Natural cleaning products

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Diana63
Diana63 Member Posts: 773
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I have been researching home made cleaning products, I have been making my own multi purpose cleaning spray. I use vinegar, borax & baking powder in it, does anyone else have any natural cleaning recipe's that they would like to share?

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  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 2,167
    edited March 2009

    Wet aluminum foil is great for cleaning metal surfaces and a I use rubber gloves to wipe the pet hair off of everything. What proportions do you use in your cleaning spray? I bet adding a little essential oil would make everything smell nice.

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  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 850
    edited March 2009

    Vinegar and baking soda are my weapons of choice!

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  • abbadoodles
    abbadoodles Member Posts: 2,618
    edited March 2009

    A 50% solution of white vinegar cleans floor, esp. tile grout, better than almost anything.

    Use those flat, green pot scubber pads you buy in the grocery store to get pet fur off furniture and clothing.

    Did you know you can brush your teeth with baking soda?

    Try Seventh Generation and Ecover natural cleaning products.  Many of them are really very good, even better than the regular, supermarket stuff.  I am now using a natural toilet cleaner and it's very effective.

    Stains come off many pots and pans and coffee makers with a cream of tartar paste.

    Toothpaste (white only) does a great job of cleaning white shoes.

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  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 773
    edited March 2009

    Vivre, I use about 1 cup of vinegar, to 1 tps of borax, 1/2 baking soda and a squirt of liquid detergent. I want to find some stuff that I can make myself, my granddaughter is biting on everything and I don't want to use anything that can hurt her. I will have to try the aluminum foil thing :)

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  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 773
    edited March 2009

    Lisa, I have been using vinegar on everything, I even put it in the rinse cycle for my cloths. Its cheaper than fabric softener, and it cuts down on static better, the smell goes away in the dryer.

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  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 773
    edited March 2009

    Tina I will have to try the cream of tartar paste, I have a pot right now I can't get clean.

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited March 2009

    Worcestershire sauce is great for cleaning copper.  Also you can scrub copper with half a lemon and salt.

     Peroxide is good for cleaning grout esp. around the base of the toilet. 

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  • abbadoodles
    abbadoodles Member Posts: 2,618
    edited March 2009

    There's an article in the current Simple mag all about natural cleaning products.  Even ketchup can be used for something!

    Dotti, where ya been?

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited March 2009

    Spent some time with my son and cleaned his apt for 4 days/8hr a day---bout wore me out--guys just don't see dirt and when they do, they have no idea where to start to clean it.We cleaned ceilings to walls and floors and EVERYTHING in between. --came home and slept and rested up to :

    Attend the Sweet Potato Queen St Paddy's day/weekend in Jackson, MS. with my daughter and her friends.   We had a great time--again, worn out(I'm really not at an age to party all day and night anymore!)

    Now am on antibiotics for brochitis and codine for cough.  So glad it will rain this weekend---I don't have the energy to work in my garden.

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  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 2,167
    edited March 2009

    Thanks for all the great ideas! I am going to try the green scrubbies for the cat hair. I bought a big box of them at Sam's and use them for everything. I have to finish grouting my newly tiled floor this weekend and I am going to try the vinegar to get rid of the haze. Looks like the stuff our grandmothers used was better after all. Gee Dotti- you are gardening already? We are looking at snow tomorrow!

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  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 773
    edited March 2009

    Dotti, I had never heard of using ketchup before, here is the link for the story in the mag.

     http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/clean-house-naturally-00000000011114/index.html

    Tina, I love the magazine although I haven't read it in a while.

    http://www.realsimple.com/

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  • OLBinNJ
    OLBinNJ Member Posts: 236
    edited March 2009

    Mix vinegar and water (half and Half) and add a few drops of essential oil to prevent the strong vinegar smell that my dh hates.

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited March 2009

    Hey, good thread!!!

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  • Jorf
    Jorf Member Posts: 498
    edited April 2009

    Great thread!

    Heard a fabulous interview (on Fresh Air?) with a woman that studies toxins - her site is something about arts and theater and crafts (sorry, not enough sleep, time zone change...) and all of those "natural" products are really actually bad for the environment. What a surprize. Why wouldn't the marketing for that stuff at Whole Foods be any different than any other marketing???

