Homemade Green Cleaning Recipes

This post is for everyone that wants to make their own cleaning supplies, I decided to make a list of the items I have found. I have not used all of these yet. But I wanted to write them down to have them all in one place. So if you try these or have already tried any of these. 

 

Cleaning Wipes

Use a round plastic container, drill hole in lid about 1/2 inch, get an ex large roll of good paper towels cut in half to make two small rolls (leave plastic covering on while doing this, electric knife works best doing this)! Place one of the small rolls in plastic container save the other for later as a refill.

Cleaning solutions

General Surface Cleaning

1 1/2 cups white vinegar 

1 1/2 cups water Window and Glass Cleaning

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol 

2 1/2 cups water 

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Which ever one you pick or if you decided to use other half of paper towel roll in separate container. Pour one solution on top of the roll in the container. Place lid on container, allow paper towels to absorb the solution for 4 hours to overnight. Open storage container and take out the wet cardboard tube from the center of the paper towel roll and toss. Now thread the inside of the paper towel roll where the card board was through the hole in the lid and close lid. After awhile paper towels may dry out, if so add more of the solution and let sit overnight before using again! 

Homemade Veggie Wash

1 tablespoon lemon juice to 2 tablespoons of baking soda with one cup of water. Put mixture in spray bottle. Wash veggies and fruits all them to sit for a few minutes then wipe. You can also use this mixture to let kids help clean kitchen (play only)!

 Homemade Spray Cleaner

Mix in spray bottle 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup water use in kitchen and bathrooms. Allow to stand 10-15 min on shower walls before scrubbing then rinse! Furniture PolishMix in spray bottle 1 cup olive oil 1/2 cup lemon juice Shake well spray small amount onto cleaning cloth. Clean and sharpen Garbage DisposalAdd ice cubes into disposal along with lemon juice and turn it on and let it sharpen and clean away! 

No-Wax Floor Cleaner

1 cup vinegar to a gallon of water Wood Panel Cleaner

1/2 cup olive oil

 1/2 cup vinegar 

2 cups warm water 

Wash with a soft cloth and then dry.

Wood floor cleaner

Quarter cup of Apple Cider Vinegar to a Gallon of water 

To Remove Stickers. Moisten with vinegar and let it sit for about 10 minutes and then remove Spills on CarpetSoak up as much as the spill as you can. Spray mixture of half vinegar and half water. Let sit for 2 minutes then blot. Repeat if needed. 

For Persistent Stains on Carpet (after you try the above Carpet Cleaning)

Use a mixture of 1 teaspoon vinegar 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap and 1 cup warm water. Clean windowsSpray half vinegar and half water, wipe clean Glass Cleaner II
CLUB SODA! 

If you're not a big fan of the vinegar used in many glass cleaning recipes, use either flat or fresh club soda. Works FANTASTICALLY at getting your glass and windows sparkling clean, and it's a frugal option too. Just pour it into a spray bottle and use as you would any glass cleaner.

Clean Silver, Pewter, Copper, or Brass

Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in one cup of water. Add flour to create a past (1/4 cup or more) Apply the paste to the metal item and let stand for at least 15 min. Rinse with warm water and polish with soft cloth. 

Build up on faucets

Use mixture of one part salt to four parts vinegar.

Help prevent mildew on shower curtain

Spray with vinegar.

Clean Pipes and Clogs

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup vinegar 

Let mixture bubble and then rinse with warm water. Do not use on garbage disposals. 

Microwave Cleaner

1/2 cup vinegar 

1 cup water place in microwave safe bowl and cook in microwave till it starts to boil. Then scrub clean. 

Coffee and Tea Stains on China

Use mixture of vinegar and salt 

Clean Sponges

Soak in water with lemon juice and vinegar, microwave for 1 1/2 minute (keep wet or the will burn) 

Bleach Alternative

1/2 cup (3 percent) hydrogen peroxide in the rinse cycle. or 1/2 cup lemon juice in the rinse cycle. Hang clothes in sun, sun is a natural bleacher. 

Hand Sanitizer Gel

1/2 cup aloe vera gel 

1/4 cup 99% rubbing alcohol 

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon fragrance oil, optional

Mix ingredients together.Pour into a pump-style bottle or a squeeze bottle.Use a quarter sized dollop and rub hands together. Wipe residue off of hands with a paper towel.

