household cleaning products

[bekajoi]

Just wondering if anyone here makes their own cleaning supplies... and if so, what do you use? :)

I have been making my own laundry detergent for a while now, and would love to know if there are more environmentally friendly (or possibly animal friendly if what I'm using is NOT... hmmm, should find out about that) than what I'm using~

Also, vinegar and water spray cleans just about EVERYTHING... vinegar is a good carpet stain remover... and if it's a tough stain, sprinkle down or rub in baking soda, then polish off with vinegar. Baking soda rubbed on grease stains will get those out pretty easily (kitchen)~

Anyway! What do you use? :)

[skarrlett]

I like to use vinegar with a bit of lemon juice for general cleaning. I also like to use a bit of salt as a scouring agent. It works really well. Here are some of the recipes I use:

WINDOW CLEANER
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent (from Simply Cleen)
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water

ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER
1/2 tsp. washing soda
a dab of liquid soap (from Simply Cleen)
2 cups hot tap water

[MoniDew]

I do the vinegar/water thing, too, only I add a few drops of the essential oils of tea tree, peppermint, and lavendar and a teaspoon or two of extra virgin coconut oil. It has never failed to clean ANYTHING I have tried yet!

Please share your laundry detergent recipe!!

[bekajoi]

You can find a LOT of stuff at http://budget101.com ~ the basic laundry detergent recepie is over there, but I do something a little different from them since I couldn't find exactly what they reccommended. So here's what I do:

Laundry Detergent

1c grated soap flakes (Fels Neptha, Zote, other laundry bar soap, or even something like Ivory if you can't find anything else)
1c Borax
1c Washing Soda (not baking soda... but Arm & Hammer makes it~ large yellow box)
4 gallon bucket with lid
water

I put 2 quarts of water (give or take~ water doesn't have to be precice) in a large stock pot and boil. Lower to a simmer and add the soap flakes. Keep at a simmer or just below, being sure not to boil or it will foam up. Melt soap flakes thoroughly, and add Borax & Washing soda. Heat till thick. Fill bottom portion of bucket with HOT water. Pour in soap mixture and stir. Fill to the top with HOT water, stir. Leave open and untouched for 24 hours. (If you absolutely cannot leave it open because of children, that's ok~ it's never hurt my batches) Stir once before use... if it's clumpy, you can add 1c of your regular laundry soap and it will smooth out.


I got my bucket free at a local bakery~ it's what the frosting comes in. And the rest of the supplies cost me about $8. I did the math and doing 4-6 loads of laundry a week, this amount of stuff I bought will last 5 years and 4 months. The same price as ONE bottle of the stuff I used before, and lasts SOOOOO much longer. :) Works beautifully~ we don't notice a difference AT ALL, and my husband's super sensitive skin has no problems with it.

You can also use the borax/washing soda mixture (equal parts) to boost and stretch your dish detergent.

[bekajoi]

Oh, adding that I refill my old Cheer bottle, and measure as before: 1/2 c per load, adjusting for size of load and how dirty the load is.

[jenna]

With the vinegar water, how much of both do you use? And you guys just use regular spray bottles, right?

[bekajoi]

You can do different dilutions depending on your needs... but generally I do 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water. More vinegar for tougher stuff, less for quick wipe-down jobs.

And yep, normal spray bottle works fine. Just remember to thoroughly clean out an old bottle if you're using another cleaning product bottle~ soap & water! Don't want to mix chemicals or anything~

I usually just get a cheapy one at Walmart and use it till it dies.

[hippymama]

My laundry routine is a bit simpler.

I have a bar of soap and grater above the washer. I grate a little soap into the washer as needed. I also have a jar of borax and baking soda up there (about 6 parts borax to 1 part bs). I add a dash of that to the washer. It is also my dishwasher detergent. I have a high capacity washer and I only use about 2 tbs of detergent per load.

Making it up as I go saves a lot of time. I found that washing soda made my clothes dingy and my diapers stinky, so I don't use it anymore.

