Homemade Cleaners

Homemade cleaners are generally made from simple ingredients such as water, baking soda and white vinegar. Other things you probably already have around the house, like chemical-free dish soap and salt, can also come in handy for cleaning naturally.

I rarely use more than water for mopping my floors (though you might want to add 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water in order to remove grease)- in fact I am a big fan of plain water and just a bit of soap for cleaning many areas of the house.

When I need something abrasive, for the oven, sinks and bathtubs, for example, I use baking soda. Simply mix enough baking soda with water to make a paste, and you have a great "Softscrub" alternative.

Baking soda can also be sprinkled onto carpets before vacuuming, used to whiten laundry, and it can open up drains when combined with white vinegar.

Once I realized how great baking soda is for cleaning, I started buying large boxes so I always have it on hand.

Vinegar, hot water, and a bit of liquid soap can be used to clean tile and glass, and vinegar can be used as a toilet cleaner. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, you might want to add a few drops of natural essential oil, such as lemongrass or lavender, when you are using it.

Salt can also be used as an abrasive. It works well for cleaning pots and pans. Salt can also be used to absorb grease and prevent grease staining.

A combination of olive oil (1 cup) and vinegar or lemon juice (1/2 cup) works well for cleaning wood. Lemon juice can also be used to polish brass and copper.

2 cups water combined with 2 tsp. tea tree oil in a spray bottle works well as a mold/mildew killer in the shower. Vinegar can also kill mold.

Paper towels are not eco-friendly so use old dish towels and rags you can throw in the laundry for cleaning instead. "Green cleaning" with non-toxic ingredients will soon become second nature: this will save you money and benefit the health of your family and the environment, too!