Cheap, all-natural cleaning supplies

By Colleen Heenan

Even daunting tasks-such as cleaning your house- can be turned into a green task. There are many new products that claim to be ecologically friendly and still clean and disinfect.

However, many of these products are significantly more expensive than the less-eco-friendly competitors. When faced with financial strains, it is important to use more thrifty means of cleaning tools. Here are some ideas I think can help people reduce their costs of cleaning:

First of all, I am sure you all have several bottles of previously purchased eco-friendly cleaners under your sink already. Just save those spray bottles after they are empty so they can be refilled with your home-made mixtures.

Next you need to make a list of ingredients you will need from the store- don’t worry these things are cheap and have multipurpose uses! Depending on what you have in your house your lists of needs will vary.

List:

1. Vinegar: White vinegar is a natural All-Purpose cleaner which is great for disinfecting and deodorizing. It is a bit acidic if not diluted. Don’t worry about the smell is will disappear as it dries. Plus it is wallet-friendly! Use on all surfaces in the kitchen, on windows and for laundry (here use in rinse cycle to help further breakdown detergent- great for people with sensitive skin).
2. Baking Soda: Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) is abrasive and can be used on areas that need a good scrubbing. It also helps neutralize odors, soften fabrics and clean surfaces. It can be best used as an all-purpose cleaner where you can clean floors, tubs, sinks and counters. My favorite use is to clear drains with it, check below.

3. Lemons: Lemons can be used to deodorize, clean glass, remove stains, dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Also, grind up the lemons and rinds in garbage disposal to neutralize odor and disinfect blades (an added plus is your kitchen smells fabulous!)

4. Borax: Sodium Borate is a naturally producing crystal compound that dissolves easily in water. It comes from the mineral Boron and a salt of boric acid. When bought in the stores Borax is partially dehydrated so as to make it more powdery. It has many uses, but when used for cleaning it acts as an anti-fungal preventing mold and mildew (especially in steamy bathrooms), can be used as a detergent when laundering, a deodorizer and helps remove stains from cloths and carpets.

5. Other ingredients you may already have on hand:

• Olive Oil- used to polish furniture: mix with some lemon juice for a fresh smell.
• Isopropyl alcohol is a stain remover, an excellent disinfectant and helps cut grease out of cloths and fabrics: P.S. gets pen stains out!
• Cornstarch cleans windows carpets and polishes furniture: creates an abrasive paste when combined with a little vinegar.

Recipes:

1.) All-Purpose cleaners

• 1 part vinegar and 1 part water, put in reused plastic spray bottle
• 4 tablespoons baking soda and warm water, shake and scrub

2.) Disinfectant

• Mix ½ cup borax and 1 gallon of hot water
• Vinegar and lemon juice

3.) Drain cleaner

• ½ cup baking soda down the drain, followed by a ½ cup of vinegar, wait 15 min and then pour 1 gallon of boiling water down the drain

4.) Oven cleaner

• Moisten oven and then sprinkle with baking powder. Scrub with steal wool.

6.) Toilet bowl cleaner

• Mix ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour in toilet and let sit for 5 minutes, then scrub with brush

7.) Dish Scrubber

• Take half a lemon and sprinkle with borax to scrub dishes and disinfect countertops
• Cutting boards: vinegar, baking soda or lemons will disinfect the wooden and plastic cutting boards

8.) Window cleaner

• Use equal amounts of vinegar and water, by dipping old newspapers into solution and wiping down the window, then followed by dry newspapers.

BE CAREFUL! This is chemistry and you have to be smart about mixing concoctions. Never combine chlorine bleach, oven cleaners, dishwasher detergent or toilet-bowl cleaners with ammonia, lye, rust remover, or vinegar. Such a combination can create a deadly poisonous gas.

Hope you find these suggestions helpful and cost effective. Happy cleaning!