the low down on green living
March 3rd, 2008
How To Tuesday: Make Green Home Cleaners
So many of the standard cleaning agents we have all used in our homes are made with toxic chemicals and petroleum derivatives. When we spray 409 or some other standard cleaner around our homes we and our children breathe in amonia and hundreds of other toxins. Most laundry and dish soaps are made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource. We don’t need to pollute our homes with these scary cleaners, right?
Fortunately it is very easy to use a few simple ingredients to make your own effective, healthy cleaning potions. White vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, borax and good old water are mainly all you need to get started. And you won’t believe what you can do with toothpaste! Making these cleaners will save you money AND protect the environment and the health of your family.
Make An All-Purpose Floor/Kitchen/Bath Cleaner:
Mix together a tablespoon of borax (available in most grocery store laundry sections), a tablespoon of liquid soap (like castile soap, which is also available at most grocery stores), a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a quart of warm water. Shake it up and use it as you would a normal cleaner.
Window Cleaner:
Fill a spray bottle with water and 2 tablespoons lemon juice or a 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Spray and wipe off as you would with a standard cleaner.
Bathtub Scouring Agent:
Mix baking soda and water into a paste. Scrub the tub. You can polish it off with a spray of the all purpose cleaner you made above for further sanitizing, if you like.
Furniture Polish:
Mix one 1 cup mineral oil and 1 cup white vinegar. Rub it on with a clean cloth.
Carpet Freshener and Cleaner:
Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet then vacuum it up. If you need to treat spots, mix 1/4 cup of liquid soap (like castile) and 1/2 cup of warm water. Beat them together and then rub the foam into the spots. Then rinse with clean water and blot dry.
Silver Polish:
Toothpaste! Yes– this works! Just put some toothpaste on an old toothbrush or wet cloth and go to town. When you’re done polishing, rinse the item well in warm water and then dry with a soft cloth.
BONUS TIP: How to keep your drain clog-free without corrosive liquids!
1. Put two tablespoons of baking soda into/over the drain of your sink or tub.
2. Pour one cup of vinegar on the baking soda. (It will fizz a lot– do not panic, this is normal.)
3. Wait about five minutes, and then pour a kettle of boiling water over the soda/vinegar residue.
4. If this doesn’t work, try it a second time. If this doesn’t work then, get out the good old snake.
Do you have mixes you’ve tried that worked well for you? Let us know in the comments section!
Comments
mcark
March 4th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Have I missed a blog on laundry? Someone told me that they use bacon soda and …..something else.
mcark
March 4th, 2008 at 7:37 am
baking soda*** I’ve been a vegetarian for too long to make that slip. I know there are eco friendly soaps but what about make it yourself cleaners?
peahen
March 4th, 2008 at 9:28 am
If I am supposed to use warm water for the all-purpose cleaner, does that mean I have to mix it up fresh every time, or do I just use warm water to help the other ingredients mix, and can then keep the batch around?
What about adding essential oils? Honestly, a nice smell makes it so much more likely that I’ll actually clean. I occasionally spring for those Caldera products simply because they smell nice. I’d love to use these more household/eco-friendly options though.
Newby
March 4th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I have used these recipes for the last year and I think they are wonderful. In fact even better. I have no mysterious odors during or after cleaning. I can relax knowing my family and I are not full of unwanted toxic chemicals. I have saved so much money not investing in toxic cleaning products. I have had die hard friends who insist that they would never convert and now they realize it actually works.
mjak
March 4th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Add 1/2cup borax to the water in washing machine. It helps the laundry detergent to work more efficiently.
You can use much less detergent and clothes come out much cleaner.
CJStewart
March 4th, 2008 at 9:47 am
peahen, you can absolutely use essential oils in cleaning. I make my own scrubber for the bathroom and I use cinnamon, clove, tea tree, and sweet orange essential oils. In addition to smelling GREAT, it helps with fighting the germs.
CJStewart
March 4th, 2008 at 9:54 am
mcark, I don’t know about making your own laundry detergent. I use Biokleen powder and use a little Borax with it. I’ve recently heard about using soap nuts. They are apparently just picked off the tree and put into your washing machine. I thinking about trying them…
Lindsay
March 4th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I have to say I’m suprised at the recomendation of mineral oil in the furniture polish recipe. It is a petrolatum by-product and therefore inherently not “green”. Is there no alternative?
Caroline
March 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I make my own fabric softener. I use a Downey Ball and put white vinegar to the fill line. Then add 3 drops of essential lavendar oil, this cuts the vinegar smell. Makes your clothes softer than Downey ever could. Also, your towels don’t loose their absorbtion, For furniture polish I use a 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
Fabulously Green
March 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for some great ideas. I actually have now EXCLUSIVELY started using a mix of distilled white vinegar and water (50/50) in a spray bottle and clean everything with it. It’s amazing. Stainless steel sparkles, it takes away soap scum.
