And now we’ll continue the cleaning chit-chat with this handy little homemade cleaner breakdown. When we talked about getting even greener and experimenting with homemade cleaners in year three of YHL, an expert in that very area offered up a few of her favorite formulas.
And we jumped at the chance to learn how all natural and totally eco-friendly cleaning materials are easy and effective- and sometimes way cheaper than paying for the more toxic stuff that can hurt pets, kids, people in general and the planet at large. Here’s what Evan the all-knowing homemade cleaner girl passed along:
This has become an obsession for me. If you think of your home as a sanctuary you want it to be not only beautiful but safe for your health! Store bought chemicals and cleansers can not only be toxic, poisonous or cause other averse health effects (no wonder they have all those warnings and skull & crossbone images on them) but they can also be expensive, completely unregulated, bad for the environment and full of excess packaging that ends up in landfills every day. They often come with big bold warnings that say things like “danger”, “caution”, “corrosive”, “irritant”, and even “chronic health hazard” which by definition can mean anything from “chemicals that destroy tissue” (corrosive) to “causes sterility and birth defects” (chronic health hazard). And even those that just say “danger” or “caution” can be attached to warnings that say “may be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed” or “highly toxic, flammable, poisonous and corrosive.”
Well Evan, when you put it that way, the toxic store bought cleaners bearing those labels (which can commonly be found on everything from basic toilet bowl cleaners to oven and drain solutions) sound pretty terrible. Tell us more.
By contrast, some non-toxic and all natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar are not only not corrosive, poisonous, or hazardous to your health in any way, they’re actually completely safe if ingested (after all they’re found in the kitchen and they’re 100% edible!).
- Baking Soda is a great naturally abrasive ingredient with mild alkaline properties, it’s also a natural deodorizer and stain remover, and it rinses easily, is completely non-toxic (no more dangers for kids and pets licking surfaces that you’ve cleaned) and it’s extremely affordable (you can grab a 12lb bag at Costco for next to nothing).
- Vinegar is an all natural and mild acid, it’s also a known disinfectant that can remove stains, sanitize, and it’s also completely non-toxic and inexpensive (you can also grab a giant jug of it at Costco for an extremely reasonable price). It should be noted that it shouldn’t be used on stone surfaces or acetate fabrics but there are many other natural cleaning methods that work for those surfaces.
- Hydrogen Peroxide is also non-toxic (learn more about it and it’s many uses here) and is known to be a natural bleaching agent with disinfectant and stain removing properties. It’s also extremely inexpensive (just $1 for three bottles at Walgreen’s).
- All Natural Tea Tree Oil And Grapefruit Oil (which have known antibacterial properties) And Lemon Juice (which naturally cuts grease and leaves a totally fresh scent) are also extremely helpful to have in your all-natural cleaning arsenal.
- Liquid Castile Soap (like Dr. Bronner’s, sold at Target, Trader Joe’s, etc) is a vegetable based soap as opposed to a petroleum based one, which makes it completely non-toxic so it can be used on your face and body but will also work well when it comes to cleaning your home. It’s not quite as inexpensive as baking soda or vinegar, but a large 32 oz containter is just $8.99 at Trader Joe’s.
But how do you put them all together? Here are some of Evan’s favorite all-natural homemade cleaning formulas:
Surface Spray:
- 16 oz spray bottle
- 2 tsp. borax
- ¼ tsp. liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
- hot water
All Purpose Liquid Cleaner:
- 1 gal. hot water
- 1 tbsp. baking soda
- 2 tbsp. liquid soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
All Purpose Abrasive Cleaner:
- liquid soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
- 2 tbsp. baking soda
Mix to make a foamy paste.
Refrigerator Cleaner:
- 2 tbs. baking soda in 1 qt warm water
Wipe down inside and out and rinse with a clean wet cloth.
Oven Cleaner:
- Dampen with water
- Sprinkle liberally with baking soda
Leave 20 minutes, then scrub until clean.
Microwave Cleaner:
- ½ c. vinegar
- 2 c. water
Combine in microwave safe bowl, heat on high for 3-4 minutes, remove bowl and wipe down inside of microwave.
