Using toxin-free, all- or mostly natural cleaning products isn’t just a good idea for protecting the environment inside (and outside) your home—it can actually save you some dough. I haven’t done the math, but over a year’s time, I’ll bet you could piggy-bank the cost of a couple of nice massages if you swap homemade cleansers for the pricier kind that come laden with chemicals. And it’s easy! Here are a few of the cleansers I make for my house:
My Mother-in-Law’s Shiny Floor Cleaner
My beloved, 90 year-old Italian mother-in-law, Nonnie Maria, has a simple potion that cleans and shines her wood floors, and now I use it on mine (also nice for wooden cabinets and furniture). She adds about ¼ cup of Murphy’s oil soap (an all-natural product made from tree oils) and a splash of white vinegar to a gallon of hot water, and mops her floors with the milky liquid. You don’t have to rinse, and the lemony aroma smells like a summer night in the Italian countryside.
Simple Dish Scrub Powder
It doesn’t get any simpler than this: use baking soda as you would any commercial scrub powder. It won’t scratch non-stick or other surfaces, and it tackles all but the most serious baked-on messes. Just follow with a hot water rinse to kill germs. As non-toxic alternative, try Bon-Ami, an inexpensive scouring powder made from mineral abrasives and biodegradable detergent; it shines without scratching. I use this to clean lightly soiled pans and countertops.
All-Purpose Cleanser
Mix a couple of tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice with a teaspoon of borax in a spray bottle filled with warm or hot water. Spritz on surfaces and wipe clean.
Vinegar and Newspaper
To make your windows sparkle, just fill a bowl with white vinegar, and use newspapers instead of rags to apply the vinegar and wipe the windows dry. I don’t know if some magical synergy between the newsprint and the vinegar makes this work so well, but nothing makes glass disappear like this combo.
Comments (26)
I’m looking for a recipe for a pretreatment for laundry.
It uses vinegar and baking soda.
“My Mother-in-Law shiny floor cleaner” – will this work on bamboo flooring as well?
Sorry for the contridiction, however, go easy on the Murphy’s Oil Soap! Over time is pits and scars the finish allowing dirt to “stick” if you will…. in time you will find it impossible to remove the smears that result from this. For over 10 years I used Murphy’s on my finished wood cabinets. It resulted in having to have them refinished because I could not get them clean anymore. Most home made cleaners like baking soda, vinegar and the such do a good job on certain applications…. choose these when you can, but use a gentle cleaner designed for wood floors or you may ruin them! I use a light citrus cleaner designed for use on wood floors. I NEVER wet them….wipe them dry immediately. Water can can damage a wood floor fast!
The wood worker that installed our new cabinets told us to NEVER clean them with water. He said to just use Pledge Wipes on them. They don’t take a lot of cleaning and this seems to work fine.
A good all purpose cleaner is one pint of rubbing alcohol, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 tsp dishwashing soap, and enough water to make one gallon. Put in a spray bottle and go to it. It’s especially nice because there’s no fragrance to bother the allergies.
I am looking for something that will get rid of dog odors. Not urine just that dog smell. Anyone have suggestions. The smell seems to be coming mostly from rugs and upholstery. Help.
I found Natures Miracle to help in the shorterm- not in anything that lasts. Still looking.
Shaklee’s Basic G diluted to 1/2 tsp/pint will destroy the odors coming from the bacteria in the carpets and upholstery. You would spray the area lightly and let it dry. I have had great results with it. I have been using the Shaklee products for almost 39 years and liked them so much that I became a distributor. You can get them from me, or if you prefer to use someone else, that is ok too. The company ships the product right to your door.
Hope this is helpful, I don’t want to turn this into a commercial,but just want to get the info out.
Sandy
To rid dog odors and stains/odors from kids wetting the bed, use white vinegar not mixed with anything. The vinegar smells putting it on but the smell goes away and the odor and stain are gone!
I have the same problem. I sprinkle just plain bulk baking soda I bought on my carpet and leave it for like 15-30 minutes once a month, I think it works because after half an hour, I do not smell anything, then I vacum the floor.
