Relax, Refresh, Rejuvenate
Why Go Green?
Many chemicals in the cleaning products used each day can harm you and your children. Indoor air carries a higher risk for personal exposure to toxic chemicals than outside air. Many of the chemicals in household cleaners and pesticides are not adequately tested, regulated or controlled. An estimated 2-5 million exposures to household poisons occur every year, and a significant number of them involve household cleaners.
Many household products contain neuro-toxic petroleum-based solvents. These can cause headaches, lack of concentration, irritability, even change your hormones and so much more. Also many people have many different products for cleaning different parts of the house.
Here you can make products for your house from products you may have in the house already. All you need are basic products such as lemon, vinegar, bar soda and essential oils.
Below I have made an easy guide to keeping your house clean the healthiest and cheapest way.
I have given you the basic ingredients and then some recipes. May seem a lot to start with, but when you get used to it, it'll be second nature!
Basic Ingredients
Essential oils
Essential oils are great for adding fragrance and disinfecting properties. Essential oils should be handled with care, they are strong volatile oils and can be hazardous to you and your family. Store them away from pets and children. Pregnant women, diabetics and people with other medical conditions should always consult with a doctor about using essential oils.
Eucalyptus Essential oil
- Great for cutting grease, (e.g., rings around bathtubs, mirrors)
- Will cut soap scum
- It is antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and beneficial to the immune system
Lavender Essential oil
- It has a great antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and boosts the immune system
- Nearly everyone can use it with no allergic reaction
Lemon Essential oil
- It is antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and has cleansing properties
- It works well on odours and it is also claimed to have whitening properties (although lemon juice is probably better in this respect)
- Traditionally, lemon oil has been used for furniture because it is so lubricating and
antiseptic.
Jasmine Essential oil
- This works great as a cleaner and whitener
- It will kill mould and mildew
Thyme
- This is anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial and boost immune system
- Good disinfectant
Baking soda
It is used in baking, but also can be used as an all-purpose, nontoxic cleaner. It is effective at removing stains
- mild scouring tool for pots, pans and sinks
- neutralized acid
- soften hard water and fabrics
- extinguish grease fires
- deodorizer around the house, including the fridge, carpets, upholstery, vinyl and down drains
- clean and polish aluminium, chrome, jewellery, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel and tin
Beeswax
Pleasantly scented natural product. It is highly flammable, so it is important to follow certain procedures and precautions whenever melting it down for use in a polish recipe. Avoid overheating, always place the container or small saucepan of wax, inside a larger pan of water. NEVER place a pan of wax directly on a hot plate or gas ring!!!! Beeswax melts 63c to 65c. It does not boil, if it overheats its ignites!! DO NOT use water to extinguish the flames, use sand, a large damp cloth or a fire extinguisher. Beeswax should only be melted in stainless steel or tin plated containers.
- Give furniture a great shine
- A protective coat and helps wood develop a patina
- Lubricant for draws and windows
Borax
- Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water
- It's an alternative to bleach
- It can deodorize
- Inhibit the growth of mildew and mould
- Boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent
- Remove stains
- Can be used with attractants such as sugar to kill cockroaches.
