Wednesday
31Dec2008
Frugal Cleaning
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 I have really gotten interested in making a lot of my own home cleaning products in the last few months. Partly to cut down on toxic substances, partly because I'm doing my best to think 'green' as much as I can, but mostly because it costs so much less to make.
I have a card file loaded with different recipes for cleaners and thought I would share some with you.
I have tried and tested each one, and they work as well or better than what you buy at the store at a fraction of the cost.
Laundry Soap:
2 cups finely grated bar soap ( Ivory or Castille)
1 cup Borax (yep, 20 Mule Team)
1 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer, you can find it in the laundry aisle usually beside 20 Mule Team Borax)
I like to add a few drops of essential oil, like Lavender.
Mix ingredients and store in any container you have handy.
I keep a coffee scoop inside because it measures 2 tablespoons, and that is all you need to use per load. That's all. Cost is apprximately ten cents per load.
It gets the worst loads clean and is very low-sudsing.
You can also use this for washing dishes, just don't expect lots of suds.
If you are reusing greywater however, don't add the Borax as it will kill plants.
For laundry softener, use about a quarter cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle. Your clothes will smell fresh and be very soft with no static.
You can make your own version of soft scrub easily:
1 2/3 c baking soda
1/2 cup liquid soap (castille or you can use palmolive free and clear)
1/2 c water
2 Tbl vinegar
Stir liquid soap into baking soda, add water, stir till smooth. Add vinegar and stir again.
You can put this in an old squeeze ketchup bottle. Shake well before using and keep it closed between uses.
All purpose spray cleaner:
1/2 teas washing soda
2 teas borax
1/2 teas liquid soap (I like scented castille)
2 c very hot water.
Mix together till dissolved, pour in a large spray bottle.
If you like you may add 2 teas hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. This works as a bleaching and sanitzing agent.
Furniture Polish:
I use a little dab of olive oil on a soft rag. You can add lemon juice to it for a nice fragrance.
Scouring Powder:
1 c baking soda
1/4 c borax
1/4 c washing soda
Mix and keep in a shaker or bowl
Baking soda and vinegar are two things you should never be without because there are so many wonderful uses for them.
I also like Dr Bronners Liquid Castile Soap. They have several scents and I don't have to buy essential oils if I want to fragrance a cleaner. It is also highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. You can use it for so many things, including bathing, washing your hair and even brushing your teeth, although I prefer plain baking soda for that.
Borax has other uses besides the laundry. Mix some up with water and pour on those weeds outside instead of using toxic weedkillers.
Sprinkle a little around the perimeter of your home to keep insects away. You can also sprinkle lightly on your carpet, let sit a while and vacuum to kill fleas. Use a quarter cup in the toilet along with a quarter cup of vinegar, let sit a while and then brush.
For mold and mildew mix a teaspoon of liquid castille with a teaspoon of borax in a quart of warm water. Use on bathroom tiles, outdoor furniture or vinyl siding.
Happy Cleaning!
More Frugal Cleaning Tips to come....
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Reader Comments (1)
Hello great article you have here on green cleaners. I use baking soda all the time but never thought to use it in my air freshener spray bottle. And cream of tarter I will be trying both these out.
I would also like to share with you and your viewers about a liquid soap I found. I have tried several but, yet this is the only one I have found that does not dry out my skin, plus it has no SLS in it which is very important too. Here is where I get mine:
http://www.mabelsmiracles.com/TinaMilton/