Homemade Cleaning Products

About 6 years ago I read an article about the dangers of chemicals in cleaning products, I had no idea how harmful they can be to us, our pets and the environment. I researched homemade recipes that are Eco friendly and came up with quite a list. Over the next few years I tested many of them and tweaked some to my liking. The best part of natural cleaning is that you need very few ingredients to keep your house clean and germ free and you can purchase everything at the grocery store! I have to confess I use a lot of Shaklee products too!

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Some of the ingredients you need to keep on hand

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Some of the finished products

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Window Cleaner/Antibacterial Spray

2 cups of water

1/4 cup of white vinegar

(Mix and keep in plastic spray bottle)

(I use this on glass, ceramic tile, counter tops, anywhere except wood)

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Soft Scrub Cleanser

1cup of baking soda

5 teaspoons of Glycerin (or use water)

Essential oil, 3 drops

(Mix and keep in plastic container)

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All Purpose Cleaner/Floor Cleaner

1 Tablespoon of Dr Bonner's Soap (I like the Peppermint)

2 cups of water

1/4 cup of white vinegar

(Mix and keep in plastic spray bottle)

(I spray this solution right on the floor as I go and use a bucket of warm water for rinsing the mop)

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Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Borax Powder

(I keep a plastic container in the bathroom and sprinkle in toilet as needed and scrub with brush)

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Furniture Polish (for real wood)

1cup of olive oil

3 Tablespoons of lemon juice

(keep in plastic bottle and wipe on with a soft cloth and buff dry your furniture will love you!)

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Laundry Soap

(Front or top load machine, makes 10 gallons)

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. Stir and fill a used, clean bottle half with soap and then half with water.(I use empty water jugs and old detergent containers) Shake before each use it will gel

You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons if you want it scented (add once soap has cooled),I use lavender and make a few gallons with tee tree oil, its a disinfectant and is good for really dirty clothes.

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Stain Fighter

2 teaspoons of peroxide

to 4 ounces of water

(keep in dark place or dark bottle)

I use this to spray on stains on clothes before washing

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Fabric Softener

I use Trader Joe's Lavender Sachets you throw them in the dryer and when they start to loose their smell you can rip them open and vacuum up the lavender to keep your carpet smelling nice

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These are the basic recipes I use, you can google lots of other recipes and give them a try. I also make some health and beauty products that I will share another time. If you try any of them email me and let me know how you liked them.

 XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures