[ani'smommy]

Okay, I'm going for it tomorrow.<br><br>
Does anyone have any tips for me?<br><br>
We (DH, DD and I) live with my parents and two sisters, so I want to make some very easy cleaners for everyone to use. Here's what I'm thinking:<br><br>
I'll get a bunch of squirt bottles.<br><br><b>All purpose/Bathroom/Kitchen/Surface cleaner</b>r: 50/50 vinegar/water with some EO (Can I use something citrusy?)<br><b><br>
Glass Cleaner</b>: Club Soda<br><br><b>Wood Floor Cleaner:</b> 1/4 cup liquid castille soap (Is Dr. Bronner's okay here?)?1/2 to 1 cup vinegar?8 litres warm water<br><br>
Do I need anything else? I'm thinking for the toilet we'll do baking soda and vinegar. What about dish soap? And laundry soap? Does anyone have good recipes?

 

[Melaniemomto6]

I use vinegar, water and TTO for all my cleaning.

 

[kytheria]

Weak tea cleans wood *really* well. I kid you not.

 

[Tilia]

I don't know if you want scouring powder, but I use borax and baking soda in a shaker bottle. It works great for the toilet, shower, sinks. You can spray vinegar water on it too.

 

[TinyBabyBean]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Melaniemomto6</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7925275"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I use vinegar, water and TTO for all my cleaning.</div>
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What ratio of vinegar to water and how much TTO?<br><br>
Also, does this leave a vinegar smell? DH wouldn't use it as he has an angry aversion to vinegar. He thinks something from his childhood that was unpleasant must be associated with it. Anyhow, any basic cleaning recipes that don't use vinegar?

 

[[email protected]]

For your all purpose recipe I would add a little (1 tsp) borax or washing soda to make it cut grease better. I ditto what mom2005 said about the scouring powder. I clean porcelain stuff in teh bathroom with a shaker of borax/baking soda. I usually squirt a little Dr B in the toilet then sprinkle the borax/bs on it & scrub.<br>
The all purpose recipe I use is<br>
Combine in a spray bottle: 1/2 tsp Washing Soda, 1/2 tsp Borax, 1/2 tsp vegetable oil-based soap, 2 Tbsp vinegar and 2 cups of hot water. Add the soap last. Shake well until all the solid bits have dissolved. For extra cleaning power increase Borax to 1 tsp. Spray and wipe clean with a damp cloth or sponge.

 

[lindberg99]

But don't add washing soda if you are cleaning a fiberglass tub, it will scratch it.<br><br>
I've found it works better to use distilled water in cleaners that have soap in them if you have hard water.<br><br>
Good luck! I enjoy cleaning much more now that everything doesn't smell like a chemical factory.

 

[Daniel's Kitty]

You can use lemon juice instead of vinegar.<br><br>
I just do vinegar and water usually since tea tree oil kills my skin.

 

[Tilia]

I forgot to add daily shower spray...its easy! Just a spray bottle filled with peroxide. Its a great disinfectant, no smell. But it is a natural bleach, just FYI. Clean the shower well once, then use peroxide daily. Just spray on and walk away!<br><br>
If your DH won't clean with vinegar, then I don't know what to tell you! I clean everything with a spray bottle filled with 1/2 water, 1/2 Heinz distilled white vinegar. I use it on mirrors, window, sinks, countertops, stove, microwave, refrigerator, sealed wood, plastic, everything!! I have never used essential oils. I don't mind the vinegar smell most of the time. When you dry the surface and it evaporates, the smell disappears!