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  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 1,595
    edited April 2009

    My mom used ketchup to clean the copper bottom of a saucepan last week.  It was gleaming.  I have copper pots I've used since I was I a teenager.  Somehow, I doubt my pots will ever gleam with all the decades I've not polished them.  ...if I ever give it a try in this lifetime and get good results, y'all will be the first to know.

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  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited April 2009

    I grate orange peel into a pan of water and boil if and makes the whole house smell good, same thing with cinnomon sticks or cloves.  Clean windows with vinager and water and wipe with old newspapers.  I love baking soda for the sinks instead of comet.  They shine.

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  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 773
    edited April 2009

    You can also use lemon or orange peels in the garbage disposal to make it smell nice and fresh, just make sure you tear them into little pieces. My aunt puts fresh lemon & orange peels in her car ashtray she says it keeps the car smelling nice.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    i use baking soda in the bathroom sinks and toilet, it does the trick!

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  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 773
    edited May 2009

    Here are some more Baking Soda things from the green team

     General home

    - Anywhere that moisture is a problem, such as cupboards under sinks, place a bowl of baking soda to help control humidity. You'll need to occasionally stir the powder for maximum effective life.

    - Crayon or texta marks on walls? Try applying baking soda/water paste on an old toothbrush and lightly brush the affected area.

    - Water stains on wooden floors can be removed with a sponge dampened in a solution of baking soda dissolved in water.

    - Sprinkle some baking soda into your vacuum bag to help reduce musty/pet smells being spread throughout your house when vacuuming.

    - Sprinkle baking soda on rugs and carpets before vacuuming as a deodorising treatment. Most carpet powders you buy are baking soda based! Just a brief note on this - not recommended for areas that are very humid as the baking soda may stay in the carpet.

    - Mops can really stink out areas where they are stored. If your mop is getting on the nose, don't throw it out, try soaking it in a mixture of 4 tablespoons baking soda and a gallon of water for a while.

    - Stains on porcelain sinks, toilets and plastics can be removed by applying a layer of baking soda and then using a damp sponge . I found this to work particularly well on a water stain in a sink that couldn't be shifted otherwise without the use of heavy duty chemicals and scratching the surface.

    Plumbing

    - As an alternative to caustic soda for clearing blocked drains, throw a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a couple of jugs of boiling water.

    Garden

    - Baking soda can deter ants - pour a solid line in areas of activity and they won't cross it.

    - Mix a tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of (earth friendly) dish detergentent and a gallon of water to make a spray for treating roses against black spot fungus.

    Laundry

    - Work a baking soda and water paste onto stains prior to washing to help remove them from the fabric

    - Half a cup of baking soda added to a full load of washing will help brighten your wash and remove odors.

    Workshop/auto

    - Mix a paste of baking soda and vinegar and apply with a pot scourer to remove light rusting

    - A baking-soda/water paste applied to chrome surfaces, allowed to dry then buffed off will leave chrome shining!

    - Baking soda applied to fresh grease and oil spills on your garage floor will draw away the oil, which can then be scraped off.

    Pets

    - Baking soda lightly sprinkled and mixed into cat litter will help control odor.

    - Eliminate odor after you've cleaned up pet accidents by sprinkling over the dampened area with baking soda; allow to dry and then vacuum.

    Personal

    - Whoofy shoes getting you down? Get a couple of old socks, fill up the toe secitions with baking soda, place into the offending shoes and leave overnight to help remove odors.

    - A thick paste of baking soda and water applied to bug bites can provide relief.

    - A half teaspoon of baking soda mixed into a glass of water can act as mouthwash.

    - Sprinkle baking soda onto regular toothpaste to create a whitening toothpaste

    Miscellaneous

    - To clean jewelry, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply the mixture the piece, allow to sit for a couple of minutes, rinse off and then polish with a soft cloth.

    - Sprinkle your Christmas tree with baking soda to mimick snow - a much more environmentally friendly alternative to some of those chemical snow sprays!

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