My favorite cleaning tool is microfiber. I don't know how it works, but it cleans everything with just hot water. Even the burnt crud on th estove wipes right up. I kept hearing about , but I didn't believe it. Once I tried it, it was just as amazing as everyone said. I cleaned every surface of my house, and there was nothing it couldn't do. Now I rarely even use cleaners.

[erineernie]

Brommers soaps aren't too bad. They have like a thousand uses on the bottles from household to body. You dilute it depending on the project. It's a little pricey but a bottle last along time and you can use it for everything. They make ones with different oils too, like lavender,almond, and I think spruce.

[jenna]

Brommers soaps aren't too bad. They have like a thousand uses on the bottles from household to body. You dilute it depending on the project. It's a little pricey but a bottle last along time and you can use it for everything. They make ones with different oils too, like lavender,almond, and I think spruce.

Dr. Bronner's is good stuff! I use the almond for a body wash, the peppermint as a toothpaste. I've been thinking of using the lavender for cleaning around the house.

[erineernie]

I use the lavender for my laundry all the time. Its a nice mild smell. People notice it. My boyfriend however, doesn't care for it because he thinks it give off too much "girlie scent"

[jenna]

I did want to point out a really good book that was recommended to me. It's called Clean House, Clean Planet. Clean your house for pennies a day the safe, nontoxic way by Karen Logan. Lots of great 'recipes' for lots of different things to clean.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671535951/sr=8-1/qid=1141774447/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0450727-1296753?%5Fencoding=UTF8

[WonderRandy]

I make a great all purpose/glass cleaner with 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup rubbing alcohol, several drops of fragrance oil, and water to make a quart. I love using citrus oils in this - grapefruit is lovely...

[aurorakitten]

I don't make my own, but over a year ago a bought a bottle of concentrated "Earth Friendly Products - Orange Plus" and have used it to clean EVERYTHING in my house. It was about $5 from pangea.com and I haven't even used half the bottle. It does counters, bathroom, toilet, walls, tables, microwaves, and even floors! Definitely worth a try, and it has a lovely orange oil smell.

[Blue Plastic Straw]

I did want to point out a really good book that was recommended to me. It's called Clean House, Clean Planet. Clean your house for pennies a day the safe, nontoxic way by Karen Logan. Lots of great 'recipes' for lots of different things to clean.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671535951/sr=8-1/qid=1141774447/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0450727-1296753?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I love that book :D

I combined a couple recipes from the above to make my own multi-purpose, anti-septic cleaner.

Natural Disinfecting All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients: Liquid soap or detergent (Dr. Bronner’s is best), white distilled vinegar, borax, purified water, tea tree oil.

What Else You’ll Need: A clean 16 oz. trigger spray bottle.

How to Make: Mix 2 tbsp. of vinegar with 1 tsp. of borax. Fill the rest of the bottle (leaving room to add the soap) with very hot water. Shake until the borax is dissolved. Add the 1/4 cup of liquid soap last. Add 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. Because minerals in the water inhibit cleaning, it’s best to use purified or distilled water. Make sure to mix everything in the order listed, so the borax dissolves and doesn’t clog the spray nozzle.

Another favorite is the Earth Scrub recipe, I use it for cleaning the bathtub and the bathroom and kitchen sinks.

Earth Scrub
Tub and Tile Cleaner

Ingredients: Baking soda, Dr. Bronners, white distilled vinegar, and water.

What Else You’ll Need: A 16 oz. squeeze container with a flip top lid. Make sure the hole on the lid is big enough, or it will clog. You can reuse the lid from a bottle of Soft Scrub, that works well.

How to Make: Mix 1 2/3 cups baking soda with 1/2 cup of liquid soap in a bowl. Dilute with 1/2 cup of water. Add the 2 tbsp. of vinegar last. Stir until the lumps are gone. If you can pour it into the container easily (I highly recommend using a funnel ;) ) then you have the right consistency. If it’s too thick, add more water. Keep the cap on, because this mixture will dry out. Shake well before using. For a 22 oz bottle: Mix 2 cups of baking soda, 1/2 cup liquid soap, 2/3 cup water and 2 tbsp. vinegar. You can scent this any way you like using a few drops of essential oil. I like lemon and lavender.

The easiest recipe of all is the window cleaner. Club soda in a spray bottle, that's it!

