So, as most of you are aware, I am a little bit of a perfectionist when it comes to cleaning and organizing! With little kids running around the house, I am cleaning up ten times more than without kids which means I go through cleaning supplies very quickly. Also, with little ones getting into everything, I am very cautious about the amount of chemicals that I use around the place! Through a lot of trial and error I have come to a very satisfied place on my cleaning routine and the supplies I use. Many of them I make at home, are very simple and easy, and can save hundreds of dollars! They work just as well, if not better than many store bought cleaners too! So without further ado, here are some of my recipes:
Laundry Detergent (The most commonly asked for recipe)
* I have tried SO many different recipes and this has been my favorite:
Grate one bar of Fels Naptha soap into pot and add 4-8 cups of water. (Just helps the soap melt). Melt the soap in the water. In the meantime, take your container (I use an empty store-bought detergent bottle with the easy pour spout) and put in 1/4 cup Borax, 1/4 cup Washing Soda. Pour the melted soap mixture into the container with the powder. Shake well. Add 1T hydrogen peroxide and fill the rest of the container up with hot water. Shake well and voila! This detergent is concentrated so use a very small amount.
(Note: Detergents are very sensitive to your water. Every time I move to a new location, I have to adjust my recipe some. Run the recipe through with an old towel first and look for any white spots, or for a lack of cleanliness. If you are getting spots, reduce your Washing Soda and Peroxide or take out the peroxide entirely. If the detergent is not getting out stains, increase the W.S. and Peroxide. If the detergent does not seem to be cleaning well enough, reduce the dilution, or add more Fels Naptha)
** If you need to add some disinfectant (cloth diapers, etc.) add some Tea Tree Oil to the detergent, or if you just want some scents, you can use most essential oils.
Baby Laundry Soap
If you have a little one, or someone with very sensitive skin, here is an alternative detergent:
1/2 cup Washing Soda
2 cups Baking Soda
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
1 cup Distilled water
Several drops Tea Tree Oil to disinfect (optional)
Fabric Softener
Rinsing your clothes with a little white vinegar is all you should need. Do not dry them too much -this often produces the worst static. If you do not want to add vinegar to your rinse cycle, take an old towel (or designated towel) and spray vinegar directly on it. Throw it in the dryer with your clothes and that should do it.
All- Purpose Cleaner
No surprise, just fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. Can also dilute the vinegar down with water depending on the strength you need.
All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner
Hydrogen Peroxide!!! Yep, works just as well as Clorox but a fraction of the cost. Load up on bottles when you can get them on sale for very cheap and fill a spray bottle up. Use for toilets, showers, kitchen counters, etc.
Another alternative is a combo of water and Tea Tree Oil. Fill a spray bottle with water and drop in some Tea Tree Oil. Smells just as great as it works!
Soap Scum Removal
1:1 Vinegar and Dawn. (If you heat the vinegar, the Dawn will mix better but you do not need to reheat it every time you use it)
Glass Cleaner
White vinegar to wipe dirt and streaks off. Wipe it with water every now and then or the vinegar will start leaving streaks.
Floor Cleaner
Wood Laminate - A sink of hot water with a small touch of Dawn detergent. This has been the best for me to clean the floors but also to leave them streak free. For disinfecting them, spot treat with peroxide and water. ** Be careful in using liquids on these floors as they can pull up the seal.
Tile/Laminate Floors - For basic cleaning, I spray Vinegar on the floor and go over it with a steam mop. Very simple.
Wood and Leather Furniture
Vinegar will remove any wax buildup but also wax finishing. If you have rings left on wood furniture, you can wipe the wood down with white vinegar. You will see the wax coating get foggy. Next use an oil to condition the wood. This will restore the wax finishing as well. Obviously, you do not want to do this daily or it will take the entire coating off the furniture but it is a great way to deep clean and condition wood and leather once/twice a year. As for what oil to use, that is up to you. Some use olive oil and love it but other are concerned with using a food product that can turn acidic with time. Some use baby oil or a carrier oil from the natural store and even add a safe essential oil for smell.
Kitchen Sinks
If your disposal is stinky, throw ice cubes down a running disposal to help get out stuck food. Next throw frozen orange peels in the disposal to freshen it up. (We keep a ziplock bag in the freezer and every orange that is peeled, we put the peel in that baggy.) You can also throw a lemon or lemon oil in the disposal. Lemon is a great natural deodorizer.
Dishwasher Soaps
To clean the dishwasher: Place a bowl of white vinegar on the top rack. Turn the hot cycle on (including a hot dry). The vinegar fumes will do amazing work. If you have stubborn stains, scrub them with a sponge or magic eraser immediately after the vinegar cycle.
To clean a stubborn cycle of dishes that have a lot of grease or oil, place VERY LITTLE Dawn in the machine and run a quick cycle. Follow with a normal cycle.
For my detergent recipe, I LOVE this cleaner: 1/4 cup Citric Acid, 1/4 cup Kosher Salt, 1/2 Cup Washing Soda, 1/2 cup Borax. It fits perfectly in a large yogurt or sour cream container. :-D Place 1 T in each cycle. Fill your rinse aid with white vinegar - that is all you need.
Stubborn Stains
Certainly not chemical free but nail polish remover works great for that Sharpie marker or food coloring that the kids dropped on the floor, kitchen counter, etc.
Foaming Carpet Cleaner
In a blender mix 2 cups water and 1/2 cup vegetable oil. Add 10-12 drops essential oil such as Tea Tree or Peppermint oil. Blend and store in airtight container. Scrub on carpet stains and wipe with damp cloth as needed.
Scrubbing Paste
1 cup Baking Soda
1/4 cup Vegetable Soap
1 T water
2T vinegar
20 drops citrus oil (lemon, orange, etc)
Mix the Soda and Soap. Add water and oil. Stir in vinegar.
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Here are some alternatives to the commercialized air fresheners. (I LOVE fun scents!!!) Most of these do use essential oils, but not all.
House Deodorizer: Boil water in a pot. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil. Walk around house and let steam evaporate into the air. Do the same with Tea Tree Oil to disinfect the air. Cloves can also be added to your pleasure.
Morning Scent: If you like the smell of coffee but do not drink it, simmer a few whole coffee beans in water on the stove. It will fill your house with a burst of energy for the morning. For a softer scent, blend together 6 drops of lavender, 5 drops orange, 4 drops rose oils.
Uplifting Scents: Rosemary essential oil will help the Central Nervous System if it is sluggish. Diffuse some in simmering water. You can also blend together some vanilla, orange and rosemary for a fresh and uplifting scent. Another alternative, try any of these blends: (Rosemary, geranium and basil); (Orange, Eucalyptus, lavender, and neroli); (Bergamont, neroli, geranium, and lemon)
Calming Scents: Chamomile simmered in water. You can also try these blends (Lavender, lemon, chamomile, myrrh, sandalwood, frankincense, ylang ylang, and cedarwood); (Geranium, Lemon, Lavender)
Nightime: Any combination of Lavender and Chamomile are a favorite.
Holiday Air Freshener with Essential Oils: 5 drops Cinnamon, 5 drops Clove, 5 drops Orange
No Essential Oils Needed:
A Family Recipe for the Holidays:
Christmas Room Aroma
2 cups water
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
2 cups sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 handful whole cloves
1//2 lemon, cut up
Mix all ingredients (squeezing lemon and using juice and lemon rind). Place on stove and cook over low heat. Let aroma fill the room. May need to add more water as it evaporates. Cover when not cooking.
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