It’s no secret, every commercial cleaner at the super market geared to help you clean your home, is toxic to your health. Now more than ever people should be taking matters into their own hands, and making their own to keep their families safe. Homemade cleaners help you avoid harmful chemicals found in all commercial products, and if you aren’t convinced, homemade is far more economical.

I’ve been making my own cleaners for about four years now and wanted to share some easy recipes to help others get on their homemade path too. Another great perk to making your own, you know EXACTLY what’s in it. I don’t know about you, but my tabby cat loves to be curious, and she is notorious for running through the cleaner at a moments notice. Knowing that it’s only baking soda or vinegar puts my mind at ease. Especially after reading this from Mother Earth living, March/April issue:

” Conventional cleaning products contain harmful ingredients. In a recent study, the Environmental Working Group tested 21 common cleaning products and identified 457 air pollutants that can be released into the air through normal use. Comet Disinfectant Powder contained the MOST at 146 contaminants. The study also identified 24 chemicals in cleaning products with well-established links to asthma, cancer, and other health disorders-12 of the chemicals are on California’s list of chemicals linked to: birth defects, reproductive problems and cancer.”

Holy moly! I used Comet when I was in college because it was free to college students. Little did I know, they were trying to kill me! OK,  perhaps not, but why buy expensive store bought products that are harmful to your health when you can use economical, safe cleaners that clean and disinfect better than harsh chemicals? And as an added bonus, getting rid of all those chemicals will start shifting and cleansing your home chi too!

I’m so passionate about the environment and helping people  along on their own path I’ve written a book to help you get started on your eco journey. I’ve have several of the tips listed here along with many others in my book, which you can find here on Amazon.

cleaning habits

How to feng shui your cleaning habits

  •  Get rid of anything store bought

Comet, soft scrub, ajax, windex, clorox wipes – whatever you have get rid of it. Those chemicals are not only hurting your family but are also extremely toxic to your pets. Most of us keep those chemicals in a laundry room or worse, under the kitchen sink, creating toxic energy in your home. Throw it all away, safely and air those areas out.

  • Buy all-natural safe products.

Ok so I’ve thrown every cleaner away, how the heck do I keep my house clean?

Buy all-natural products:

-Baking soda-buy bulk from Costco or online. A large 1 pound bag will last you a year and it’s less than $10 bucks!

-Borax- buy at your local super market or online. One large box will last you six months to a year.

-Vinegar-buy bulk from Costco. I generally pick up two to three large bottles. 1 Bottle usually lasts me six weeks, and it’s only $3 bucks!

– Washing soda-can be found online or at your local super market.

-Essential oils-these can be purchased online or at organic super markets like whole foods. Oils to invest in: Tea tree oil, lavender, Eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, or spearmint. Pick 2-3 that you like.

-Lemons – buy bulk from Costco or at your local super market.

-Castile soap-Can be bought online or at any local super market.

All purpose cleaner

1 tsp Castile Soap

2 T Vinegar

1/4 t Eucalyptus oil

3-5 drops tea tree oil

1 T borax

2 C hot water

Place all ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake and let sit for about 15 min to dissolve and then it’s ready to go.

Window Cleaner

3 t Castile soap

1 C vinegar

1/2 tsp baking soda

4-8 drops lemon essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well before using.

Wood Floor Cleaner

1 1/2 C water

1 1/2 C vinegar

20 drops peppermint oil

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Use sparingly, spraying on dry mop as you go. Here is another great all-natural wood floor cleaner recipe.

All-natural scrubby scrub

1 C baking soda

5 drops tea tree oil

5 drops lemon oil

1/4 C Castile Soap

Mix all ingredients together and add a little water to make a paste. Keep in an old shampoo bottle. To use, apply with a sponge and scrub those sinks and toilets!

All-purpose Laundry soap

1/2 C baking soda

1/2 C powdered castile soap

1/4 C Washing soda

1/4 C Borax

Add any preferred essential oils

Mix ingredients well. Use 1/2 cup per load

Some additional uses for the ingredients above:

Vinegar

  • Freshen baby cloths and diapers. Use 1 Cup in the detergent dispenser of your washing machine
  • Boil eggs with 1 tbsp to boiling water to prevent egg cracks
  • Remove room odors with a dish of vinegar in a room
  • Add 2 tbsp to fresh flowers to prolong life
  • Wrap a soaked vinegar towel around lime faucets and wipe them clean
  • Use on cutting boards to deodorize and disinfect

Baking Soda

  • Make a paste of baking soda and lemon juice to clean brass
  • Sprinkle at the bottom of garbage cans to remove odors
  • Soak hairbrush in baking soda and warm water to remove dirt and oil
  • Substitute baking soda for bleach when doing laundry
  • Sprinkle on top of a mattress, spritz with warm water and vacuum dried solution to freshen your mattress.
  • Keep a saucer of baking soda in your fridge to remove odors
  • Use as a drain cleaner with vinegar

Borax

  • Make a wet paste with warm water to remove carpet stains. Allow to dry and vacuum up.
  • Add to laundry to boost cleaning power
  • Wash delicates in a tub of warm water and 1/2 C borax
  • Use 1/2 cup in bottom of dishwasher to remove hard water stains

Lemons

  • Slice lemons in half and apply to cutting boards to deodorize and disinfect
  • Add a slice of lemon to a food container to preserve and prolong food in the fridge
  • Also read this article on the best uses for lemons around the house

 

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