Chemical Free Recipes for DYI Cleaning

Chemical Free Recipes for DIY Cleaning

Posted by Jodie

Before we get to the cleaning, let’s check out some of the most common (and most useful) non-toxic cleaning product

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a pantry staple with proven virus-killing abilities that also effectively cleans, deodorizes, brightens, and cuts through grease and grime .

Castile Soap

Castile soap is a style of soap that’s made from 100 percent plant oils (meaning it uses no animal products or chemical detergents).

Vinegar

Thanks to its acidity, vinegar is nothing short of a cleaning wunderkind—it effectively (and gently!) eliminates grease, soap scum, and grime.

Lemon Juice

Natural lemon juice annihilates mildew and mould , cuts through grease, and shines hard surfaces (It also smells awesome.).

Olive Oil

This good-for-you cooking oil also works as a cleaner and polisher.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have gained popularity thanks to aromatherapy,

but these naturally occurring plant compounds also make great scent additions to homemade cleaning products (particularly if you’re not into the smell of vinegar). Essential oils are generally considered safe, but these extracts can trigger allergies —so keep this in mind when choosing scents.

Borax

Many DIY cleaners tout Borax (a boron mineral and salt) as a non-toxic alternative to mainstream cleaning products; however, the issue is pretty hotly debated. Some research suggests Borax can act as a skin and eye irritant and that it disrupts hormones. For this list, we’ve chosen to avoid products that use Borax.

Cleaning Recipes for Every Surface

1. Toilets

For a heavy-duty toilet scrub that deodorises while it cleans, pour ½ cup of baking soda and about 10 drops of tea tree essential oil into the toilet. Add ¼ cup of vinegar to the bowl and scrub awaywhile the mixture fizzes.

For daily cleaning, fill a small spray bottle with vinegar (about 1 cup should do it) and a few drops of an essential oil of your choosing (lemon and tea tree both work well). Spray on the toilet seats, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe the surface clean.

2. Tub and Shower

Tubs and showers can produce some of the toughest grime, but it’s no match for the cleaning power of vinegar. To get rid of mildew, spray pure white vinegar on the offending area, let it sit for at least 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water (don’t be afraid

to use a sponge if rinsing doesn’t clear away the grossness on its own). Alternatively, try mixing together baking soda with a bit of liquid castile soa, then scrub and rinse.

For daily cleaning or to get rid of soap scum, mix 1 part water with 1 part vinegar (and a few drops of essential oils if you’re not into the smell of vinegar) in a spray bottle. Spray, let it sit for at least several minutes, and then wipe away.

3. Disinfectant

Skip the bleach and make a homemade germ-killer instead. Just mix 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap, and 20-30 drops of tea tree oil. Voila!

4. Air Freshener

Defeat less-visible bathroom “uncleanliness” with this homemade, non-toxic air freshener . All you need is baking soda, your favorite essential oil, and an old jar with a lid you don’t mind 
poking holes in (follow the link for full instructions).

5. Hand Soap

Once you’re done cleaning the bathroom, it’s time to make yourself clean (or at least your hands). To make a non-toxic, foaming hand soap , mix together liquid castille soap and water (and an essential oil if you feel like it) in a foaming soap dispenser. Fill about one fifth of the bottle with soap, then top it off with water.

6. Countertops

For a simple, all-purpose counter cleaner, , mix together equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. If your countertop is made from marble, granite, or stone, skip the vinegar (its acidity is no good for these surfaces) and use rubbing alcohole or the wondrous power of vodka  instead.

7. Cutting Boards

Talk about non-toxic: All that’s needed to clean and sanitize cutting boards  (wood or plastic) is… a lemon! Cut it in half, run it over the surfaces, let sit for ten minutes, and then rinse away. If you need some serious scrubbing power, sprinkle some coarse or Kosher salt over the board, and then rub with ½ a lemon.

8. Oven

To clean stubborn, caked-on food out of the oven , just heat the over to 125 degrees and grab your spray bottle of vinegar (see “counter tops” above). Once the oven is warm, spray the caked-on stuff until it’s lightly damp and then pour salt directly onto the affected areas. Turn off the oven, let it cool, and then use a wet towel to scrub away at the mess. If that doesn’t cut it, follow the same instructions but try use baking soda in place of salt (just let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing).

9. Garbage Disposal

This one is so cool. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into an ice cube tray and top off the slots with water. Once they’re frozen, toss a few down the disposal and let it run—doing so should remove any 
food that was stuck to the blades.

10. Microwave

It’s easy to overlook the microwave while cleaning, but man can it get gross in there. To combat the gunk , pour some vinegar into a small cup and mix in a little lemon juice (exact amounts don’t really matter). Put the cup in the microwave, let the microwave run for 2 minutes, and leave the door closed for several more minutes.