Dishwasher Detergent:
- 2 c. borax
- 2 c. baking soda
- 4 little packages of unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid (or generic)
Mix together and store. You can substitute ½ c. of citric acid for the Kool-Aid but it’s harder to find.
Fruit and Vegetable Wash:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tbsp. baking soda
- 20 drops grapefruit seed extract
Spray on produce, rinse after 5 minutes.
Fruit and Vegetable Wash #2:
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. baking soda
Spray on produce, wipe after 5 minutes.
Drain Cleaner:
- 1 c. baking soda first
- 1 c. white vinegar second
- 1 gallon boiling water
Allow to foam for 5 minutes before adding water.
Window, Glass and Chrome Cleaner:
- 5 parts water to 1 part white vinegar, OR
- 1 c. water, 1 c. vinegar, ½ tsp. castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
Toilet Bowl Cleaners:
- Liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
- Baking soda or borax
Scrub with a toilet brush.
Tub And Tile Cleaner:
- Apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe
- Scour with baking soda
Soft Scrub for Fixtures:
- ½ c. baking soda
- Castile soap
- 10 drops of antibacterial essential oil (optional)
Add enough castile soap until you have a frosting like consistency. Scrub, then rinse with water.
Mildew/Germ Killer:
- 2 c. water
- 25 drops of tea tree oil
- 25 drops of lavender oil
Spray on tile and do not wipe off.
Mildew/Germ Killer 2:
- 16 oz spray bottle
- 1 part hydrogen peroxide
- 2 parts water
Spray, let sit. Rinse after 1 hour.
Wood Floor Cleaner:
- ¼ c. vinegar
- 1 gal. warm water
Mop or rag should be slightly damp for cleaning.
Linoleum Floor Cleaner:
- 1 c. vinegar
- 2 gal. warm water
Mop or rag can be fully wet for cleaning.
Carpet Stain Remover:
- 1 part borax
- 10 parts warm water
Combine in spray bottle. Spray on stain, wait 5 minutes, blot with clean rag.
Carpet Stain Remover:
- vinegar
- baking soda
Mix vinegar and baking soda into a paste. Gently work into stain with a toothbrush. Let dry then vacuum completely.
Carpet Deodorizer:
- Baking soda
- 10 drops of essential oil (optional)
Mix together then sprinkle generously on carpet, wait 15 minutes and vacuum.
All-Purpose Carpet Cleaner:
After vacuuming first,
- 1 c. white vinegar
- 3 c. boiling water
Blot mixture onto nap of rug with a wet rag, Dry and air thoroughly. Vacuum.
Air Freshener:
- 2 parts water
- 1 part rubbing alcohol
- Essential oil
Mix in spray bottle, don’t spray on silks or delicates. Experiment with how much oil to add, but start with 5 drops.
Air Freshener 2:
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. vinegar or lemon juice
- 2 c. hot water
Mix in spray bottle, don’t spray on silks or delicates.
Dusting:
- Slightly dampened microfiber cloth
Furniture Polish:
- ½ tsp. olive oil
- ¼ c. vinegar or lemon juice
Mix in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces.
Scratches:
- 1 part lemon juice
- 1 part vegetable oil
Rub into the scratches and polish.
Rust Remover:
- Sprinkle area with salt
- Squeeze lime onto salt
Leave sit for 2-3 hours, then scrub w/ lime rind (or try Almost-Doctor Dan’s method).
Metal Polish (copper and brass):
- 2 tbsp. salt
Add vinegar until you make a paste. Rub on metal with a clean rag. Wipe clean.
Powdered Laundry Detergent:
- 1 c. grated Fels Naptha soap
- ½ c. washing soda
- ½ c. borax
For light load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy or soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.
Liquid Laundry Detergent:
- 3 pints water
- 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
- ½ c. washing soda
- ½ c. borax
- 2 gallon bucket
- 1 quart hot water
Mix soap in saucepan with 3 pints of water. Heat on low until dissolved. Stir in soda and borax until thickened. Remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to bucket, then soap mixture, mix well. Fill rest of bucket with hot water, mix and let sit for 24 hours. Use ½ c. per laundry load.
