Spring Cleaning

“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27

It’s here!! Spring... and I can’t wait for the warmer weather. As I sit and look out my dirty windows, I’m thinking about spring cleaning. I would love to share with you some of my favorite cleaning recipes that I've been using for years.

I have a big family and I’m a penny pincher so anyway I can save money, I’m all over it. (I wish I could say that I started making my own cleaning products because I love the environment... I do love it, but I started to do it at first because I needed to tighten my budget). However, making my own products does help the environment. WIN WIN!! And I’m teaching my children too; to help the earth, to save money, to learn skills around the home and in the kitchen. This helps them to be inventive and creative.

There are so many reasons making your own cleaning products are beneficial. Let me share a few.

1. You know what’s going into your products, so you can create safer products. If you have children or pets, it’s helpful to know what they’ll be touching or having on their skin. (Have you noticed you can’t see the ingredients on cleaning product labels... Hmmmm. I wonder why they hide it?)

2. Healthier home & world. According to the EPA it’s estimated that the inside air pollution of our homes is 100 times higher than the outdoor air pollution. Several of the store-bought cleaners are hazardous. We can reduce pollution to our waterways and air, plus make our home cleaner!

3. Save on waste. You’ll be re-using cleaning bottles, so you’re minimizing waste that will end up in landfills or the ocean.

4. Less expensive. For most home cleaning all you need is a little vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice. These can do the trick for pennies on the dollar compared to purchasing cleaning products. Why go out and buy products when you can use things you already have at home? Also, you will only need a few items to clean everything in your home. You'll save even more because you are continually re-using packaging.

I had a few stipulations when I started making my own products. First, it needed to be cheap. I didn’t want to just save a few cents. I was looking to save some serious dinero! My biggest money saver is laundry detergent. This is where I find that "making my own" really pays off. I have a lot of friends that make their own cleaning products using essential oils. I didn’t get into that due to the cost, but I say... go for it. Make it your own. You can easily add essential oils to the recipes I have provided.

Second, it needed to by easy and quick. I didn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen using elaborate ingredients making this stuff. Having a big family means my time is already a factor. I usually spend about 15 minutes once a week, making products. That’s quicker than a trip to the store. It is well worth it.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men...” Colossians 3:23

Here is a list of my all-time favorite recipes. I have used them and I love them. I’ve also provided a link for a PDF below if you choose to print. Enjoy!!

Vinegar is a favorite cleaner of mine. It can be used in so many things or alone. It’s an acid with a low ph; therefore, it’s a natural disinfectant germ killer, a natural odor absorber and its nontoxic and chemical free.

*Place a bowl of vinegar on counter to absorb yucky smells.

*Use as a fabric softener (1/4 cup- 1/2 cup per load).

*Use full strength to get rid of hard water stains or soap scum in shower, shower heads, on shower curtains or glass doors, etc. Great grout whitener.

*Use in coffee pot to clean, in dishwasher for a spot free rinse as well as in your kitchen drains to deodorize.

*Spray in sandbox to disinfect and keep pesky bugs/ants away.

Homemade cleaning recipes

All-purpose cleaner

Works great on glass, counter tops, toilets, floors, tables, walls, etc. (non-streaking)

Use equal parts…

White vinegar & water

Few drops of dawn soap.

Mix in spray bottle.

Toilet bowl cleaner

¼ cup baking soda

¼ cup vinegar

Let sit and then scrub.

Wood floor cleaner

¼ cup rubbing alcohol

1 cup water

A few drops dawn liquid soap

Mix in spray bottle, spray on floors and mop.

Weed killer

1 quart vinegar

¼ cup salt

Dissolve salt in vinegar and pour in spray bottle. Spray onto all unwanted vegetation. This will kill any living plant material so beware. Multiple uses will sterilize the soil so nothing will grow.

Dishwashing detergent

Equal parts

Washing soda

Borax

Add 1 tablespoon per wash. Use vinegar in rinse spot.

(Add a few drops of dish soap to help cut grease if needed).

Laundry Detergent

Wet or dry

1/3 bar fels naptha or 1 full bar of any homemade soap desired

½ cup borax (natural mineral… whitener and deodorizer).

½ cup washing soda (not baking soda… removes dirt and odors)

For dry; grate soap and mix with borax and washing soda. Store in a container and add 1 Tbsp. per load

For wet; grate soap and melt in 6 cups water over stove heat. Add borax and washing soda, let dissolve. Add mixture to 4 cups hot water in bucket and stir. Then add 1 gallon and six cups to bucket and stir. Let sit for 24 hours to gel. Add ½ cup per load.

*This is non-sudsing and can be used in front loaders. Works great with bleach, softeners etc.

*Can add ½-1 oz. essential oil for fragrance.

Best fabric softener alternative… Wool dryer balls or vinegar.

Hang laundry to dry for even more $$Savings.

Furniture Polish

1 cup olive oil

½ cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon white vinegar

Mix ingredients in blender. Dampen clean cloth with solution and wipe over wooden furniture. Use sparingly. Store solution a glass bottle and shake prior to use. (I actually only make 1/2 of this recipe...a little goes a long way)

Best shower cleaner ever!

1 cup blue dawn for a 32 ounce bottle

Fill rest of bottle with white vinegar.

Shake gently to mix. Spray liberally in shower or tub. Let sit anywhere from 30 min-overnight, depending on severity. Simply rinse away. (Do not use on stone or granite.)

Bathroom Cleaner

50/50 white vinegar & rubbing alcohol.

Place in spray bottle. This is heavy duty and will sanitize as well as clean everything from floors, glass, counters etc.

Granite Cleaner

¼ cup rubbing alcohol

Few drops dawn liquid soap

2 cups of water

Place in spray bottle, shake to mix. Use on granite to keep clean and shiny without wrecking the sealant or causing harm.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a harmless and powerful cleaning product and sanitizer. It is non-toxic, safe, & cheap.

Use as a vegetable wash, dishwasher disinfectant (add ¼ cup before a load), cutting board sanitizer, teeth whitener, T-shirt arm pit stains, stinky towels, sanitizing toys and lunch boxes, aquariums, cuts and infections…

Homemade Body products…

Deodorant

½ cup baking powder

½ cup coconut oil

Essential oil (optional)

Mix and place in container

Easy Lotion

1 cup coconut oil

1 tsp. vitamin E oil (optional)

A few drops essential oils (optional)

Place ingredients in a bowl and mix with a beater for 6-7 minutes. Pour into storage container.

Homemade baby wipes

2 cups boiled water, cooled to room temperature

2 Tbsp. baby wash

1 Tbsp. baby oil

Mix solution together.

*Place in spray bottle and spray on baby’s bottom and wipe with clean cloth or...

*Place in a round Tupperware container. Cut paper towel roll in half and place it in container. Let sit for 10 min. Tip upside down and let sit for 10 min. Save other half of paper towel roll to use again.

Blooming Challenge: Go enjoy spring...it's a beautiful gift!

Green cleaning recipes 2.pdf

Download PDF • 238KB