Glass and Window Cleaner
This recipe is courtesy of cleaning expert extraordinaire, Heloise. Homemade glass cleaner is great for windows and mirrors.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)
- 1 to 2 drops of orange or any other essential oil which gives the solution a lovely smell (optional)
How to use: Combine ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Spray on a paper towel or soft cloth first, then rub onto the glass. Hint: Don’t clean windows on a hot, sunny day because the solution will dry too quickly and leave lots of streaks.
Furniture/Wood Polish
Again, Heloise suggests making your own furniture polish and ditching the chemicals.
Combine 2 parts of sweet oil (which is olive oil you buy at the pharmacy) and one-part apple cider vinegar. Put into a spray bottle and label. This is perfect for most finished wood, but DON’T use on raw or unfinished wood. Just shake it up to mix, spray a little on a soft cloth, and polish away!
Scrubbing Cleaner for Sinks
This can be used on porcelain, stainless steel, or enamel sinks and tubs.
Ingredients:
- Half a lemon
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
How to use: Dip the lemon into the kosher salt, scrub, and rinse. Not only will you scrub away grime, you can enjoy the citrus smell of lemon in the process.
Borax-Free Laundry Detergent
It’s challenging to find a borax-free laundry detergent but this mom of three and blogger of My Healthy Green Family has done it!
Ingredients:
- 1 bar glycerin soap, grated finely
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 1/4 cup coarse salt
How to use: Finely grate one bar of pure, unscented glycerin soap, and then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix completely. Place in an airtight jar or container (mixture may clump but just use a fork or spoon to unclump). Use 1 tbsp. for small load and 2 tbsp. for large load.
Simple All-Natural Veggie and Fruit Spray
All it takes is white vinegar and water and you’ve got an all-natural spray that helps to remove wax from apples and cucumbers, or dirt from produce and fruits.
Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 4 cups water and add to a clean spray bottle. Lay fruits and veggies on a kitchen towel and spray so each is covered. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes then rinse with clear water. If you have a large bag of apples or just came back from the farm stand, fill your clean sink with just enough water to cover the fruit or veggies, add 1 cup of white vinegar and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Drain, rinse, and dry.
Or, if you’ve got a big batch of items to clean, fill your sink halfway with water, mix in 1 cup of vinegar, and add the produce. Let soak for 10 minutes, then rinse and pat dry.
Looking for more ways to go green? Follow these 8 tips to help your family go plastic-free, and look out for these hidden toxins that might be lurking in your home.
