Alternative Cleaning Products
Many household cleaners contain harsh chemicals that are unhealthy and unnecessary. As an alternative, try these do-it-yourself recipes - most of them are made up of common ingredients you already have in your home.
General Household Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon liquid soap (castile, peppermint)
- 1 teaspoon borax
- Squeeze of lemon
- 1 quart warm water
Instructions
Mix together and use in spray bottle, or dunk a cloth in a bucket of cleaner for large jobs.
Alternative Household Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup borax
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1 gallon water
Instructions
Mix together and use in spray bottle, or dunk a cloth in a bucket of cleaner for large jobs.
Disinfectant
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup borax
- 1/2 gallon hot water
Instructions
Mix together and use on surfaces you want to disinfect.
Oven Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 tablespoons salt
- Hot water, as needed to make a paste
Instructions
Apply paste to areas needing cleaning. Caution: Keep off wires/heating elements. Let paste sit for five minutes, then wipe clean with warm water.
Alternative Oven Cleaner
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons. liquid soap (castile, peppermint)
- 2 teaspoons borax
- 1 quart warm water
Instructions
Mix items together and spray on oven and wait 20 minutes. Wipe clean with cloth and warm water. For tough stains, scrub with very fine steel wool and baking soda.
Drain Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup borax
- 2 cups boiling water
Instructions
Pour borax down drain followed by hot water.
Alternative Drain Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 2 quarts boiling water
Instructions
Pour baking soda down drain and then pour vinegar down drain. Cover drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Follow with boiling water.
Another Alternative Drain Cleaner
Ingredients
- Boiling water
Instructions
Pour boiling water down drain and use a plumber's "snake" or plunger.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- Splash of vinegar
Instructions
Pour baking soda into toilet bowl and drizzle with vinegar. Let sit for hour. Scrub and flush. Add borax for stains if needed.
Sink, Tub and Tile Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
- 5 to 10 drops of antibacterial essential oil, such as lavender, tea tree or rosemary (optional)
Instructions
Pour baking soda into a medium size bowl. Add soap a little at a time, stirring continuously, until your mixture has begun to resemble frosting. Mix in drops of essential oil. Store in an airtight jar for up to a year.