Finally, open the door and simply wipe down all the sides with a warm cloth or sponge—no scrubbing required!

11. Sink Drain

To unclog a stuffed-up drain , start by boiling about 2 cups of water. Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain, and then add the water while it’s still nice and hot. If that doesn’t do the trick, follow the baking soda with ½ cup of vinegar, cover it up tightly (a pot lid should work nicely), wait until the fizzing slows down (when baking soda and vinegar come in contact, they’ll react by fizzing) and then add one gallon of boiling water.

12. Pan De-Greaser

To cut through the grime on frying pans , simply apply some salt (no water necessary) and scrub vigorously.

13. Cast-Iron Pans

Kitchen professionals are pretty against using soap, steel wool, or dishwashers to clean cast-iron pans. Luckily, there’s an alternative way to tackle cast-iron grossness : combine olive oil and a teaspoon of coarse salt in the pan. Scrub with a stiff brush, rinse with hot water, and you’re done!

14. Dishwasher Detergent

If you’re lucky enough to have a dishwasher,simply mix together  1 cup of liquid castile soap and 1

cup of water (2 teaspoons of lemon juice optional) in a quart-size glass jar. Add some of this mixture to one detergent compartment of the dishwasher, and fill the other compartment with white vinegar.

15. Dish Soap

If washing dishes by hand,  simply combine 1 cup of liquid castile soap and 3 tablespoons water (a few drops of essential oil optional) in a bottle of your choice. Shake well and use like you would any other dish soap.

16. Refrigerator Cleaner

To clean what is perhaps the toughest of all kitchen “gross spots,” reach for the baking soda.  Add about ½ cup of the white stuff to a bucket of hot water. Dip a clean rag in the mixture and use it to wipe down the fridge’s insides.

17. Bleach

For serious disinfectant power, mix ½ cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon castile soap, and ½ teaspoon hydrogen peroxide. Use a cloth to apply the mixture to a wet surface, scrub, and then rinse thoroughly.

18. Laundry Detergent

It’s tough to come by homemade laundry detergents that don’t use Borax, but give this one a try.  The recipe calls for glycerin soap, washing soda, baking soda, citric acid, and coarse salt. For full instructions, follow the link!

19. Fabric Softener

Skip the liquid fabric softener and make clothes nice and snuggly  the non-toxic way. Make a big batch of softener by adding 20-30 drops of the essential oil of your choice to a one-gallon jug of white vinegar. Add 1/3 cup to each laundry load (just be sure to shake the mixture prior to each use).

20. Laundry “Scenter”

To add a fresh, clean scent to laundry, make a sachet  stuffed with your favorite dried herbs (lavender, peppermint, and lemon verbena are all great options). Toss it in the dryer while it’s in
use, and voila: customized, non-toxic scent!

21. Bleach

For a nontoxic laundry bleach alternative , add some lemon juice to the rinse cycle.

Everything Else

22. Floors

For a simple, effective tile floor cleaner , simply combine one part white vinegar with two parts warm water in a bucket. Use a mop or rag to scrub down the floors with the solution. No need to rinse off! (Note: this one’s not recommended for wood floors).

23. Walls

To scrub down walls , mix ¼ cup white vinegar with 1 quart warm water, then use a rag to scrub those walls down. To remove black marks , simply scrub at the spot with a little bit of baking soda.

24. Windows and Mirrors

For an all-purpose window cleaner , combine 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water (feel free to add some lemon juice if you’re feeling citrusy), then use a sponge or rag to scrub away.

25. Furniture Polish

For an all-purpose furniture polish, combine ¼ cup vinegar with ¾ cup olive

oil and use a soft cloth to distribute the mixture over furniture. For wood furniture (or as an alternative to the first recipe), combine ¼ cup lemon juice with ½ cup olive oil, then follow the same procedure.

26. Silver Cleaner

Put silver utensils and jewelry back to good use the non-toxic way . Line a sink or bucket with aluminum foil, lay out the silver on top of the aluminum, and pour in boiling water, 1 cup of baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Let it sit for several minutes and watch as—like magic—the tarnish disappears! Note: If you’re concerned about immersing a particular item, simply rub it with toothpaste and a soft cloth, rinse it with warm water, and allow it air to dry.

27. Wood Cleaner

Clean varnished wood by combining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and a quart of warm water in a spray bottle. Spray onto wood and then dry with a soft cloth. (Note: Since olive oil can leave behind some (slippery) residue, this one might not be the best option for wood floors.)

Jodie xxx