Laundry Pre-treatment (*do NOT use with bleach, since ammonia + bleach can create dangerous fumes):
- ½ c. ammonia
- ½ c. white vinegar
- ¼ c. baking soda
- 2 tbsp. liquid soap or laundry detergent
- 2 quarts water
Mix in spray bottle. Spray spot.
Laundry Pre-treatment 2:
- 1 tsp. liquid laundry detergent
- 2 tbsp. ammonia
- 1 pt. warm water
Mix in spray bottle. Spray spot, let sit for 20 minutes.
Fabric Softener:
Add ½ – 1 c. vinegar to your softener dispenser
Bleach Alternative (Laundry):
- ¼ c. hydrogen peroxide
************************************************
But wait, Evan has even more ideas to keep things green and clean around your casa:
- Run your dishwasher late at night without a heat-dry setting and let things air dry overnight instead
- Replace sponges with washable and reusable items like microfiber cloths and dishrags
- Premix large batches of cleaning formulas so they’re always on hand and you’re never tempted to buy store stuff again
- Set your washer to cold/cold for the most eco laundry you can get
- Have people take off their shoes when they enter the house and wipe down the shower after each use (these preventative methods will really keep the house cleaner and cut down on your work)
And just because she’s such a pro, Evan even included her resources so you can learn more or see where she got her facts. Gotta love a girl who’s so thorough AND considerate: Consumer Reports, Nat’l Geographic, The Green Guide, Do It Green, Frugal Living, The Vinegar Institute, EarthEasy, Coyne and Kutzen “The Urban Homestead”
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button:
Christina W says
I have a question about the dishwashing powder…
How much to do you add in the dispenser dish? Also, do you still need a rinsing aid, like JetDry, or does it work streak and spot free solo?
ps. I’ve found that scouring tile/grout with a paste made of baking soda and 1 to 1 lemon juice concentrate and water works wonders! It was able to get out the almost black dirt and grime in our kitchen grout that has built up over time and with 2 large dogs running around.
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! We haven’t actually tried that recipe yet, but if anyone knows we hope they chime in. Perhaps you can google around for more info as well? And thanks for the grout cleaning tip!
xo,
s
Nancy says
I put vinegar instead of JetDry in. It cleans the inside of the dishwasher at the same time for less germs to sit in the bottom with water.
I have been trying to clean the grout in our bathroom and I’ll have to try the recipe!
Carmi H says
Hi, For the person looking for a vegan laundry detergent safe for babies… You said you found the Dr. Bronner’s recipe using the peppermint castille soap… I just made some homemade detergent for a baby shower present and used Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Organic Bar Soap in place of the Fels Naptha. It turned out really nice and is dye and scent free. I also added some organic dried lavender in a fabric pouch to be tumbled with clothes in the dryer. I used this myself to see how it would work, and the clothes came out smelling fresh and feeling soft. Loving these recipes for toxic free cleaning!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for sharing that tip Carmi!
xo,
s
Tara says
What an awesome post …it has everything in 1 place. Cant wait to try these recipes. Quick question I’m hoping you can help with since I have a baby at home as well. You mentioned you wash the beanette’s clothes in vinegar in the washing machine. Do you just put a cup or so of vinegar inside the machine or do you add it where the softener/bleach is supposed to go? Also do you wash the clothes in just plain vinegar or do you use detergent AND vinegar?
YoungHouseLove says
We use a cup and a half of vinegar alone for the first wash to get the extra chemicals and dyes out. Then in all subsequent washes we use Seventh Generation Baby detergent. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Emily Ridgway says
I had sticky residue from packing tape on my dresser. Instead of using Goof Off (that product that literally makes me dizzy after 5 minutes of inhaling it in my home), I made a “scrub” that buffed it out! I used canola oil (or whatever you cook with) and regular white granulated sugar.
Cover the sticky patch with a thin layer of oil. Then pour sugar (or SALT) on the oil. With your fingers, work the mixture into a gritty facial-scrub-type mess. :) The key is to move your fingers in opposite directions. For every right stroke, you need to make a left stroke. For every clockwise stroke, you need to make a counter-clockwise stroke.
