Why You Should Make Your House Hold Cleaners Part 2

Reason#2 Safety

I had successfully stopping using all store bought window cleaner and all purpose spray cleaners and switched to homemade. For those recipes you can click here.  It was a relatively easy switch and I was amazed that I never had streaky windows anymore. I was not yet convinced that bathroom cleaners and such would be nearly as effective as the stuff I bought at the store but in time I would realize how wrong I was.

One day I was cleaning my bathroom with my harsh tub and tile cleaner while I was two or three months pregnant with my son and after about 20 minutes I nearly fainted from the fumes.  My eyes were watering and I couldn't breath.  I panicked and headed to the doctor because at the time I had no idea or maybe just refused to believe that the fumes were the cause of my ailments.  Blood work was done along with an ultrasound of my beautiful baby boy and my doctor looked me straight in the eye and said " looks like no more cleaning the bathroom for you". Well, this was totally unacceptable for a nesting mama. I did some researched and found out that the toxic chemicals in my household cleaners contain chlorine, though it often masquerades behind aliases such as "sodium hypochlorite" or "hypochlorite." and that when inhaled in can cause terrible irritation in the lungs.  This is particularly dangerous for people with lung conditions or children.

Besides the obvious issues of being in a closed bathroom and cleaning with these toxic chemicals I also found that when you wash your laundry or dishes that when these machines go through the various stages of cleaning that these chemical are thrown in to the air through a process called "volatilization."and we are breathing them in. These chemicals are also found in toilet paper, paper towel, coffee filters and a whole host of items found in the average American home. The issues is not just in the initial exposure to the chemicals but the accumulation in the human body over time which causes a marked decrease in the immune systems ability to fight off disease and illness. It has been proven that women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home. This 15-year study concluded it was a direct result of higher exposure rate to toxic chemicals in common household products. According to the EPA, this year alone some 11,420 people will die from indoor air pollution. Millions more will be sickened by their exposure to a host of toxic chemicals within their homes and offices.

Besides my desire to lessen the exposure of toxic chemicals to my family as I mentioned before I have a very curious son.  He will put nearly anything in his mouth or try to smell things.  Now I know exactly what he is trying to ingest or smell.  You should still lock away cleaning products even if they are made of vinegar and soap flakes. 

******Never mix bleach and ammonia...this will make toxic fumes that are very dangerous******

Furniture Polish

Homemade Furniture Polish

Most of the old folk formulas for furniture polish ask for 1/4 cup of oil or so, plus a few drops of vinegar. I feel those folk formulas leave the furniture too oily, and in hot weather there is a risk of the oil going rancid.

Instead, I’ve found that reversing those ratios —using 1/4 cup vinegar plus a few drops of oil—makes for a much better wood cleaner and polish. The vinegar pulls the dirt out of the wood, and the few drops of oil lubricates the wood so that it doesn’t dry out.

Second-Best Homemade Bathroom Cleaner Ever

1/4 c. baking soda

1/8 c. lemon juice

1/8 c. fine sea salt

2 Tbsp. liquid castille soap or dishwashing soap (optional)

Enough white vinegar to make a paste

~Mix all ingredients together well and scrub away. As there is sea salt in this recipe, I would recommend testing it on a small, out of the way space first to make sure it doesn’t scuff the surface of your counter top or bathtub. It didn’t scuff mine, but I have an odd bathroom.

This recipe was purposefully created to be a one-time use only recipe, as it does contain lemon juice and wouldn’t keep outside the fridge for long. If you want to keep your bathroom cleaner in the fridge, though, feel free to increase everything.

Best Homemade Bathroom Cleaner Ever #1

Best Homemade Bathroom Cleaner Ever

1/2 c. baking soda

1/2 c. washing soda

1/2 c. liquid castille soap

25 drops tea tree essential oil

10 drops lemon essential oil

10 drops peppermint essential oil

2 Tbsp. white vinegar (optional)

~Mix baking soda, washing soda, and liquid soap in a medium-sized container until it’s pasty and mushy. Add essential oils and mix thoroughly. If you choose to add the vinegar, be aware that the soda will make it fizz a little. But it’ll stop, so don’t freak out.
When you’re ready to use it, just scoop a little out with your sponge and scrub away. This works wonders on grimy bathtubs and goopy counters. Not that I’ve ever had those. I just assume.

Window Washing Cleaner

Window Washing Cleaner

1/4 cup vinegar

1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent

2 cups of water in a spray bottle

Shake to blend and spray on your windows!

All Purpose Spray Cleaner #1 and #2

All Purpose Spray Cleaner

#1

 This is my most used, and best loved cleaning recipe. The All Purpose Cleaner is fantastic stuff! Spray it on a crusted up mess, leave a few minutes, come back and wipe away! It cleans everything, countertops, surfaces, bathrooms....good stuff.

Here's how we start;
2 teaspoons Borax
1 teaspoon washing soda (not baking soda)
4 tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon liquid castile soap (tea tree scent has the most antibacterial/antifungal benefits, but all of the scents will clean well)
4 cups hot water

~Add Borax, washing soda and vinegar to a large spray bottle using a funnel. Add 1 cup hot water and shake well until powders are dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and shake well again. Shake before each use if necessary.

#2

This recipe works great in the kitchen, especially on stove tops and refrigerators.

2 cups water

1/8 cup vinegar

 ¼ cup lemon juice

 6 drops of citrus seed extract

 4 drops of orange or lemon essential oil

1 teaspoon of borax.

 Shake well. Add 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap.

Mix the following in a spray bottle