Share your cleaner recipes with me

[KayleeZoo]

I just ran out of a bottle of Trader Joes spray cleaner that I love- but it's $3 for 34oz (I guess that's not really high, though) and I'd like to make my own sort of all-purpose cleaner (counters, mirrors, chrome faucets, kitchen table, etc) that smells really good (I need to get some EOs) and really cleans well.

If you have a DIY all purpose type of cleaner and wouldn't mind sharing your recipe, I'd love to hear it

[Ruthla]

I would put a few drops of dish soap in the empty spray bottle and fill it up the rest of the way with water. Maybe also use 1/4 cup or so of white vinegar if you want to be able to use this on glass.

[mean_jeannie]

How big is the spray bottle, Ruthla? I think mine is 24 oz. is 1/2 cu vinegar too much or too little for that much water? What sort of dishsoap do you use? When is it appropriate to use baking soda?

Sorry, I am very interested in making my own all-purpose cleaner.

[Pinoikoi]

I use dishsoap to clean quite a few things in the house, but after this (ahem) bout with Hives, I want to eliminate:

mass market laundry soap
mass market bath soap
mass market cleaning products (bathroom, floor, windows)
mass market carpet deodorizer

Completely.

Generally, I clean countertops, stove tops, and things with baking soda. It works well. I am interested in something specifically for the floor (vinegar and water with EO? Would that work? What would the measurements be?).. I also need something specifically for soap scum in the tub, laundry detergent (can I use vinegar and something that smells better than vinegar? I currently REALLY water down my laundry detergent)..
Also, I have been using WAHM bath soaps for me, but more mass market for the kids, and I want to switch that too, perhaps family size cetaphil.. Also, I believe I can just shake some baking soda on my carpet for vacuuming, correct? (We have cats, so I try to keep it smelling nice as much as I can).

Thanks. I want to avoid Hives as much as possible in the future, this is horrible! (our first bout as a family, and what a heart wrencher!)

BTW: We only have carpet in the bedrooms and hallway. The rest of the house is concrete or vinyl.

[K-Girl]

We use a spot drop of castille soap with a few drops of essential oil (tea tree, eucalyptus, lavendar, rosemary--or any combination) in a spray bottle with water. I got the "what was that--it smelled so good" recently.

[PGTlatte]

Distilled white vinegar, undiluted, in a spray bottle

If something is greasy or grimy I add maybe some baking soda as a scrubber, or some dish liquid (haven't found a natural one that works really well, still looking, sometimes use liquid Dr. Bronners, but not for mopping, it leaves a film)

Those are pretty much the only things I ever use to clean.

Oh I meant to add Magic Erasers. Not safe for little kids to get hold of. But a damp magic eraser and a few drops of dish liquid or liquid Dr. B is amazing !

Originally Posted by KayleeZoo

If you have a DIY all purpose type of cleaner and wouldn't mind sharing your recipe, I'd love to hear it

[DaytonsMom]

we use vinegar in a spray bottle. for the bath tub i started using baking soda and then spray vinegar on, works very well. Love Dr. Bronners Sal Suds for the dishes and maybe add a little bit to some water for wiping down walls and stuff, works very well!! I'm just in love with it!

[loveyourohana]

Before this list.. Sal Suds by Dr Bronners... what can I say? It does everything! Its one bottle, and your good to go, dishes, bathrooms, floors, etc. One drop thats all But unfortunately I cant get it where I am very easy sooo... I use what I use in the laundry when I am out which is...

I pour borax and baking soda (or if I can find it washing soda) in a tupperware box, fill it! I wash the bathrooms, my clothes anything and everything you can imagine.

In the wash, I add to 3 Tbl. of this mix a little vinegar, and a little bit of Dr. Bronners peppermint or tea tree. Absolutely Noooo laundry softener on your cleaning rags though, or your mirrors will not come out clean... It doesn't all come out. Vinegar in the rinse too just a little softens your clothes.

This works on windows ,as well so does just water... just remember less is more I use flour sack towels for the jobs... you can wipe the mirrors without having any lint... way better than newspaper, and paper towels!

So under each sink... a small bottle of Dr. B's, and a small container of the dry mix, and a flour sack towel... easy.

That is my system after all my studying up and experiments. Works great...

I may however try the drop of dish soap, and essential oils in a spray bottle in the bathroom for everyday clean up, just for a change. ummm yummy, sometimes you need a little smell good without a candle... Thanks for that tip!!!!!!

Dr. B's smells good and works well on the bathroom ring with the borax mix... comes right off, no elbow grease, unlike soft scrub, and your hands don't smell icky after.

T

[mean_jeannie]

I really like all these ideas, thanks! I've heard that 1/4 cu of vinegar to your wash is effective for softening without being smelly. Does that sound right?

[KayleeZoo]

I love Dr. B's, but it leaves a film when I use it. We have super hard water and no softener, I wonder if that's why?

I caved and bought another bottle of TJ's cleaner yesterday. They use Clary Sage and Cedarwood EOs and it smells sooooo good; I like to clean just to sniff it LOL

Going to try a bottle of dish soap and EOs w/vinegar, too.

[cheryl mama]

Thanks for all the info! But one more question: what do you use to clean the TOILET?

Thank you!
Cheryl

[loveyourohana]

I use the borax and baking soda in the toilet...

I also use ozone in the toilet bowl... I found a cheap ozone machine on ebay for like 30.00 and I use that in the laundry sometimes too... Every once in a while... shame on me... I do use clorox... but not very often.

I have heard that food grade H202 works in place of ozone and clorox. I just wouldn't want my child getting in it. its like 35% instead of 3%. BTW... the health store brand oxy clean is food grade H202, if you get the right kind... so makes sense

Dr. B's left a film for me too... that is why I like the Sal suds for floors, and bathrooms, cars, etc. no residue... washes clean, and smells yummy... woodsy

But vinegar does cut it in the original... so yes that is why you have a film on your clothing, and surfaces.

[MommyErin]

Originally Posted by cheryl mama

Thanks for all the info! But one more question: what do you use to clean the TOILET?

Thank you!
Cheryl

I love Ecover's Toilet Cleaner. When I'm out, I use the "soft scrub" recipe from Clean House, Clean Planet. It's liquid castile soap (I use Trader Joe's), BS, water, and vinegar. Smells great and works great.

[PGTlatte]

Upstairs I use some generic tea tree shampoo my DH bought me for Christmas that turned out to be too drying for my hair

Downstairs I use Dawn dish liquid or a squirt of Dr. B's with a few drops of Nutribiotic GSE

Originally Posted by cheryl mama

Thanks for all the info! But one more question: what do you use to clean the TOILET?

Thank you!
Cheryl