These motions combined with the easy to find oil & sugar from your baking pantry, make a simple fix to get that sticky yucky stuff out of your life. I will never buy that $10, lung-burning Goof Off junk again!! :)
Jenny Moon says
What is the difference in “washing soda” and “baking soda”?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, but they both can be found at most grocery stores. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Nancy says
Washing Soda is basically a soap for cleaning and Baking Soda is safe to eat.
sam says
Hi Sherry and John!
My husband and I just finished a major kitchen overhaul, and I’m completely confused on what green products I can use to clean my gorgeous new granite…any suggestions? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We use Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaner (specifically the yummy lemon verbena scent). Amazing and green! And available at places like Target and Kroger!
xo,
s
Olyvia says
This was just the motivation I needed to give our apartment a deep clean as we prepare to move out. I found it to be more fun when I made the cleaning products myself thanks to this post. I appreciate it! I linked back to this from my blog :)
Cathy Wells says
What is a good and easy cleaner for stained grout?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! Maybe you can google around for a recipe? Anyone have any ideas for Cathy?
xo,
s
Jill@nokoikonomia says
Cathy,
This post over at Apartment Therapy has some good discussion of different cleaners for grout. People in the comments spoke really highly of a baking soda paste!
Nicole says
Hi Sherry and John,
After reading through the post on homemade cleaners, I decided to give it a go myself. I really appreciate the one-stop shop nature of this post. It helped me to get a sense of what ingredients can go farthest around the house. I was hoping I good get your advice on a couple of details for going green with cleaning practices:
1. Do you recommend any particular store for purchasing essential oils (i.e. who is the cheapest)?
2. It looks like green manufactured products have a role in your cleaning practices. Do you both use a homemade all-purpose cleaner as a disinfectant, or do you prefer to use a manufactured product with green standards?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nicole,
We actually got some essential oils at a local store on the cheap, so you might want to google around or check out your yellow pages to see what local shops might have some for a good price. As for disinfectants, of course that’s a personal preference thing but we just think of germs as part of life (John and I don’t get sick very often and we believe it’s in part because we don’t try to eliminate immune-system boosting germs all the time). For this reason we’re happy to use simple homemade formulas like those above (or even just some Dr. Bronners or Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner without worrying about specific germ-killing additives). My pre-med Ivy League schooled brother has explained that a good ol’ soap and water disrupts germs enough to render them useless most of the time anyway. And triclosan (one of the disinfecting ingredients used here in the US in many cleaning products) is actually outlawed in Europe since they believe it does more harm than good. Scary stuff! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Lauren says
I just had to share this: I dusted the inside of my stainless steel kitchen sink with baking soda, let it sit for about 20 minutes, then poured in some vinegar and used an old kitchen sponge to scrub away, and my husband and I can’t believe how much it is sparkling now! He even said he didn’t think it looked that shiny when we bought it. I can’t believe what a disgusting sink I was looking at everyday. I’m about to attempt to scrub my stainless steel appliances with the same mixture. Thanks for this awesome list of inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Amazing! So glad it worked out so well. And you gotta love it when even the hubby notices!
xo,
s
Lauren says
Ok, so to follow up, I can’t believe how excited I am over vinegar and baking soda. I had been using a natural home cleaner, but I still didn’t know quite how safe it was and it really wasn’t all that effective. I have been using baking soda and vinegar all over my house last night and this morning-usually just sprinkling baking soda on a cloth or sponge then covering it with vinegar and wiping down for smaller jobs. BUT, I still have a few questions: one, what kind of hand soap do you use? Can you use Dr. Bronner’s as hand soap too? I use JASON’S and it still has some funky ingredients. Two, do you know of an all natural mix for keeping away bugs on the inside/outside of your home and to spray on flowers? We have a bad issue with bugs like earwigs coming in our home and beetles on our flowers, so we’ve resorted to some chemicals but that sucks, so I could use some tips. Third, have you ever hear of Soap Nuts? I first of them on another natural living blog, and when there was a 50% off sale at the website Naturoli, I purchased the liquid soap nuts. Basically, it’s an amazing, all natural laundry soap that comes from nuts and even used for body bars, cleaning, etc. For the liquid version, you use only a 1/2 tsp for a load of laundry and it has left my clothes so clean and not smelling like anything, just clean! I think you guys could definitely contact the company and they would hook you up with your fame and all. ;) Thanks so much for any help with my questions!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lauren,
Yes we still use Dr Bronner’s hand soap and we love it. As for the natural bug recipe, we don’t know of one but we bet you can google around for a bunch of solutions. When it comes to Soap Nuts we have heard nothing bit great things about that product. Thanks for confirming that it’s awesome- we’ll have to check it out sometime.
