Green Your Clean: DIY Cleaners

I love the smell of a clean home. I used to tell my husband that our house wasn’t clean unless I was overwhelmed by the smell of bleach, Lysol, and Pine-Sol upon entering. If I had only known how toxic those chemicals actually are, I would have done my research years ago. As the green movement gains fervor, you’ll find the emergence of environmentally-friendly, non-toxic products to fit all of your needs. This week I’ll help you put those all-natural household ingredients to use! And if you’re not a DIY gal, I’ll highlight the best all-natural, non-toxic products that are as green as they are effective.

In order to make your own cleaning products, you’ll need to plan ahead. Money and time are precious so start saving with these simple solutions. If you want to make your own cleaners but need some guidance, check out Eco-Me’s Home Starter Kits. BYO oil, vinegar, water and baking soda…they’ll provide the rest!

I always keep an all-purpose cleaner on hand for those times when I just don’t know what to use. Try out some of these recipes for success.

Gorgeously Green All-Purpose Spray

32-ounce plastic spray bottle

2 cups of water

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon pure castile soap

3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide

20 drops tea tree oil

20 drops of lavender or lemongrass essential oil (use the lavender for a bathroom spray and the lemongrass for a kitchen spray)

Extra credit: Add 10 drops of citronella essential oil for an all-natural insect repellent

Uses: acrylic, ceramic tile, wood, marble, and granite

Must read: Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano

Alice’s Wonder Spray All-Purpose Cleaner

2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon borax

1 1/2 cups very hot distilled or purified water

1/4 cup castile soap or 1/8 cup liquid dish soap

10-15 drops essential oil

Mix the vinegar and borax in a 16oz spray bottle.

Fill bottle with the water and shake to dissolve the vinegar and borax.

Add soap last and then scent with essential oil.

Must Read: Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan

Annie B. Bond’s All-Purpose Cleaner

1/2 teaspoon washing soda

2 teaspoons borax

1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent

2 cups hot water

Combine the washing soda, borax, and soap in a spray bottle. Pour in the hot water, screw on the lid, and shake to completely blend and dissolve.

Must Read: Home Enlightenment: Create a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home By Annie B. Bond

If fabricating your own cleaner feels more like a venture best left to the pros, check out these green all purpose cleaners:

Aubrey Organics Earth Aware Household Cleanser

Biokleen’s Spray & Wipe All Purpose Cleaner

Vermont Soap’s Liquid Sunshine NonToxic Cleaner

Sound Earth’s Lightening Liquid

Begley’s Best All Purpose Cleaner

Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds

Cleaning the bathroom is never an easy feat. Mold, soap scum, and ring around the toilet require some elbow grease…and an effective disinfectant. Instead of reaching for the bleach, try the following alternatives.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1/4 cup baking soda

1 cup vinegar

After combining the above ingredients, pour into the basin and allow to sit for three minutes. Scrub with a brush and rinse.

Tub and Tile Cleaner

1/2 lemon

Borax

Dip the face of the lemon half in borax to create a hand-held scrubber for dirty areas. Rinse and dry the surface afterwards.

Soft Scrubber

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. Use it on the bathtub. It rinses easily and won’t leave a gritty finish.

Extra Credit: Add 5-10 drops of a pure antibacterial essential oil like lavender (refer to my previous article)

Drain Cleaner

1 cup baking soda

1 cup vinegar

Add baking soda and vinegar to a pot of boiled water and pour down the drain. Allow to foam before flushing with tap water.

Extra Credit: Add one half of a used lemon for a clean fresh scent.

Mind Your Mold and Mildew

Dissolve half-cup vinegar with half-cup borax in warm water. Ditch the borax and kill at least 80 percent of the mold simply by letting it sit…if you can stand the smell.

Tea Tree oil is another alternative that will remove both mold and mildew. Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend and spray on the affected areas. Do not rinse.

Are you starting to feel like you’re conducting a mini science experiment and your home is the lab? Check out these green bathroom remedies:

Sound Earth’s Fizzn’ Floor Booster (yes…it’s for the toilet too!)

Bioshield’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Seaside Naturals’ Bathroom Cleaner

Ecover’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Bon Ami’s Cleaning Powder

Ecos’ Earth Friendly Cream Cleanser

Stay tuned next week as we explore greener ways of cleaning the rest of your home.

References:

The Green Guide

Care2

Healthy Child, Healthy World