Many household cleaners contain harsh chemicals that are unhealthy and unnecessary. As an alternative, try these "do-it-yourself" recipes - most of them are made up of common ingredients you already have in your home. Try some of these recipes out and take a step towards a healthier, cleaner home!
Ingredients:
1 tsp. liquid soap (castile,
peppermint)
1 tsp. borax
Squeeze of lemon
1 qt. warm water
Instructions:
Mix together and use in spray bottle, or dunk a cloth
in a bucket of cleaner for large jobs.
-OR-
Ingredients:
1/4 c. baking soda
1/2 c. borax
1/2 c. vinegar
1 gal. water
Instructions:
Mix together and use in spray bottle, or dunk a cloth
in a bucket of cleaner for large jobs.
Ingredients:
2 tsp. vinegar
1 qt. warm water
Instructions:
Put the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake it up a
bit. Spray on windows and rub dry with newspaper to avoid
streaking.
-OR-
Ingredients:
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water
Instructions:
Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake it up a
bit. The soap cuts the wax residue from commercial products you
may have used in the past. Spray on windows and rub dry with newspaper
to avoid streaking.
Ingredients:
1/4 c. borax
1/2 gal. hot water
Instructions:
Mix together and use on surfaces you want to disinfect.
Ingredients:
1/4 c. baking soda
2 tbsp. salt
Hot water, as needed to make a paste
Instructions:
Apply paste to areas needing cleaning. Caution: Keep off wires/heating
elements. Let paste sit for 5 minutes, then wipe clean with warm water.
-OR-
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. liquid soap (castile, peppermint)
2 tsp. borax
1 qt. warm water
Instructions:
Mix items together and spray on oven and wait 20 minutes. Wipe clean
with cloth and warm water. For tough stains, scrub with very fine
steel wool and baking soda.
Ingredients:
1/2 c. borax
2 c. boiling water
Instructions:
Pour borax down drain followed by hot water.
-OR-
Ingredients:
1/4 c baking soda
1/2 c. vinegar
2 qts. boiling water
Instructions:
Pour baking soda down drain and then pour vinegar down drain. Cover
drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Follow with boiling water.
-OR-
Ingredients:
Boiling water
Instructions:
Pour boiling water down drain and use a plumber's "snake" or plunger.
Ingredients:
1/4 c. baking soda
Splash of vinegar
Instructions:
Pour baking soda into toilet bowl and drizzle with vinegar. Let sit for ½
hour. Scrub and flush. Add borax for stains if needed.
Ingredients:
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup liquid castile
soap
5-10 drops of antibacterial essential oil, such as lavender, tea tree or
rosemary (optional)
Instructions:
Pour baking soda into a medium size bowl. Add soap a little at a
time, stirring continuously, until your mixture has begun to resemble
frosting. Mix in drops of essential oil. Store in an airtight
jar for up to a year.
Courtesy of Natural Home Magazine
Ingredients:
Procedure:
*Note: This information is intended for informational purposes only. Washtenaw County does not endorse any of the above-mentioned products or companies.