xo,
s
Linda says
Needing a homemade solution for cleaning sliver trays.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Linda,
We don’t know one off the top of our heads, but here’s hoping someone drops in with a suggestion for you or that you can google around and find something great (try searching: silver tray natural cleaning”). Good luck!
xo,
s
Kim says
Hi Sherry and John!
I just KNOW you will be able to help me with this. My fiance and I just bought and moved into our own little house and we love it! The only drawback so far is that the renter who lived there before us used to raise dobermans – lots and lots of dobermans. We have an enclosed sunroom with tile floor that would be great except for the overwhelming smell of doberman! My fiance thinks he just let the dobermans have free reign of that area, including potty breaks! Any hints on a green friendly solution to rid the house of the smell? We already power washed the floors twice and tried to seal the floors with something my fiance found that almost asphiyxiated him. Neither worked. The smell is driving me up the wall and I would love to find something green instead to get rid of that smell! Thanks in advance – you guys provide SO much inspiration!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kim,
Oh no! We wish we had the magic answer for you but we’re afraid we’re clueless! Our only advice would be to google around and maybe even call around for some advice (maybe try calling a small local pet store since they probably know a thing or two about fighting pet odor, etc). Hope it helps! Good luck!
xo,
s
Roshni says
AWESOME!! Thanks for this extensive list, guys!!
Emily says
Hi Sherry & John! I’ve only tried basic vinegar cleaners before and am ready to try some of these great ideas! I had a question for you on the hydrogen peroxide. Since it can be a bleaching agent are you careful of what surfaces you use it on (for example in the Gorgeously Green All-Purpose Spray)? Could I add essential oils to pretty much any homemade cleaner? Thanks for the inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
We actually only use a few of these homemade recipes (we just wanted to share them all but we can’t vouch for them all since we enjoy using Dr. Bronners, Mrs Meyers and Seventh Generation stuff as well as things like baking soda and vinegar for quick jobs). We actually haven’t ever whipped up the Gorgeously Green spray, but we know you should pretty much be able to add a drop of essential oil to nearly everything you make (although you don’t want to add too much oil since that can stain certain things like upholstery) but as for the bleaching we’re not sure. Maybe just use it on surfaces you don’t worry about bleaching (like sinks, tile floors, etc) and keep it away from fabrics that might be lightened by the hydrogen peroxide?
xo,
s
Leigh says
I can help with the silver trays – use toothpaste! Any fluoride toothpaste that is paste (not gel) works great. I use Colgate basic toothpaste. You rub on vigorously with a dry cloth and rinse off in the sink. It is a great silver polish!
I hope this helps!
Katie says
Hi guys! I tried the tub/tile scrub this weekend, and I am SO thrilled with it!! I’m definitely looking forward to trying some of the others.
I used vinegar in a spray bottle and soaked the shower surfaces, then dipped a vinegar-soaked sponge into a shallow bowl of baking soda. I’m thinking a shaker full of baking soda would also be handy.
Love love LOVE the green cleaning ideas! Thank you!!
Amanda Kohler says
First, have to say that I love your blog. Next, I just heard about this product called Norowex that apparantly my clean freak aunt has been using this for years and swears by it. Its a microfiber cloth with silver that kill bacteria without the use of any chemicals. Seems like something you guys would like this and I was wondering if you’d heard of it or tried it? I’m considering trying it out. Here’s the website and here’s the blog from a Norowex consultant. Your post about anti-baceterial soup inspired me. Maybe this would be a good question for your brother? Thanks!
