CLEANING SUPPLIES
RINSE AID IN THE DISHWASHER: Pure white vinegar
SPRAY CLEANER (kitchen, bathroom, windows): vinegar and water mixture - about 50-50 works well for most everything. If you don't like the smell or miss the smelly cleaners you can add essential oils or even baking extracts (my son loves the black licorice smell of anise extract). Does Vinegar Kill Germs?
WINDOW CLEANER: I use 50% vinegar solution with a Tbsp or two of 90% rubbing alcohol. Do not breathe the fumes. No rubbing alcohol isn't great but it helps to keep the windows streak free!
GREASE CUTTER SPRAY: Keep a mason jar on the counter near your garbage or compost and put all your orange peels into that. When the jar is packed, fill it with vinegar. Let it sit for 3-4 weeks and pour it off - discard the peels. (We do this around Christmas until we have 4-6 jars full, then just use the cleaner the rest of the year)
KITCHEN SCRUB (for counters, pots, sinks) Orange peels again! Keep them on the counter in a bowl and when you have a bunch that have dried out - break them into pieces and grind them in the coffee grinder. Mix 2 parts baking soda to 1 part ground orange peel to 1/2 part borax (if you use borax - its just for brightening) and add some orange essential oil if you want a nice orangey scent. Keep it in a spice shaker.
DEGREASE KITCHEN CUPBOARDS 1 part vegetable oil, 1 part baking soda - use fingers or a toothbrush to get into all the crevices. wipe clean.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT: I used to make laundry detergent but it was using my time and my kids got rashes from the borax (and borax is an eye and lung irritant!). So now I use soap nuts. They are no mess, no fuss, and work GREAT! I don't use them exactly like they say. I just put 6-10 nuts in a bag (a zippered lingerie bag works great!) and wash away. When I notice that there seems to be less mass of nuts I add a few more. I literally use them until they are gone! You can also use soap nuts for lots of other cleaners but I haven't.
FABRIC SOFTENER: In the washer I use vinegar. You bet - just plain cheap white vinegar. It keeps odours down, and is a great softener!
Why use vinegar in your laundry?
I don't use dryer sheets - I've made felt balls and they work wonders! The only time I ever notice static is when I'm drying polar fleece blankets.
Here is how to make them! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkMbXVKLbtU
SPRAY CLEANER (kitchen, bathroom, windows): vinegar and water mixture - about 50-50 works well for most everything. If you don't like the smell or miss the smelly cleaners you can add essential oils or even baking extracts (my son loves the black licorice smell of anise extract). Does Vinegar Kill Germs?
WINDOW CLEANER: I use 50% vinegar solution with a Tbsp or two of 90% rubbing alcohol. Do not breathe the fumes. No rubbing alcohol isn't great but it helps to keep the windows streak free!
GREASE CUTTER SPRAY: Keep a mason jar on the counter near your garbage or compost and put all your orange peels into that. When the jar is packed, fill it with vinegar. Let it sit for 3-4 weeks and pour it off - discard the peels. (We do this around Christmas until we have 4-6 jars full, then just use the cleaner the rest of the year)
KITCHEN SCRUB (for counters, pots, sinks) Orange peels again! Keep them on the counter in a bowl and when you have a bunch that have dried out - break them into pieces and grind them in the coffee grinder. Mix 2 parts baking soda to 1 part ground orange peel to 1/2 part borax (if you use borax - its just for brightening) and add some orange essential oil if you want a nice orangey scent. Keep it in a spice shaker.
DEGREASE KITCHEN CUPBOARDS 1 part vegetable oil, 1 part baking soda - use fingers or a toothbrush to get into all the crevices. wipe clean.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT: I used to make laundry detergent but it was using my time and my kids got rashes from the borax (and borax is an eye and lung irritant!). So now I use soap nuts. They are no mess, no fuss, and work GREAT! I don't use them exactly like they say. I just put 6-10 nuts in a bag (a zippered lingerie bag works great!) and wash away. When I notice that there seems to be less mass of nuts I add a few more. I literally use them until they are gone! You can also use soap nuts for lots of other cleaners but I haven't.
FABRIC SOFTENER: In the washer I use vinegar. You bet - just plain cheap white vinegar. It keeps odours down, and is a great softener!
Why use vinegar in your laundry?
I don't use dryer sheets - I've made felt balls and they work wonders! The only time I ever notice static is when I'm drying polar fleece blankets.
Here is how to make them! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkMbXVKLbtU