For the past six months I've been researching, mixing up and trying out different recipes for cleaning products that are easy and economical to make. Here's what I'm now using:
Homemade Dishwashing Detergent (Powdered): 2 cups of Borax 2 cups of
Baking Soda 1/4 cup of Lemi Shine Lemi Shine is simply crystalized
citric acid. I had never heard of it but found it right in the dishwasher detergent aisle at my regular grocery store. It helps to cut grease and is anti-bacterial. It also helps to prevent water spots on the rinse cycle.
Homemade Laundry Detergent (not safe to use on cloth diapers) 3 cups of Super
Washing Soda 3 cups of Borax 1 cup of Oxygen Booster 3 Bars of
Ivory Soap, grated I am also using soap nuts which I really like but I wanted to try making another option just to see how it would work so that I could pass it on to all of you. Surprisingly, my laundry comes out clean and not really smelling like much of anything. I mixed up a big batch and keep it in a large tub that once held kitty litter.
Multi-Purpose Spray Cleaner 2 cups of citrus vinegar (made by soaking orange rinds in
white vinegar in a sealed glass jar for 2 weeks) 2 cups of water 10-20 drops of
Tea Tree Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract or
Colloidal Silver This works great for counter-tops both in the kitchen and bathroom, as well as our leather couch, wood floors and table tops. Best of all, I feel safe letting even my littlest helper spritz while I wipe. For everything else, I use baking soda. It’s great for scrubbing pots and pans with stuck on grime because it’s a mild abrasive, it polishes the stainless steel sink, scours out the inside of the coffee pot, cleans the inside of the car and leaves the tub sparkling. You know you’re using something non-toxic when you can clean your tub with
while you’re taking a shower!
Thank you for these!
Does this cause irritation with sensitive skinned babes? My daughter is really sensitive and I have heard tea tree oil can be harsh.
thanks for sharing the recipes! I use a similar recipe for my laundry detergent! tell me—so, I don’t use that for cloth diapers but I do switch back and forth between that and my cloth diaper detergent—do you think there’s any residue problems with doing that?
I have been switching out my chemical cleansers for safe/friendly ones. Until last week I had no idea there was bleach in dish detergent!!! I know, I know, I feel like an idiot! Either way I wanted to find a dish detergent recipe… so thanks! The only thing I need to get is the Lemi Shine.
I will have to try out the dishwashing recipe! And I love the idea of putting citrus rinds in vinegar- my husband hates the smell of it, but I think the orange oil would make it much more bearable for him. I have been switching over most of our household products (including beauty products too) to homemade solutions- would love to hear more suggestions!
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