Homemade cleaning products are creating a huge coming comeback in the effort to create greener homes and produce less environmental waste products. You can contribute to this by using common household goods to create homemade cleaning products to rival store bought. While all the following recipes have their own individual purpose, they are listed according to strength.
Step One – Baking Soda
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is another product that is very useful for cleaning due to its mild abrasive properties and deodorizing effect. Most people use baking soda in their refrigerators as a way to keep it smelling clean and fresh. To use it as a cleaner for tough stains or remove hardened food deposits, create a paste of baking soda and water and rub into problem area with a sponge. You can also leave the mixture for 10 – 20 minutes to soften toughened grime before wiping off.
Step Two – White Vinegar
Household bathroom products are used to combat soap scum, mildew, hard water deposits, countertops, toilet exterior, and toilet bowls. Use this mixture in all places you would normally use store bought cleansers. Create your own multi-purpose bathroom cleaner by mixing into a spray bottle:
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 1 cup of water
- A few drops of preferred essential oil (optional)
For tough-to-remove grime, let cleaner stand on problem area for 10 – 15 minutes before wiping down.
Step Three - Bleach
A highly effective and low cost disinfectant solution using bleach can be made at home for use in the kitchen, bathroom, and everywhere in between. Create the solution by mixing into a spray bottle or basin:
- 2 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon of bleach
Prior to disinfection, the area to be treated should first be washed down with soap and water to remove any hardened particles. Thoroughly rinse with clean water. Spray the bleach mixture onto the surface or put items into the basin. Leave for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly until bleach smell is removed. Do not store this mixture. Remix a new batch every time.
Step Four – Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another great, low cost disinfectant that kills mold and mildew. Create a mixture in a spray bottle for use on the bathroom grout or as a disinfectant for a cutting board:
- ¼ cup of water
- ¾ cup of hydrogen peroxide
When making your own cleaning products, you will be saving money and putting fewer chemicals into the environment and your home. Let’s all do our part for a greener world.