- Cleans, softens water and disinfects
- Freshness to clothes
Citrus Solvent
- Cleans paint brushes, oil and grease and some stains
Cream of tartar
- Mild acid often used in baking
- Can be used for removing stains in your kitchen or bath
Lemon juice
- It’s a deodorant and can be used to clean glass, remove stains from aluminium and porcelain
- It cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing and it is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight
- Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper
- Can be used to mix with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes
Lime juice
- Powerful natural acidic cleaner which is good for removing mineral build-up and grease
- Limes can be used in much the same way as lemons in nontoxic cleaning
Mineral oil
- Mineral derived from seeds, is an ingredient in several furniture polish and floor wax recipes
Olive oil
- Olive oil is great for moisturizing and conditioning leather furniture and as a furniture polish
Orange oil
- Conditions wood furniture, and along with other citrus oils in grease removal
- A hand-cleansing agent
- It is an efficient cleaning agent which is much less toxic than petroleum distillates, it also smells great
Salt (sodium chloride)
- Salt is one of the most versatile ingredients for green cleaning, given its abrasive and bleaching properties
- It is also a natural deodorizer and when mixed with vinegar and flour creates an excellent cleaning paste
Steel wool
- Steel wool is an abrasive strong enough to remove rust and stubborn food residues and to scour barbeque grills
Toothpaste
- Toothpaste is a mild abrasive, and particularly good for cleaning silverware and ornaments, though is not recommended for use on fine jewellery
Washing Soda (sodium carbonate)
- Washing soda or SAL soda is a sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral
- It can be used with soda instead of laundry detergent, and it softens hard water
- It can cut stubborn grease, such as, on grills, pans and ovens
- It can also be used to clean walls, tiles, sinks and baths. Please use rubber glove when putting hands directly into a washing soda solution. Do not use on aluminium
Vinegar
- Disinfectant, cuts grease, removes stains, and an excellent water softener
- Can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, remove traces of soap, remove mildew or wax build-up, polish some metals and deodorise
- Can clean brick and stone and is an ingredient in some natural carpet cleaning recipes
- Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but it can be used straight.
Here are a few recipes for most items in the home
Massage Therapy
Air freshener
Mix white vinegar and an essential oil of your choice in a spray bottle.
Lemon and baking soda spray
Dissolve baking soda in 2 cups of hot water and add lemon juice, pour in a spray bottle.
Lavender room spray
Place a few drops in a water filled spray bottle with a few drops of polysorbate 20 . (this will help lift moods)
All-purpose cleaner 1
3 tbsp of vinegar
1/2 tsp washing soda
1/2 tsp vegetable oil based liquid soap
2 cups hot water
Mix in a spray bottle and wipe anything clean.
All-purpose cleaner 2
1/2 tsp washing soda
1/2 tsp borax
1/2 tsp vegetable oil-based soap
2tbsp vinegar
2 cups of hot water
Mix in a spray bottle, shake to dissolve the bits and clean.
General Tea-Tree oil spray
2tsp of tea-tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. This a mulit-purpose cleaner. Use on mould, spray on an infected area, but don't rinse. The small of damp and mould will go in a few days, never to return! Can be used as a household antiseptic spray, such as, after someone has been sick!
Liquid natural detergent
This is to make 1 gallon, for the dishwasher, floors, laundry, bathtubs, tiles,toilet bowls, walls.
1 cup of castile Soap
1/3 cup of salt
1 cup of dissolved borax or baking soda
1 cup of vinegar
40 drops of grapefruit seed essential oil
Keep in spray bottle.
For dishwasher - use instead of normal dish washing detergent
For laundry - use instead of laundry detergent.
For floors - add to washer and wash, but not laminated
Bathroom cleaner
1 cup of baking soda/borax or washing soda
Mix together and use as a soft scrub for sinks, bath, toilet and tiles. Clean and rinse.
Toilet bowl cleaner
1 cup of borax
1/2 cup white vinegar
Flush to wet the sides of the bowl, sprinkle the borax around the toilet, then spray with vinegar. Leave for several hours or overnight, then scrub with a toilet brush.
Carpet deodorizers
4 cups of baking soda
20-30 drops of your favourite essential oil
Mix in a glass jar, add a few little cuts to the lid, sprinkle on the carpet a few hours before hoovering.
Herbal carpet freshener
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup lavender flowers
Crush flowers to release their scent. Mix well with the baking soda and sprinkle on carpet a few hours before hoovering.
Dishwashing liquid
Liquid castile soap
10 drops of lavender essential oil
8 drops of rosemary essential oil
4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
Fill spray bottle. To use, spray 3tsp to hot running water.
Automatic dishwasher detergent
1/2 cup liquid or castile soap
1/2 cup water
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
3 drops tea tree essential oil
1/4 cup of vinegar
baking soda
Mix together (not the baking soda). Store in a squeeze bottle. Use 1 tbsp in the 1st cycle, sprinkle baking soda over dirty dishes and in the bottom of the dishwasher, to absorb odours and boost cleaning power.
Disinfectant spray
2 cups of water
1/4 cup of vinegar
10 drops of tea tree essential oil
10 drops of lavender essential oil
Use to kill bacteria on worktops.