For tougher stains I use a Pumice Stone and it works like a Magic Eraser.
Will try the polish ideas. Thanks!
mamajlu
March 4th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
There are several recipes for your own laundry detergent out there if you search the web.
I’ve been making my own now for awhile and I LOVE it. One batch costs about $1 to make and lasts my family of 4 for about a month. The process takes about 20 minutes.
I also make my own dishwasher detergent from equal parts borax and arm & hammer soap. lemon juice for a rinse aid.
Laundry Detergent-
3 pints water
1/3 bar Naptha soap, grated
Mix over low heat till disolved.
Add 1/2 cup Borax, and 1/2 cup Arm&Hammer soap.
Stir
Pour into 2 gallon bucket
Add 1 quart water
Stir
Fill bucket to top with water
Let sit for 24 hours
Use 1/2c for a large laod
Warning result is a gell. Works as well as if not bette then Tide
Carmen
March 4th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I looked up the Naptha soap used in the recipe for making your own soap and it is actually a petro based chemical itself.
Maraya
March 4th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I purchased a sample of the soap nuts and they are not bad. You will see suds and the clothes are cleaned, but if I try the soap nuts again I will add an essential oil. A change in scent convinces me I cleaned my clothes. Once the sample ran out I went back to Ecos, which suddenly seemed like it had a stronger scent and more cleaning power. Anytime I feel like returning to Tide I’ll just switch between soap nuts and Ecos.
Jessica Jensen
March 4th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Hi all– excellent comments– thank you!
In regards to an earlier comment, no you don’t have to keep the all-purpose cleaner warm….just use warm water to mix it the first time and then you can keep it at room temp in a bottle for later use.
And, yes, adding essential oils is a great way to add some lovely scents to your cleaning mixes!
Carmen you are right to point out the concern re. naptha. I would recommend not using that as ingredient.
Here is one mix I found for a natural laundry detergent, althought I have to admit I have not tried it personally:
1/2 cup of Borax 1/4 cup baking soda 1/4 cup Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds
I will try it and let you know how it works!
–Jessica, Low Impact Living
danielle
March 4th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I also love using 50/50 distilled vinegar and water. The only problem i have is the smell. I have tried using essential oils to mask the oder but of course i can not get them to mix. Any ideas?
Jessica Jensen
March 5th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Danielle, have you tried adding lemon juice? It might help with the odor.
stephanie
March 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
what does everyone think about method products? are they as environmentally friendly as they market themselves to be? i’ve tried to research some of the ingredients such as corn-alcohol, potassium hydrate, etc., and cannot find anything offensive (ingredients are not listed on the bottles, but can be found at methodhome.com). i’m wondering if i should stop using these products and switch to the ideas listed here…
peahen
March 19th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Heya. Thanks for the updates on adding essential oils and not having to cook the stuff up each time. Very helpful - can’t wait to get mixing (although I can wait on the actual cleaning part…)
Green Potions
March 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I am so impressed with the above ingredients. I am now producing my eco friendly cleaning products. I have come up with a product that cuts grease, oil and grime with a wet cloth and no elbow grease. In addition to this I have come up with a product that removes soap scum and calcium build up on shower screens and also a shower spray used each time in the shower that leaves your shower screen dry clean each time.
Lori H
May 6th, 2008 at 9:28 am
For wood furniture, I use 3 parts white vinegar to 1 part jojoba oil. I read that it’s better to use the jojoba oil because olive oil can go rancid if you leave it mixed too long. The first time I tried it on my ktichen table I almost cried. You would not believe the dirt the vinegar pulled out of the wood! I always thought it was clean but I was definitely wrong! It also leaves a great shine but doesn’t build up like a regular cleaner.
Zelda Rose
May 15th, 2008 at 5:06 am
jojoba oil is terrific used with vinegar, the jojoba penetrates the wood and protects it against drying out. works great on healing dry skin. Great trips thanks for all the info. Got to get to work now.
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May 20th, 2008 at 10:26 am
[…] going green doesn’t have to be extreme. It doesn’t have to be expensive. In some cases, it can save you money. It is more of a change in lifestyle than going out and buying a hybrid car (even though I really, […]
Benjamin H
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hi… First time posting to this site, wanted to let Lori know that I tries her furniture polish mixture… and WOW! Not only do I use it at home but I use it in my housecleaning clients home as well.. and they love it. Thank you
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