http://www.norwex.com/norwex.php?lng=7&cnt=223
http://heathersnorwex.blogspot.com/
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amanda,
We’ve heard great things about it and would love to try it (haven’t yet) so let us know what you think if you do! My brother hasn’t specifically studied Norwex so he hesitates to discuss his thoughts on it (he’s so funny, if something isn’t something he has explicitly studied he’s a no comment kind of guy) but we’re sure if we’ve heard good things and your aunt loves it there’s a good chance you’ll love it to. Keep us posted!
xo,
s
Amanda Kohler says
I just realized you replied to my post! Is it dorky that I feel like I’ve just received a letter from a celebrity? Anywho – I decided to take the leap with the Norwex products and love, love them so far. Still a little tough to believe that I’m killing germs without chemicals, but for now I’m acting on faith and I love it. I’m especially surprised at how well they clean glass / windows. I just assumed that if it wasn’t Windex it really wasn’t going to work, but so far the glass cleaning is amazing. Thanks again for the reply and happy blogging!
Johanna says
Well a few weeks ago, thanks to an unlucky oven fire and a quick-thinking (former-chef) husband, I threw baking soda on the fire. I was the one scrambling around the kitchen looking for a bowl big enough to fill with water to douse the fire in our electric oven! Well, lets just say that the baking soda not only put out the fire but when I was wiping it away, I couldn’t believe that it was making our 15 year old oven door see through again. So, not only have I since cleaned out the whole oven with a baking soda/water mixture, but I have also tackled grout in our floor which was sorely neglected for 2 years. Everything looks so new again!
Oh, and I’ve been making my own laundry detergent for 2 years now, I don’t use it consistently, but its always on hand if we run out…works like a charm too and at $.02 cents a load ya can’t beat it!
YoungHouseLove says
Amazing!
xo,
s
getting cat urine out of carpet says
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Kellie says
This post just blew my mind! I’ve never thought of making my own cleaners!! It’s definitely a pet peeve buying “necessities” like this and I’d much rather have them pre-made in bulk so I won’t have to make an emergency trip to the store for dishwashing detergent.
Any updates on your end? Have you made some of these? How have they worked and what has been your favorite and not-so-favorite so far?
YoungHouseLove says
We make some of the simple baking soda and vinegar based ones for sure! Easy, cheap, and effective! We akso still use mrs meyers and dr bronners along with seventh generation from time to time. It’s a balance of homemade and store bought that seems to be our preference. Good luck with everything!
xo,
s
Vicky says
Hey guys – any suggestions on which of the carpet cleaners works best on pet stains? Adopted a new pup recently and needing to clean up the carpet now that he’s not leaving stains any more.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We have no ideas (we trained Burger in a room with vinyl flooring and now he’s accident free) but maybe another pet owner can chime in? We’ve seen some nice all natural ones that are probably the most green/kid-safe in case you have any wee ones crawling around. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
ali says
I found that using white vinegar (instead of the carpet cleaning soap) in a carpet cleaner with REALLY hot water it got out almost all of the puppy stains in my carpet along w a few mystery stains that were here when we moved in. If you have a really tough spot spray with vinegar and let sit for a few minutes before using the machine on it. Also if you aren’t a fan of the smell of vinegar you can mix up a bottle of homemade febreeze (1cup vinegar 1 1/2 cup fabric softener and 2 cups water mixed together) and this works great on carpets too use just like the straight vinegar in your carpet machine.. After discovering how amazing this works I will never buy carpet shampoo again. Added bonus the vinegar cleans your carpet cleaner too.
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip!!
xo
s
Jessica says
I recently found your blog & am addicted – LOVE your archives! Just wondeing how you wet clean your hardwood floors (i read your post about the kurv). I have been using a microfiber pad/mop with homemade cleaner & it streaks unless I clean & dry on my hands & knees. Ugh…
YoungHouseLove says
I usually use watered down Mrs. Meyers soap with an O-Mop from Target (or a microfiber cloth on my hands and knees). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Suzanne says
Hi – I only just came across you site and will be bookmarking this list for later! One thing I wouldn’t recommend however is mixing vinegar with castile soap in the all-purpose spray recipe. Goes back to high school chemistry – you don’t mix acids and bases.
http://lisa.drbronner.com/?p=292
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Pam says
For starters this site is MAGNIFICENT. So glad I ran across it and I’ll have to try out the cleaning recipes. One question though: What is Fels Naptha soap? I live in Australia. I’m sure we have something similar but have no idea what to look for. Thanks
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I wonder if you can find it on Amazon.com or some place where you order goods (ebay?). My understanding is that it’s sold at grocery stores so hopefully it’s not too rare. Good luck!
xo,
s
Janice says
Guess what happened when I mixed up this recipe on this post and put it in a spray bottle?
