Alright, I'm just going to come out and say it.
I love cleaning products. I love them.
 |
| Worth every penny. G FORCE is no joke. |
Thinking about the day I first used my Dyson still makes me misty.
I love cleaning products but I
hate the chemicals. It's hard to find pet friendly, eco-friendly, organic cleaning products that are worth the money. It's surprisingly easy to make them yourself.
Being the cleaning product geek I am, I took it upon myself to test several different recipes in order to find the best DIY cleaning products. My mission: use common household items that are pet and eco-friendly. Not all of my recipes are 100% organic, but I can guarantee you have everything you need to make them already at your disposal.
Let's get our Ms. Clean on, y'all.
Shower cleaner
What You'll Need
6 oz white vinegar
6 oz dish soap
1 spray bottle
1. Heat 6 oz. white vinegar in microwave-safe dish until very warm.
2. Pour heated white vinegar and dish soap into a spray bottle.
3. Shake.
You only need to heat the white vinegar the
first time you mix the solution. Do not reheat after use.
What I Learned
- This smells fantastic! Seriously -- unicorn fantastic.
- GREAT at removing soap scum. I was surprised at how thoroughly it cleaned the tub and walls.
- It's safe to use while you are in the shower -- yes, that means you can shower and clean the shower at the same time.
Homemade glass and window cleaner
What You'll Need
1 cup water
1/8 cup white vinegar
1/8 cup rubbing alcohol
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 spray bottle
1. Combine white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, water, and corn start into spray bottle.
2. Shake
You will need to shake this before each use. The corn starch will settle at the bottom of the bottle.
What I learned
- Doesn't drip and run. It ran a little bit, but not at the accelerated rate Windex seems to.
- Streak-free shine but may require one more 'coat' if the glass/mirror is really dirty.
- Did you know: you can use newspaper to clean glass and windows if you are out of paper towels.
Drain declogger
What You'll Need
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup table salt
1 cup white vinegar
Boiling water
1. Begin boiling a small pot of water.
2. Mix baking soda and salt. Pour baking soda and salt mixture down clogged drain.
3. Pour vinegar down clogged drain. This chemical reaction will cause bubbling and gurgling noises.
4. Once water has boiled, pour down drain.
DO NOT TOUCH the pipes for at least 30 minutes under the sink. Boiling water is HOT and WILL BURN YOU.
What I Learned
- Pour the boiling water SLOWLY. I poured mine all at once and it was almost too much for the pipe to take.
- You don't have to use all of the baking soda/salt mixture. I used too much and it caused a mini-explosion when I added the white vinegar. Don't get me wrong-- it was AWESOME -- but it scared the shit out of me.
- It really works.
Bathroom and kitchen spray
What You'll Need
1 spray bottle
White vinegar, undiluted
1. Fill spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar
2. Spray on counter tops, sinks, ovens, stoves, toilets, floors ... anything you want to disinfect.
Although the smell isn't the greatest, white vinegar is an organic disinfectant that is safe to use on all hard surfaces. It's great if you don't want to use harsh chemicals around food.
What I Learned
- After the vinegar dries, the smell goes away.
- White vinegar also acts as a deodorizer.
Please try out my recipes and let me know how you liked them.
What are some of your favorite homemade cleaning products? Share in the comments below.
