Top 4 Ingredients needed to make Homemade Cleaners!
I think it’s about time we get back to the basics when it comes to cleaning. I’ve walked the cleaning isle in the grocery store and I am amazed at how many different items there are to clean every aspect of your home. I mean Really?! There must be a lot of money tied up in the cleaning business and it shows!
Part of taking back my American Dream is living the simple life and lets start with something we do on a daily basis… Cleaning!
Here are the Top 4 Ingredients you will need to make your home shine!
1. Baking soda: This is the TOP ingredient you should always on hand. You can make it into a paste and use it as a soft abrasive cleaner, or you can use it to sprinkle on your carpet as a great deodorizer!
2. Lemons (or other citrus fruits): Citrus fruits have an amazing antibacterial property. They are great for cleaning things like your garbage disposal (just cut one up and place it in your disposal and turn it on), or to add the juices to baking soda or vinegar based cleaners to have a fresh lemon scent.
3. White vinegar: This baby is like the holy grail of homemade cleaners. White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. You can use it as a general purpose cleaner, window cleaner, and even a pet deodorizer. Add a cap full to your carpet washer and it will help remove even the toughest pet odors!
4. Tea tree oil: This essential oil is another way that you can disinfect your home. It makes a great addition to keep your toilet germ free. Just add a few drops then add baking soda and vinegar. Let it set for 10 minutes, scrub and flush! You can find this little friend at most of your local health food stores. You may also be able to find it at local grocery stores as well.
- Shine Chrome sink fixtures
- Clean countertops
- Clean and Deodorize a drain
- Deodorize a garbage disposal
- Clean the microwave: mix 1/2 cup vinegar & 1/2 cup water, boil and wipe clean! Baked on food will loosen and odors will disappear!
- Remove soap buildup and odors from your dishwasher: Simply pour 1 full cup on vinegar in an empty dishwasher and run a complete cycle. Do this once a month.
- Ice Tray Dispenser hard water build up: Remove the tray of your ice dispenser and soak it overnight in a baggie filled with vinegar and wipe away in the morning! Hard water stains will melt away!
- Get rid of those pesky fruit flies: keep a small dish on vinegar on the counter
- Remove a sticky label by soaking it in vinegar
- Kitchen Degreaser: Use it on your cooking surfaces, ovens, exhausts fans and more!
- Clean Grout: scrub with full strength vinegar and let it set for a few minutes and wipe away
- Kills germs on door knobs by spraying full strength vinegar and wipe away (I do this after anyone is sick in our home)
- Clean baby toys in a vinegar and soap water
- Deodorize Trash Cans
- Refresh carpets by shaking a bit of baking soda over your carpet before you vacuum!
- Clean walls by adding a bit of baking soda to a sponge! This even removes crayon stains!
- Freshen up those gym bags by dusting baking soda on it directly
- Freshen up those shoes by adding baking soda directly in the soles and let it set overnight, shake out in the morning
- Keep a box of Baking soda in closets and refrigerators to trap lingering odors (be sure to swap it out monthly)
- Clean your produce by dusting some baking soda directly on fresh fruits and veggies
- Remove tea and coffee stains by soaking teapots or coffee mugs in 1/4 cup baking soda to 1 quart warm water overnight before washing.
- Laundry booster: add a cup of baking soda to your laundry to brighten colors!
- Wash your car with baking soda! Mix 1/4 cup with 1 quart of warm water and use it to clean the chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats and floor mats without leaving a scratch!
- Clean your child’s stuffed animals by sprinking them with baking soda. Let them sit for about 15 minutes and dust off!
- Shampoo booster! Grab a teaspoon full of baking soda. add your favorite shampoo and scrub away the residue left from styling products.
Keep it Simple my Friends!
