Safe Cleaning Products
Homemade Cleaning Products
If you really want to tread lightly upon our Mother Earth, a good place to begin is to stop buying the chemicals you use to clean your home and car. These all end up in our water supply and ultimately poison our lakes and shores. Here are all safe alternatives to common household cleaning prodcuts:
See also Stains
OVEN CLEANER:
Clean up quickly with baking soda. Let it soak in well then wipe away.
DISHWASHER DETERGENT:
Equal parts borax and washing soda. Use extra washing soda if you have hard water
LINOLEUM CLEANER:
1 cup white vinegar to 2 gallons of water.
STOVE CLEANER:
2tbslp liquid dish soap and 1 tblsp borax mixed in a spray bottle. Let soakm in one hour and then scrub.
TUB AND TILE:
1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 5 cups water.
TOILET CLEANER:
baking soda mixed with dish soap or phosphate-free laundry detergent. Scrub with brush.
LAUNDRY PRESOAK:
Mix washing soda with water and spread thinly.
SPOT STAIN REMOVER:
Use a bar soap as a pre-treat.
BLEACH FOR LAUNDRY:
Use borax instead.
DETERGENT SUBSTITUTE:
1/3 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup soap powder, 1/2 cup vinegar. Add as machine is filling.
FABRIC SOFTENER:
Use vinegar.
FURNITURE POLISH:
Use mayonnaise.
WAXED WOOD POLISH:
1/2 cup paraffin wax and 1/4 cup vinegar.
FLOOR POLISH:
One part lemon juice to two parts olive oil.
BRASS POLISH:
Use Worstershire Sauce.
SILVER POLISH:
Rub with lemon juice ans salt.
COPPER CLEANER:
Vinegar ans salt. Rub well.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER:
1/2 cup ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 gallon of water
DISINFECTANT:
1 cup borax to one gallon water
DRAIN CLEANER:
1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar, Rinse after 15 minutes with boiling water. Do this twice a week.
WINDOW CLEANER:
One part vinegar to 5 parts water.
PAINT STRIPPER:
Hot vinegar
SHOE POLISH:
Use walnut oil.
DESCALING KETTLES, IRONS AND SHOWER HEADS:
Use one part vinegar to two parts water.