Fruit and Vegetable Wash:
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1 tbsp. baking soda
20 drops grapefruit seed extract
Spray on produce, rinse after 5 minutes.
There was no waiting 5 minutes for the mini-volcano!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh mannn! So sorry for the explosion. Admittedly we haven’t tried every recipe, we just passed them along to hopefully help. Didn’t mean to start any volcanos. Haha.
xo,
s
Daphne says
How much dishwasher detergent do you use per load?
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry, not sure. Does anyone who has tried this method have advice?
xo,
s
Amy says
Great article. Do you have any recommended natural products for getting rid of mould?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I’ve heard vinegar can do it- not sure if you mix with something else like baking soda. Maybe try googling around for “natural mold removal”? Good luck!
xo,
s
Amy says
Oddly enough, since I asked you this, someone recommended toothpaste. I’m yet to try it though….
Leslie says
Borax is an incredibly strong base. It has been regulated OUT of dishwashing detergents because it is such an environmental disaster. Including borax in your cleaning routine is far cheaper than buying store-bought cleaners, and BOY does it work, but use with extreme caution and realize it’s a poor environmental choice as far as cleaners go.
Magic and Mayhem says
We mostly just use vinegar, hot water, baking soda and elbow grease here. :)
One note about borax– be sure people know that unlike the first list of ingredients you mentioned, borax IS toxic. See http://www.greenfootsteps.com/borax-information.html for more information about it.
“Even as little as a teaspoonful could prove fatal if swallowed by a young child. For this reason, be very careful if using it anywhere near food and wipe up spills immediately.”
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip!
xo,
s
Rebecca says
Such a good list that I’ve already copied, pasted, columnized, changed to smaller font, and credited and printed. Also made copies for people I work with who will LOVE this and sent out a mass email to family and friends! Can’t wait to heat feedback!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s amazing! So excited you’re enjoying it and spreading the word!
xo,
s
Tiffanie says
Please read about the toxicity of borax soap…
Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, is not acutely toxic. Its LD50 (median lethal dose) score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats: a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. The lethal dose is not necessarily the same for humans.
Sufficient exposure to borax dust can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. “In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure.”
A reassessment of boric acid/borax by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs found potential developmental toxicity (especially effects on the testes). Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or on abraded skin are known to be particularly toxic to infants, especially after repeated use, because of the slow elimination rate.
Borax was added to the Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list on 16 December 2010.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax#Toxicity
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! We heard it could be an irritant for certain people but never that it was so toxic. Thanks for the warning!
xo,
s
Elise says
Walmart has all the supplies there …Fel naptha,Zote,bar Ivory soap..Baking Soda, Baking Powder,Borax….It’s all in the detergent Aisle .. It seems like everyone is now making their own cleaning supplies, It took me 3 trips to WalMart to get all my ingredients for my laundry soap!! and Like I told my children , I would be saving money by making m own soaps and cleaning supplies, if I didn’t give all of it away!!! LOL I LOVE these tips …THANK YOU !!!!
Nancy says
When our Walmart has the products I tend to buy extra’s for when they dont. Fels Naptha soap is the hardest one to find in stock so stock up when you find it!
Jan says
I use many of the recipes that you have included however, I am having a hard time finding a successful Dishwasher Detergent. My homemade formula seems inconsistent and often leaves my glassware cloudy, but not always. Mine uses Borax, Washing Soda, Citric Acid. I have also added vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of Jet Dry and extra Lemishine to the bottom of the dishwasher but it does not seem to matter. Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, we haven’t personally tackled the dishwashing liquid yet. Anyone have tips for Jan?
xo,
s
Lacy says
I just made 4 different cleaners from this blog. Thank you so much!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw congrats!
xo,
s
regina says
to clean your kitchen counters and tables,use 2 spray bottles…1 filled with vinegar and 1 filled with peroxide.spray either one then wipe,then spray the 2nd one and wipe…studies showed mixing the 2 together did not do the trick,but spraying and wiping one after the other,killed bacteria and was safe!
