bath and sink cleaner

• 190g/1 2/3 cup of baking soda
  
• 110ml/1/2 cup liquid soap
  
• 2 tablespoons of vinegar
  
• 110ml/1/2 cup of water
  
• a few drops of tea tree oil
  

Mix and use in a spray bottle

4. Floor cleaners

Carpet freshener

• 460g/4 cups of baking soda
  
• 35 drops eucalyptus oil
  
• 30 drops of lavender oil
  
• 25 drops of rosewood oil
  

Mix it all in a jar and sprinkle onto carpet 15 minutes before vacuuming

General floor cleaner

• 110ml/1/2 cup of white vinegar
  
• 4ltrs/1 gallon hot water
  

Mix in a bucket and use on hardwood, lino, tile and any other washable surface

 

5. Kitchen

All purpose grease cutter

• 1/2 teaspoon of washing soda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil based soap
  
• 3 tablespoons of vinegar
  
• 450ml/2 cups of hot water
  

Mix in a spray bottle For a general cleaner, take out the vinegar and add some lavender oil.

 

6. Mirrors and windows

Glass cleaner, non streak

55ml/1/4 cup of white vinegar

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  
• 1.2ltrs/2 pints of warm water
  
• Use in a spray bottle
  

Apply with a cloth and wipe dry with old newspaper for best effect.

 

We hope that you found this guide useful. If you have anything to add or comment on please feel free to use our 'comments box'.
Thank you.

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