[piratebean]

Another good book is "Clean & green : the complete guide to nontoxic and environmentally safe housekeeping" by Annie Berthold-Bond. (Woodstock Press, 1990; ISBN: 0960613838). This book covers so many ways to clean with baking soda, vinegar, Dr. Bronner's soaps, etc. (Just ignore the page that covers environmentally-friendly ways of cleaning leather!) Berthold-Bond started researching the cleaning methods because of sensitivity to chemicals present in most household cleaners, but she realized that the recipes were so much better for the environment as well.

Of course, I borrowed it from the library. But I think I might buy it, because it's just a good reference to have around.

[jenni-anti-fur]

never thought about this before...thanx for the info...have severe allergies and need to try something new.

peace and love

jenn

[Gita]

The famous soft drink in the red can (C*ke) makes a great cleaning supply. Not kidding. all and more are from this site-- there are more detailed explainations here at http://members.tripod.com/~Barefoot_Lass/cola.html

Throw a cup in the laundry for stains
will take out stains in carpet
Use as toilet bowl cleaner and to descale tea-pots
Use as tile grout cleaner
As a beauty product, diet coke will strip hair dye-- it will give you a better tan, and will condition your hair--
In the garden, use as fertalizer and for the compost heap
it will also relieve you of constipation (though few vegetarians suffer from that)

The only thing I wouldnt do with it is Drink It (Yuk)

The majority of cleaning supplies can be made using vinigar, baking soda, water and a bit of plain soap (castille)

Heres a good floor wash: 1/8th cup vegetable soap
1/4 to 1/2 cup vinagar or lemon
1/2 cup strong tea (tannins)
2 gallons warm water

I am presently making and using that home made laundry detergent from the first post-- it is a lot cheaper and more biodegradeable than the average laundry soap.

Oh, another cleaning tip: Coffee grounds are great for scrubbing pots-- they also dont scratch and you take them outside and throw them on your garden.

[erineernie]

Cola will also remove rust and erosion on things like tire rims. Makes it even more wonderful to drink!

[Gita]

Also the white crust on auto batteries!

[Katt Fink]

I do the vinegar/water thing, too, only I add a few drops of the essential oils of tea tree, peppermint, and lavendar and a teaspoon or two of extra virgin coconut oil. It has never failed to clean ANYTHING I have tried yet!

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I have some cleaning to do today and I figured it was better than starting a new one. I was wondering if this recipe makes for a good spray-n-wipe type thing or is this more of a scrub and rinse? I'm looking for something simple that I can just spray down the walls/bed/TV stand, etc. with, without having to bust out the cleaning rags and bucket. Also, most importantly, do you think this is safe to use around pets (I assume so?)? The ratties live in our bedroom with us :)

[butterflywaters]

A cheap, vegan laundry detergent is Sun, I buy it at the Dollar Store. I wrote the company and it doesn't contain animal ingredients and they do not test on animals!! Works fine and saves me loads of money, pun intended

[hippymama]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I have some cleaning to do today and I figured it was better than starting a new one. I was wondering if this recipe makes for a good spray-n-wipe type thing or is this more of a scrub and rinse? I'm looking for something simple that I can just spray down the walls/bed/TV stand, etc. with, without having to bust out the cleaning rags and bucket. Also, most importantly, do you think this is safe to use around pets (I assume so?)? The ratties live in our bedroom with us :)

This is a spray and wipe thing. It is safe for the pets. I also use mine as a rinse for my hair--it cuts down on frizz, detangles, and controls fly aways. Mine doesn't have the coconut oil.

[skyebear92315]

If you're not averse to using hydrogen peroxide, just mix with ordinary dish soap and dab it on the stain. Let it sit for a minute or two then sponge/blot it up. Start with a one-to-one mixture, but if it doesn't work in those proportions, add a bit more peroxide and try again. This has worked on old coffee and tea, even red wine stains for me. Note - Be sure to test for colorfastness.

[Coney]

There was a guy who used to be on the VB a long time ago who posted this very useful information.

----------------------
Mix white vinegar with water (1/2 of each). It works great on mirrors, glass & the bathroom for cleaning!

