You do not need strong chemicals to clean your home. You can make your own cleaning supplies very simply and quickly and with the satisfaction of knowing that they not only clean as well or better than store bought chemical cleansers but that they are safer for you and your environment as well.

How to make Non-toxic Cleaning Products Using Ingredients You Already Have
You can make all the cleaning supplies you need right in your own home. You probably already have most of the ingredients sitting in your pantry. The basic list of supplies needed to make an all-around cleaning kit include only a few items.
- Washing soda – this is a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner. It cuts through grease, removes wax, cleans petroleum oil and neutralizes odors.
- Baking soda – Sodium bicarbonate has been used for years as a cleaning and whitening agent. Used on a damp sponge it can be a gentle scouring agent that is abrasive enough to lift stains and remove grime and grit but not abrasive enough to scratch and damage surfaces. Add ½ cup of baking soda to your laundry to give your laundry detergent a boost helping it clean more effectively.
- White Distilled Vinegar – Is able to dissolve mineral deposits on cookware to bathroom fixtures. You can also spray it on shower curtains and shower walls to help with preventing mildew. Yes, vinegar has a strong smell but keep in mind that once the vinegar dries the smell dissipates.
- Any liquid soap or liquid detergent – This can be laundry detergent, liquid hand soap or liquid dish liquid. Look for one that is environmentally friendly without toxic chemicals.
- Tea Tree Oil – A natural antibacterial and antifungal essential oil.
- Containers for storing the cleaning products. A few spray bottles and some glass jars with lids should be sufficient.
- Sponges, cleaning cloths and gloves – for application of cleaning products and to protect your manicure.
How to make Non-toxic Cleaning Products Lower Your Cleaning Costs
The costs of traditional cleaning products can be astronomical. There is a product on the grocer’s shelf for any imagined area that might need cleaning. If you purchased a different product for everything you clean in your home you could spend hundreds of dollars each year simply to clean your home. By using products you already have in your home to make effective cleaning solutions you will not only be saving your hard earned money, you will also be cleaning with nontoxic and chemical free products that are safer for you, your family and even your pets.
How to make Non-toxic Cleaning Products Work for You
Using only the ingredients listed you should be able to effectively clean anything you need to clean in your home. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Soft abrasive scrubber – Combine about ½ cup of baking soda with enough liquid detergent to make a texture comparable to that of mashed potatoes or cake frosting. Using a sponge use this for cleaning the bathroom or kitchen fixtures including the tub, outside of the toilet, fixtures and kitchen counters and stovetops. It is also good to use for cleaning the inside and outside of the refrigerator.
- All-Purpose Cleaning Spray – In a spray bottle mix 2 cups of hot water with ½ teaspoon of washing soda and ½ teaspoon of liquid soap. These measurements do not have to be exact. Shake the bottle until the washing soda is dissolved.
- Mold and Mildew cleaner – Straight vinegar sprayed directly on the area will resolve this problem. Another idea that works beautifully is mixing 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water; spray onto the problem area and let it dry. Both of these, vinegar and tea tree oil do have strong odors but the smell does go away and so does the mold and mildew.
- Window cleaner – If you have been using commercial window cleaners to clean your mirrors and windows you should first clean them using a mixture of ½ teaspoon of liquid detergent, 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 cups of water mixed in a spray bottle. The liquid soap will help remove any built up residue commercial cleansers have left behind. After the initial cleaning you can omit the liquid detergent and use just the vinegar and water to get sparkling clean, streak free windows and mirrors.
These are just a few ideas to help you get started on making your own non-toxic cleaning solutions for your own home. With these simple environmentally safe products you can have a cleaner and healthier home for yourself and your loved ones.
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shyley. August 16th, 2010
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