Garbage Can Deodorizing

1 teaspoon tea tree oil

1 cup baking soda 

Mix and work out all the lumps with a fork. Sprinkle in bottom of pail after liner is removed.

Daily Shower Cleaner 

In a 32 oz spray bottle, pour in 8 oz of rubbing alcohol, then top it off with water. After spray the walls and shower curtain. You won't have to rinse.

Cleaning your Coffee Maker with Vinegar

Pour a few cups of plain white vinegar into your coffeemaker (withOUT any coffee grounds) and let the machine run through as usual. Then run through with plain water to get entirely rid of any lingering vinegar. The acidic vinegar will work fantastically well to clean your coffeemaker from the inside out.

Antiseptic Spray with Tea Tree Oil

3 tablespoons liquid soap

20-30 drops tea tree oil 2 cups water

Mix in spray bottle and apply. Uses natural tea tree oil - a fantastic natural antiseptic!
Automatic Dishwasher Soap1/2 cup liquid Castile soap 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 3 drops tea tree extract (or oil) 1/4 cup white vinegar Store in squeeze bottle. Use 2 tablespoons per wash in a standard size dishwasher. Do not substitute conventional liquid soap for the Castile unless it is a 'low sudsing' soap. Regular soaps will produce too many suds and overflow the dishwasher. Dishwasher RiseUse 1 teaspoon corn starch in the rinse cycle. All comes out clean & crystal clear. Or just use white vinegar.

Oven cleaner
Ketchup, yeap plain old ketchup!

Make homemade cleaning products antibacterial, add a few drops of tea tree oil.

Stain Remover for Clothes

1/4 Cup Borax or Washing Soda

2 Cups Cold Water

Sponge on and let dry, or soak the fabric in Borax mixture before washing in soap and cold water. You can also use these products alone to remove stains: Plain White 

Vinegar Hydrogen Peroxide Fels Naptha Castile Soap

Try also a cream of tartar and water paste for stains. Rub on the spots, allow too dry, and wash as usual.

Laundry Softener

2 Cups White Vinegar 

2 Cups Baking Soda 

4 Cups Water 

Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz. Pour into plastic bottle, cover, and shake. *Hint - Reuse your "Downy" bottle. Use 1/4 cup in the final rinse or in a "Downy Ball".Or just use plain oh white vinegar!

Homemade air/fabric freshener spray 9 (Makes enough for a 16 oz bottle)

1 c. vinegar 

1 c. water

1/2 tsp vegetable glycerine

 1/2 tsp essential oil of your choice 

 
Place in a spray bottle and shake well. The glycerine emulsifies the E.O.  so it doesn’t sit on top of the water. You can double this recipe for a 32 oz bottle. Vinegar is suppose to be excellent for smoke odors too.

Laundry Detergent

Recipe 1

I have been using, 1/2 cup to 1 cup baking soda to wash our clothes...and I use white vinegar in downy ball to the line...that's it...works great!! Use peroxide in the wash or mix a paste of baking soda and peroxide and let it set on the stain..this is a poormans oxyclean!

I will also list some other recipes though.

Recipe 2

2 gallons hot water, one bar soap grated (use Fals-Naptha, Ivory, Sunlight, Castile or Zote all bar soaps no heavy perfume bar soaps), 2 cups baking soda

Melt grated soap on saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium low heat, stir frequently until soap is melted. Then add the baking soda, stir well. Use 1/2 cup per full load or 1 cup for very soiled load.

Recipe 3

12 cups grated castile soap 

12 cups boiling water 

1 cup baking soda 

2 teaspoons of lavender essential oil or oil of your choice.

In a large 2 gallon stainless pan, mix soap and water. Simmer for 15 minutes, stir often. Add the rest of ingredients, cool and use 1 cup for each load. This also works well for general cleaning. Make sure to use the vinegar in the rinse with this one.

Fresh Carpet Mix

2 cups of baking soda 

1-2 drops of essential oil

Mix the baking soda and the essential oil drop/s together. Be sure that it is very well mixed. Since you will only be using one to two drops of essential oil, the mixture does not get much damper than regular baking soda. Simply sprinkle the mixture on your rugs and carpets. Let set for a few minutes and vacuum up the mixture. 

Again, remember I have not tried all of these, so I cannot say they all work well, leave me a comment and let me know. I do not take credit for these recipes, I got them all of the net! And I will keep you posted on what I find when I try the all! :)

Source: http://www.wellsphere.com/parenting-article/homemade-green-cleaning-recipes/542210