Lavender anti-bacterial spray
Lavender is known for its mood enhancers, but it's also great for killing bacteria and viruses. Put 20 drop of the essential oil in 1 cup of water and a few drops of polysorbate 20, and spray in the air, table tops, door knobs.. anywhere where you would disinfect.
Bleach alternative
1 gallon jug, fill up 1/2 with water, add 1 cup of castile soap, then dilute 1/3 cup of salt, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. Shake well, fill the bottle with water.
Floors
General floor cleaner, mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of hot water, in a bucket. This is safe for any floor, or surface. Add essential oils for lovely smells.
Lavender furniture wax
2oz grated beeswax
1tbspcarnauba wax
11/2 cup mineral spirits
20 drops of lavender essential oil.
Melt the wax, let it cool for 30 seconds, add mineral spirits and oil. Stir well then place in a suitable container.
Lemon oil furniture duster
10 drops of lemon essential oil
2tbsp lemon juice
a few drops of olive oil or jojoba oil.
Dip a soft recycled cloth, in the mixture, wipe over furniture, allow to dry naturally.
Furniture polish (also leather, as it conditions)
3 1/2 cups of olive oil
1/3 cup castile soap
40-60 drops of essential oil (your choice if you want it to smell nice, and which oil to use)
10 drops of grapefruit seed extract
Put in your 1 gallon bottle, 1/2 with water, add all ingredients, fill the rest with water. Shake well, put in a spray bottle, shake before each use. This will last about a year. Also can be use for shining stainless steel, painted surfaces and blinds. Not for antiques or floors.
Wood furniture polish no 1
Please make each time you use.
1 lemon
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp water.
Extract the lemon juice, add to the oil and water. Apply with a soft cloth, let it sit for 5 minutes, then buff off with another soft cloth.
Wood furniture polish no 2
1/8 cup food grade linseed oil
1/8 cup vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice.
Mix ingredients, using a soft cloth, rub into wood.
All-purpose Grease Cutter
1/2 tsp washing soda
1/2 tsp vegetable oil-based liquid soap
3 tsp vinegar
2 cups hot water
Mix in spray bottle, spray and scrub and wipe clean
Appliance cleaner no 1
2 cups water
1/4 cup oil-based soap
10 drops rosemary, lavender, or citrus essential oils
Appliance cleaner no 2
1 tsp borax
3 tsp vinegar
2 cups hot water
Mix in a spray bottle, shake and mix til the dissolve borax. Spray on appliances and wipe off with a soft cloth.
Microwave cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tsp vinegar
5-6 thyme, lemongrass, or lemon essential oil.
Mix all ingredients to make a paste. Apply to the wall and surface of the microwave with a soft cloth. Rinse well and leave in the microwave door open to air-dry for about 25 minutes.
Oven cleaner
2 pints of warm water
2 tsp borax
2 tsp liquid soap
Spray on solution, wait 20 minutes, then clean with rag and rinse with clean water.
Laundry detergent
1 0z liquid castile soap
1 cup of washing soda
1 cup baking soda
1 cup of white vinegar.
Fill washer with water and add each ingredient in the order above. Laundry as usual.
Laundry Dry sheets
1/2 part lavender essential oil
1/2 part benzoin essential oil (absolute resin)
small dropper bottle
1 scrap of cotton cloth (about 4 inches square)
Make base essential oil by mixing the two oils in equal amounts into a small dropper bottle. Shake well. (Label) Put 4-5 drops onto the cloth and place in the dryer.
Fabric softener no 1
2 cups baking soda
2 cups white vinegar
4 cups water
Mix these ingredients and use 1/4 cups per load in the final rinse.
Fabric softener no 2
1 gallon vinegar
20 drops lavender essential oil
Add the lavender essential oil into the vinegar in the container and you've got an instant fabric softener. Shake well before use. For a large load add 1 cup during the cycle rinse, for smaller loads at 1/2 cup.
Mirrors and windows
3/4 fill spray bottle with water, the rest with vinegar and 8 drops of a citrus essential oil. Shake well each time you use. Spray on windows and mirrors, wipe off with newspaper.
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