Why trade your commercial brand cleaning products for homemade/natural ones? Her are some reasons you should switch:
1. Commercial cleaners are very dangerous to infants, children and adults alike. Even the fumes can sometimes be harmful
2. Natural cleaners are better for your house (your counters, cabinets, toys etc.) Many commercial products leave some sort of film or buildup around your house.
3. It is significantly CHEAPER to make your own cleaning products. (Who doesn't like to safe money)
4. It is better for the environment to use natural cleaners. The harmful, harsh chemicals in commercial products can leak and seep into soil and water and thus into our eating and drinking supply.
Now that you have decided to switch, here is a list of ingredients for most cleaners:
1. Baking Soda- Yup, the stuff you use in cakes!
2. Washing Soda-similar to baking soda, found near laundry detergents
3. Plain White Vinegar
4. Vanilla Extract- expensive, but a little goes a LONG way
5. Cornstarch
6. Liquid Soap- NOT detergent, from a natural food/health store
7. Borax- a powder found near laundry detergent. (This is environmentally safe, but NOT baby safe)
8. Spray Bottles- for each cleaner
All Purpose Cleaner
Spray Bottle-large
Warm water-to fill bottle
Borax-1 tbsp
Liquid Soap-1 tbsp
Vinegar-1-2 tbsp
Vanilla-2-3 drops
Into spray bottle filled with warm water, stir in Borax and liquid soap. I usually add a little vinegar for grease-fighting. Top it off with 2 or more drops of vanilla. It makes the cleaner and thus your house smell great. (My husband even offers to clean because he loves the smell!) You can use this cleaner on everything: counter tops, stove tops, tables, bathroom sinks etc.
Window Cleaner
Simply mix white vinegar and water into a spray bottle. You can use from just 1 tbsp of vinegar to half vinegar, half water. You can even add a drop or two of blue food coloring (if you miss the blue tint) If this causes streaking (which it caused mine to streak) it is from the buildup of wax from your other cleaner. Use alcohol to get rid of it. It is a weird smell that you have to get used to, but it is better than the commercial window cleaner smell. (I do not feel like I'm killing brain cells every time I clean)
Baby's Toys Cleaner
Mix a small amount of baking soda with a cup of warm water. You can use this to wipe any hard baby toy/crib to get clean. Plain white vinegar is an excellent mild disinfectant.
Bathroom Cleaner
Simply use plain white vinegar to clean your bathroom. Use equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle for all bathroom fixtures, counters, tubs and shower curtains. This will help rid your bathroom of soap scum buildup and mildew.
I must give credit where credit is due! All these natural cleaners and instructions came from one of my most favorite mommy books Super Baby Food 2nd Edition by Ruth Yaron.
There are quite a few more cleaners in the book, but these are the ones I have used the most often, and I did modify a few for my own liking. I hope this has helped you start your homemade cleaner collection! As always feel free to ask me any questions or leave me any comments about what you have tried and what has/has not worked for you! God Bless you and your family!
Until the Whole World Hears,
Katie
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