I don’t know if it’s all natural, but someone told me Natures Miracle works well to eliminate pet odors.
I also disagree about the soap and also about baking soda. Both of them end up polluting the environment. Vinegar will help remove some surface dirt, but it does not actually clean well and does not disinfect, although some people think it does. I use a line of totaly non toxic and non polluting cleaners that work better than any store bought that I have tried and are way cheaper than the so called non toxic cleaners in the grocery stores.
What is the name of the line of non-toxic cleaners & where do you get them?
What is the name of the line of non-toxic cleaners and where do you get them?
I have used the Shaklee products for almost 39 years. They have worked amazingly well even with really difficult areas.
If you want to have me get them for you, I can do that. I am a business leader with Shaklee, with, as I said, almost 39 years of experience. All the products are shipped directly to the customer’s door so it doesn’t matter if you are near to the distributor or far. If you prefer to do business with someone else that is perfectly fine. (obviously, I’d love to know you better and help you)
YOu can call me at (800) 729-3010
HI Bj, don’t know if this will let me post the same answer twice. I’ll try. I answered Susan. If you can’t see it, let me know . Here is the answer, if it comes through.
Sandy, Yes! I can see your message.. thank you for the information. As time goes by and our job situation is resolved I will be interested in trying some of the Shaklee products. In addition, I’ll use up the products I now have on hand. Thanks again for the info. BJT
Hi again,
If you are on Twitter, I’m ParadiseGrandma and my email and phone number are there. I’d love to talk with you and share some info for whenever you are ready. My blog is healthwealthandenvironmentinfo.blogspot.com I appreciate any and all comments there as well.
Thanks for responding.
Sandy
Sandy, I am interested to hear how baking soda is such a polluntant. I was not aware that it was. I use it for alot of things around the home – from toothpaste to cleaning.
Also vinegar – which is actually acetic acid – is, like all acids, a disinfectant. I find it works great as a cleaner around my home. I add a bit of soap when I need a bit of a cleaning boost and also use tea-tree oil or other disinfectant essential oils when I feel a bit of extra germ killing power is required.
For a good, all-purpose cleaner that can also be used on the floors, use equal parts water and white vinegar with 15 or so drops of tea tree oil. The tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic. Add something like lavendar oil if you just don’t like the smell.
What about a homemade cleaner for dog accidents? Any ideas?
I usually dilute the vinegar with water – 3 parts vinegar 1 part water and wear rubber gloves so I don’t end up with lots of printers ink on my hands but it is the best way to clean windows that I have ever found!!! And it uses up newspapers, too!
Harrison Floors, Toledo, Oh says that using vinegar solution will clean wood floors however be aware that over time the vinegar will dull & yellow the polyurethane topcoat. Depends if you like the slick, glossy look or the matt finish, I suppose. Harrison recommends a citrus cleaner called Pro-Care. We own a small bungalow that has original hardwood from the time the house was built in 1912. I have been using Pro-Care since owning the home a little over a year ago. It has actually restored the shiny finish to the old floor. I love the product! Also, keeping the floor vacuumed and dust free helps preserve the finish. Grit & dirt acts as sandpaper on wood floor finishes. Happy cleaning to all!
Out of necessity for financial reasons, I had to think of ways to save money. i use white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and water, in some combination, fitting the particular need, for cleaning. I even make my own mouthwash using baking soda, H2O2, some cinnamon sticks, and essential oils such as peppermint.
Your suggestions are well worth remembering… due to recent multiple job losses in my extended family, we, too are looking for ways to conserve. Suddenly, a glossy floor surface vs. a matt or dulled wood floor seems less important. Thanks for the tip on the cost conserving formula… God Bless All!
The FDA isn’t yet (that i’ve seen) up to speed on this, but the manufacturers are and they say that despite FDA’s approval of 3% H2O2 as mouthwash, and despite their own labeling to that effect, hydrogen peroxide should not be used orally for an extended period of time; it is used for short-duration treatment of specific symptoms only. It is harmful to tooth enamel and to cells, particularly mucous membranes and around skin wounds. The latter implies that it should be used for initial wound cleaning only, and only if no better choice is available.