I don’t like buying cleaning supplies. Why do you ask?
1. Buying cleaning supplies even on sale is expensive
2. I don’t like all those nasty chemicals in cleaning supplies
3. Homemade cleaning supplies are SO easy to make
4. Homemade supplies saves me money
Here’s my shopping list for cleaning supplies:
1. Baking soda
2. White vinegar
3. Tea tree oil
4. Hydrogen peroxide
5. Rubbing alcohol
6. Dr. Bronner’s liquid Castile soap
7. Peppermint or lemon balm essential oil (or whatever scent you like)
8. 32 oz spray bottle (These are pretty cheap. Usually a dollar each or you could reuse an old bottle.)
All-Purpose Spray:
2 c. Water
1/2 c. Vinegar
3/4 c. Hydrogen peroxide
1 tsp. Castile soap
20 drops tea tree oil
20 drops essential oil
32 oz spray bottle
I got this recipe from the book “Gorgeously Green” by Sophie Uliano. Great book. I’ll do a more thorough book review soon. She also has a website at sophieuliano.com.
Disinfecting Spray:
32 oz spray bottle
3 c. Water
1/2 c. Rubbing alcohol
20 drops tea tree oil
I like to use this spray after cooking raw meat to make sure everything has been disinfected. Also, this spray works wonders for spraying down sports equipment. My husband’s hockey equipment smells horrible, but after using this spray it’s much better. And again, I don’t have to worry about those harsh chemicals.
I used to use Lysol spray before making my own cleaning supplies. One time our family got a bad cold and I figured it would be a good idea to spray down the door knobs with Lysol to disinfect the house. Much to my surprise, the Lysol ate off the finish to my new door knobs! If something is really that powerful, I don’t think I want it in my house.
Windows & Mirrors:
32 oz bottle
Half white vinegar
Half water
BTW… If you use coffee filters instead of paper towels to clean mirrors or windows, you won’t get any streaks and it’s cheaper! Pick up some coffee filters at the local dollar store today 🙂
Toilets:
Sprinkle some baking soda in the toilet bowl. Next spray with vinegar. Let it bubble and fizz for a few minutes. Then shrub with a toilet brush. If it’s really dirty and you have some stubborn stains, get a pumice toilet stone from the store. I got mine from the cleaning isle at Walmart. Finally, use the all-purpose spray to wipe down the seat and lid. Done!
Sinks:
Sprinkle with baking soda inside the sink. Next spray with vinegar. Let it bubble and fizz for a few minutes. Then use an old toothbrush and scrub. Disinfect with disinfecting or all- purpose spray. Rinse with water. Done!
Nifty Thrifty Nest 