Lemon juice mixed with water works very well as a furniture polish.

Baking Soda
A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda is made from soda ash, and is slightly alkaline (it’s pH is around 8.1; 7 is neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in water, and adsorbs odors from the air. Sprinkled on a damp sponge or cloth, baking soda can be used as a gentle nonabrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, and fiberglass. It will eliminate perspiration odors and even neutralize the smell of many chemicals if you add up to a cup per load to the laundry. It is a useful air freshener, and a fine carpet deodorizer.

Washing Soda
A chemical neighbor of baking soda, washing soda (sodium carbonate) is much more strongly alkaline, with a pH around 11. It releases no harmful fumes and is far safer than a commercial solvent formula, but you should wear gloves when using it because it is caustic. Washing soda cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does. Don’t use it on fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors—unless you intend to remove the wax.

White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic—they neutralize alkaline substances such as scale from hard water. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces.

Liquid Soaps and Detergent Liquid soaps and detergents are necessary for cutting grease, and they are not the same thing. Soap is made from fats and lye. Detergents are synthetic materials discovered and synthesized early in this century. Unlike soap, detergents are designed specifically so that they don’t react with hard water minerals and cause soap scum. If you have hard water buy a biodegradable detergent without perfumes; if you have soft water you can use liquid soap (both are available in health food stores).

Mold Killers and Disinfectants For a substance to be registered by the EPA as a disinfectant it must go through extensive and expensive tests. EPA recommends simple soap to use as a disinfectant There are many essential oils, such as lavender, clove, and tea tree oil (an excellent natural fungicide), that are very antiseptic, as is grapefruit seed extract, even though they aren’t registered as such. Use one teaspoon of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle (make sure to avoid eyes). A grapefruit seed extract spray can be made by adding 20 drops of extract to a quart of water.


During the time of the Black Plague a family of perfumers robbed the dead. As perfumers they knew well the antiseptic essential oils, and they infused them in vinegar and rubbed them on their bodies; by doing so they protected themselves from certain death. The doctors of the time used the same herbs and essential oils to to protect themselves while tending so many who were contagious. They wore big cloaks over their heads that reached down well below their shoulders. Attached to the cloak over the nose and mouth was a 10” long canoe-like shaped beak full of antiseptic herbs and essential oils. Here is the famous Vinegar of The Four Thieves recipe; it is sometimes called Grave Robber’s Blend.

Place a small handful each of dried lavender, rosemary, sage, rue and mint in a large jar, and cover completely with organic apple cider vinegar. Cover tightly and set for six weeks. Strain into a spray bottle. Whereas no home can be made to be sterile, spray the powerfully antiseptic Vinegar of Four Thieves recipe in areas of concern, such as on cutting boards and door knobs, always making sure to avoid your eyes.

clogged drain?
Ideally, use washing soda on your drains once a week to keep them clear. Just pour 1/4 cup or so down the drain, and then flush with water. Washing soda is found in the laundry section of the supermarket. You can use baking soda instead by pouring 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by three cups of boiling water. The boiling water will change the chemical composition of baking soda to become more alkaline like washing soda. If you already have a clog, try pouring 1 cup of washing soda (or baking soda) down the drain followed by three cups of boiling water. Repeat two or three times. If you still have a clog, try pouring down 1 cup of vinegar. Being an acid, the vinegar will neutralize the washing soda or baking soda and there will be some foaming and gurgling, but sometimes this agitation is all that is needed in the end to dislodge the grime.

sponges:
Almost every sponge now sold in U.S. supermarkets is impregnated with a synthetic disinfectant—usually triclosan— that has been registered as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Not only should we be concerned about washing our dishes and counter tops with triclosan, but common disinfectants may contribute to drug resistant bacteria just like antibiotics.

Simple Solution:
Buy only pure cellulose sponges by avoiding sponges in packages that use language such as “kills odors.”
If your sponges exude the distinctive disinfectant smell, throw them out and search for a source of sponges made of pure cellulose.
Sterilize sponges by boiling them in a pan of water for three to five minutes, or place them in a dish washing machine and wash with a load of dishes.