DIY cleaners becomes more and more popular these days, there are reasons why this is a big home trends: Firstly, it saves your money. Secondly, you know the ingredients well, which allows you to eliminate the toxins existed in almost all store-bought household cleaners. The traditional cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing in healthy children and adults, and these symptoms are worse for people with asthma. Following are some all-natural homemade cleaners you should try for reducing VOCs in your home, as well as saving your money.
If you plan to make your own house cleaners, there are some basic ingredients you will need:
- Baking Soda
- White Vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Borax
- Essential oils, like tea tree oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, or lemongrass oil
- Castile soap
- Fresh herbs, citrus, or citrus peels
- Olive or vegetable oil
- Water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Washing soda
The combination of these ingredients will make you almost all of the recipes for cleaning purpose, some recommended recipes:
Concentrated all-purpose cleaner
- 3 drops liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup washing soda, not baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup vodka
- 4 drops tea tree oil
- 8 drops essential oil for scent
Microwave vinegar until boiling. Add washing soda and stir until totally dissolved. Add castile soap, tea tree oil, vodka and essential oil. Then shake.
Place mixture in a closed container for storage. When ready to use, mix one part cleaner to four parts water. This mixture is great on counters, sinks and more.
Bathroom powder scrub
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup sea salt
- 6 drops essential oils for fragrance, optional
Mix dry ingredients. Add essential oils for fragrance, if desired. Store in a shaker container, like an empty cheese container.
Apply using a sponge or scrubby. Disinfect sponges after each use by microwaving wet sponges two to three minutes.
Disinfecting wipes
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tbsp white vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp Natural Dish Soap
- 8-10 drops lemon essential oil
Combine everything in a spray bottle. The vinegar and lemon have disinfecting properties and the lemon also gives it a pleasant scent. The dish soap is for extra cleaning power.
Glass and mirror cleaner
- 1 teaspoon dish soap
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 3 cups distilled water
Place all ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray directly onto windows and mirrors.
Sources: keeperofthehome.org,greencleaningcoach.com,apartmenttherapy.com
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