Making your own household cleaners

Buying expensive cleaning chemicals doesn’t save us time and they don’t do a better job than the formulas our parents and grandparents used. It’s really easy to make your own cleaning products, plus they’re cheaper and better for the environment.

Key Ingredients

Most of the following ingredients can be bought in any supermarket, hardware store or pharmacist.

• White distilled vinegar (acetic acid)
• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) — A gently abrasive scouring powder, odour absorber and an excellent base for making your own cleaning preparations.
• Borax is a natural mineral compound that is excellent for a number of jobs around the home. Add to laundry to remove dirt and stains, add to water to clean around the home and remove grease from dishes, sink drains etc., use to disinfect.
• Washing soda (sodium carbonate)
• Liquid soap (sodium hydroxide) — Choose from vegetable oil-based soaps such as olive oil or sweet almond.
• Distilled water – You can use ordinary tap water if you like, but clean, distilled water acts as a better carrier and dirt solvent. Tap water will often contain salts and minerals that can lead to spotting and build-up.
• Essential oils – one of the downsides with making your own cleaning products is that they don’t have the pleasant smell of the commercial brands. This is easily remedied by adding a few drops of essential oils to your mixes. Not only do they smell great, but they also have potent antibacterial effects and help to keep your house lovely and clean. Try adding a few drops such as
  • lemon – clean, sweet, energising scent; deodoriser
  • peppermint – fresh smell that acts as an air purifier, mild pest repellent
  • eucalyptus – fresh therapeutic aroma
  • tea tree – anti-bacterial air and surface sanitizers

Method

Before you start make sure you have a good stock of basic spray bottles – you don’t need to buy new bottles, just save the bottles from your existing cleaners and wash them out. Just mix together the ingredients and away you go!

Basic cleaning fluid

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon sodium borate
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
• 36 drops essential oil

Carpet Cleaner

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid soap
• 18 drops essential oil

Carpet Freshener

• 1 cup baking soda
• 18 drops essential oil

Furniture Polish

• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

Gentle Scouring Cream

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• Liquid soap
• 18 drops essential oil

Add essential oils to baking soda and blend. Next, incorporate the liquid soap, several drops at a time, until a creamy paste forms.

Window Cleaner

• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
• 36 drops essential oil

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