I visited OrganicStyle.com and found a few more recipes. These look a bit more fun too.
Kitchen Cleanser
Baking soda
Essential oil (optional; available at health food stores)
PREP: Fill a plastic flip-top or stainless steel shaker (like the kind used for powdered sugar) halfway with baking soda. Add 15 to 20 drops essential oil (try lemon). Stir. Add more baking soda until it reaches the top of the shaker. Secure the lid and shake to mix.
USE: Sprinkler on counters or in sinks, hen wipe with a damp cloth or cellulose sponge. Rinse well. Don't use too much or you'll need to keep rinsing and wiping.
Floor Cleaner
Distilled white vinegar
Filtered water
Essential oil (optional)
PREP: Fill a clean 16-ounce squirt bottle with equal amounts vinegar and water. Add 15 to 20 drops essential oil (try peppermint). Mix.
USE: Squirt on floor and wipe with a clean rag or mop. This cleaner can be used on finished wood, ceramic tile, and vinyl.
Tub and Tile Cleaner
1 2/3 cups baking soda
1/2 cup liquid soap
1/2 cup filtered water
2 Tablespoons distilled white vinegar
PREP: Mix baking soda and liquid soap in a bowl. Dilute with water and add the vinegar. Mix with a fork until any lumps are gone and mixture has a pourable consistency (you may need to add more water). Pour into a clean 16-ounce squeeze container (the kind with a squirt flip-top lid). Shake well before using; keep the lid tightly closed to prevent the mixture from drying out.
USE: Squirt on tile, tub, sink. or toilet bowl and scrub. Rinse well. If any baking soda residue remains, rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water and next time use a little less baking soda in the recipe.
Glass Cleaner
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup liquid soap;
2 cups filtered water
Essential oil (optional)
PREP: Mix soap and water in a clean 16-ounce spray bottle. Add vinegar and essential oil (try lemon). Shake well.
USE: Spray windows and either squeegee off or wipe with a paper towel. One you have cleaned your windows a couple of times with this formula, omit the soap (which removes the waxy residue left behind by conventional cleaners) and switch to 1/2 cup of vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water.
All-Purpose Cleaner
2 tablespoons distilled
1 teaspoon borax (available at grocery stores in the laundry aisle)
16 ounces hot, filtered water
1/4 cup liquid soap (try Dr. Bronner's castile soap, available at health food stores)
PREPARATION: Mix vinegar and borax in a clean 16-ounce spray bottle. Fill with water and shake until the borax has dissolved. Add the liquid soap. Shake to mix again.
USE: Spray and wipe.
How to Recycle: Household Cleaners
The average home contains as much as 25 pounds of toxic cleaning products, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The easiest way to dispose of them is simply to use them up, recycle the containers, and then replace them with healthier alternatives. If you can't bring yourself to finish using products that may be toxic, take them to a household-products exchange where you can swap them for other products or leave them for someone else to use. If the product is in an aerosol can or has the words flammable, corrosive, toxic, or danger on it, take it to a household hazardous-waste site. To find an exchange or hazardous-waste site, go to earth911.org.
Friday, January 8, 2010
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The All Purpose cleaner has been fabulous, as well as the tile and tub cleaner. We do get more streaks with the window cleaner, but completely tolerable. We really enjoy the smell of these products as they are used, fabulous.
ReplyDeleteMight anyone have a recipe for replacing Febreeze?