I made a facebook status today asking if anyone has made a good dishwasher detergent. I have officially replaced all my household cleaners with homemade non-toxic cleaners, with the exception of dishwasher detergent.
How did I do it? Well I am actually very creative, smart and awesome. That is how.
NOT.
I google, try a few and keep the ones I like. I can't take the credit for any of these recipes. I will share my not-so-secrets, and credit the person I got the idea from where I can.
All Purpose Cleaner
*1 spray bottle
*Equal parts white vinegar and water
BOOM. That is it. Simple, yet effective.
If you really hate the smell of vinegar you can add essential oils, or vanilla, almond extract to mask the scent. My only suggestion is to shake the bottle before each use because the parts will separate and you'll get a strong dose of vinegar.
This is my primary cleaner. I even use it in my steam carpet cleaner!
This cleaner works for cleaning counter tops, toilets, sinks, floors, windows, everything! I don't even buy floor cleaner anymore, I add this little concoction to my Rubbermaid Swiffer Wet Jet knock-off and it cleans the floors. I know I have blogged about this before, but this cleaner is awesome. The best part about it is that you can spray it all over your kids toys to clean them, and they will not get sick from it. They wont put their grubby little hands and mouths all over nasty chemical covered toys anymore.
Laundry Detergent -NOT safe for Cloth Diapers (or so I am told)
*1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle
*1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle
*1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle
*3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle (if you use Zote
bars use 2 bars instead,
Zote can be found at Home Depot)
*2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.The woman who I got this recipe from says that you can find all the products at the grocery store, I found that to NOT be true, but it still wasn't hard to get the ingredients.
I use 1Tbsp per load, unless I am washing soiled sheets from the kids, then it gets a double dose.
This recipe is great because it cleans REALLY well, but doesn't have a strong smell. I used to LOVE the smell of laundry detergent, but now that I know those scents are really just nasty chemicals to breathe in I appreciate the fainter smells of things :).
To make: Simply combine all the ingredients in a big trash bag and mix well. You have to grate or food process the three bars of soap, then mix it in. I don't have a food processor, so I hand grate the soap, which is a huge pain in the butt, I keep toying with the idea of leaving the soap out, but I don't know if that would hinder the cleaning capabilities. Anyone know the answer to that?
This recipe makes two gallons of detergent, and lasts me about 9 months. And I do A LOT of laundry not including my cloth diapers). The work is worth it to me to never have to run out and buy detergent. Making a batch every 9 months is no big deal since it works so well/lasts so long.
THIS is where I got the recipe. Thanks, Creative Mama!
If the laundry detergent recipe was discouraging because there are so many things you have to buy, no fear, it gets MUCH easier.
I was using a lot of Lysol spray with a newly potty-trained 3-year-old, and a diaper sprayer (if you cloth diaper, you know what I am talking about). Essentially, I am constantly wiping off the toilet, and spraying the germs away. But Lysol is nasty and toxic, so I did some more google-ing. I will admit that the options don't sound very exciting, but the one I chose seems to work, and again, it isn't going to poison my family, so I will take it.
Disinfectant Spray
*2 spray bottles
*White vinegar
*Hydrogen peroxide
This is SO EASY. Put the vinegar in the first spray bottle (label it), put the sprayer from the second bottle on the peroxide bottle. You are DONE. Spray the peroxide on the surface you with to de-funk, then follow up with the vinegar. BOOM. You are done.
The first time I tried this I used way too much and it didn't dry quickly, I learned less is more. Now I am not worried about poo and pee germs all over the bathroom, and I am not coughing up my lungs from the fumes from Lysol.
I suggest visiting the link below to learn more about this home-remedy
Thanks, BrightNest.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
I am not giving you a recipe for something you can combine in a bottle and spray in the toilet. This isn't as simple, but it is still easy. The best part about it is if you are making the other recipes I have posted, you already have the ingredients.
*1/2 cup baking soda
*8 drops tea-tree or melaleuca essential oil
*1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
Pour Baking Soda directly into the toilet boil add oil, then vinegar - in this order.
Add Essential Oil
Let sit for about 10 minutes then scrub with toilet brush.
DONE. Easy.
I don't always use essential oils because they aren't as easy to pick up at Target (are they?), and because as soon as you flush the toilet the smell of vinegar is gone. But do whatever floats your boat.
Laundry Stain Remover
This one is pretty easy, and you already have the ingredients. There are some stains that I have not been able to get out of my kids clothes no matter what I try, even shout, spray 'n wash and oxyclean. So I don't feel bad if this recipe doesn't always work, some kids clothes are just not going to make it to the next one.
This is what you need:
*baking soda
*vinegar
*old toothbrush
*Spray or drip bottle
Mix vinegar with equal parts water in the bottle.
Shake or sprinkle baking soda on the stain, then spray or drip vinegar and water mixture on top. Scrub the stain a bit with the toothbrush and let sit for about 5 minutes, then wash with your regular load of laundry. Wasn't that easy??
So there you go, that is how I keep my house clean. I am sure you are wondering if my house is actually clean, or if it reeks of vinegar. Well the answer is yes, my house is very clean, I am a little too Type A for my own good. My house is company ready 95% of the time, I can't function if it is not. And my house doesn't smell like vinegar. It is an older rental house, so it doesn't smell like a bed of roses like I would like my home to, but it doesn't smell like vinegar, either.
Make sure you label your products!