YoungHouseLove says
Nice tip! Thanks for sharing!
xo,
s
Erin says
Thank you for this list! We have a dog who recently started having seizures and came across information that some of the chemical cleaners used can cause seizures in animals. I am really excited to through out all of my current cleaners and try a natural approach and hopefully this will help prevent any more seizures!
YoungHouseLove says
So glad to help Erin! Good luck with everything and much love to that pooch of yours from Burger!
xo,
s
Michelle says
I use equal parts water and rubbing alcohol plus a tablespoon of vinegar as a glass cleaner. They sparkle like crazy.
Nancy says
I have been using several of these cleaning products for a little over a year. Its always helpful to find new ones Thanks! To clean your dishwasher to looking brand new run empty dishwasher with 1 cup of vinegar in upper rack. Ours is 13 years old and I did this last night and it looks brand new :) Our laundry soap has slightly different amounts but the same products in yours and our 19 year old and my 70 year old mom keep coming over to get a bottle of laundry soap from me because it smells so good and is so Frugal (Cheap) to make. I make 5 gallons at a time!
tiffany Gallagher says
I would love to know what to use on ceramic tile?
YoungHouseLove says
Anyone have tips?
xo,
s
Kris says
TAKE HEED:
Fels Naptha has PETROCHEMICALS!
Instead, I use Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild BAR soap in place of Fels Naptha in all my recipes. Especially awesome in homemade laundry detergent recipe! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip Kris! Thanks!
xo,
s
Erika says
Awesome post. Thanks you so much for sharing.
Darla Welchel says
Thank you for all your helpful hints. I just wanted to add a little note about Vinegar. It is also a fantastic non-toxic weed killer. Every year I have to kill the weeds between the pavers in my sidewalk. I always hate using the commercial weed killer because of the risk to the environment and to my health. Plus, if it rains, the chemicals wash to the adjoining grass, which is now all dead.
This year, I tried straight vinegar in a spray bottle. Not only did it work just as well (weeds were dead and wilted by the next day), I didn’t feel like I need to don a haze mat suit to use it!
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip!
xo
s
Sally says
This is a fabulous site! Great way to save $$$ too.
Chalece says
This is fantastic information. I am just looking into becoming more green-cleaning and this is just making it seem so easy for me to get started. I do wonder, if I were to put the above recipes in their own spray bottles, will they have an expiration date?
I seriously want to go today to get all the mentioned ingredients and make my own stuff. Thanks for making this so easy!!
YoungHouseLove says
We have used them for a while (until they run out) and they seem to work! I would just toss anything that smells like it’s “off” or doesn’t seem to be working as well over time.
xo,
s
Kyra says
Does anyone know of a natural version of an anti bacterial hand spray? Would a vinager/water/tea tree oil/lavender oil mixture work and be safe?
YoungHouseLove says
Anyone know?
xo
s
Vanice Chambers says
Sponges are much better than wash cloths as they can be tossed into the dishwasher to wash and the heat also sanitizes them. At other people’s houses I am always unsure of how long the wash cloth or sponge has been out and wet and I always look for a clean one right off!
Ali says
I’ve been trying alot of homemade cleaning lately and I love it!!!! I’ve done liquid laundry soap, febreeze, the drain cleaner, and a few others. My absolute FAVE however is my homemade “clorox” wipes. And they are SUPER easy to make……
Mix together 1 cup distilled water (helps keep the wipes from molding if you don’t use them up) 1-2 squirts of your fave liquid castile soap (I used pepermint)1/4 cup white vinegear and 3-4 drops of tea tree oil. Pour mixture over about 2 large t-shirts worth of cut up t-shirt pieces in an air tight container. These are safe enough to use on everything!! I even use them on dirty hands and faces. After you the wipes you can throw them in the laundry with your towels or other rags.
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Thanks for sharing!
xo,
s