Homemade cleaners

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Learn how to make you own natural cleaners and avoid exposure to household hazardous materials which is found in most of the commercial cleaners.  

Making your own simple and effective cleaners is also economical.  You will also be happily surprised with the results.

All-purpose Glass & Window Cleaner

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 quart of water

Pour vinegar and water into a bowl, container, or spray bottle. Clean windows directly with a sponge dipped in the bowl of cleaner or spray on and wipe clean. 

All-purpose Cleaner

Vinegar and Salt. Mix together for a good surface cleaner.

s or 1/8 cup liquid bleach

1 quart cold water

Mix in a scrub bucket. Moisten an old cloth with the solution and wipe onto surface. Let stand about 2 minutes and rinse well.

Dust and Furniture Polish

1 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

Pour oil and lemon juice into a squirt bottle and stir. To use - dip dust cloth into oil, blot the oil by folding the cloth together, then wipe.

Toilet bowl cleaner

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then drizzle with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. This combination both cleans and deodorizes.

Borax and Lemon Juice 

For removing a stubborn stain, like toilet bowl ring, mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste which can cover the entire ring. Flush toilet to wet the sides, then rub on paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub thoroughly. 

Sink Cleaner

Combine baking soda and salt (equal amounts) to scrub stainless steel.

Kitchen and food odors

To inhibit growth of odor-producing molds and bacteria, sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can.  

Disinfectant

1/2 cup Borax into 1gallon hot water

Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix borax in water and clean with this solution.

Cleaning Copper

Lemon and Salt - Baking Soda - Ketchup 

Make a paste of lemon juice and salt, and rub with a soft cloth, rinse with

water, and dry. Or use a slice of lemon sprinkled with baking soda. Rub copper with the lemon slice and rinse with water and dry.  Or use ketchup and rub with a soft cloth.

Cleaning Silver

Aluminum foil

Baking soda

Salt

Very hot water

Combine the above ingredients in a clean kitchen sink. Spread foil on bottom, then place your tarnished silver and silver-plated items into the sink and let stand for a few minutes. Watch as the tarnish disappears from the silverware and reappears on the foil.

Metal polish

1 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Combine salt and flour in small bowl and stir until blended. Add the vinegar and mix into a thick paste. Smear on the paste with a damp sponge or cloth and rub gently. Let the polish dry for about an hour. Rinse well with warm water and buff dry with a soft cloth.

Rust remover

To remove rust, rub with a peeled potato dipped in a mild abrasive such as baking soda or salt.

SAFETY TIPS

1. NEVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA TOGETHER or other products that contain bleach with products that contain ammonia. This includes dishwasher detergent (which contains bleach). 

2. PLEASE BE CAREFUL - ALWAYS check labels on products before combining anything!

3. MAKE SURE TO KEEP ALL HOMEMADE FORMULAS ARE LABELED AND OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN - even though these are environmentally friendly, they are still not safe for children. 

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