Recipe for a Toxin-Free Kitchen: 10 Homemade Kitchen Cleaners
Awesome website:
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/04/recipe-for-a-toxin-free-kitchen-10-homemade-kitchen-cleaners.html
Written by Erin Odom, Contributing Writer
1. Homemade Liquid Dish SoapConventional dish soaps can contain phthalates, which can lead to reduced sperm count in men and possibly even liver cancer (source).
Ingredients
1/2 cup liquid castile soap (unscented or whatever your favorite scent is…I like using tea tree for the added antibacterial properties.)
1/8 cup water
4 drops essential oil scent of choice (I use orange, as I make this into a citrus soap.)
1 tsp. homemade all-purpose citrus cleaner (1tsp. of vinegar can be an alternate here–but I simply LOVE my homemade citrus cleaner, and I always have it on hand. It also makes for a nice addition to this citrus soap.)
Directions:
Simply mix everything together and store it in an old liquid dish soap bottle! Use as you would store-bought liquid dish soap.
2.Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe 1
1 cup salt
2 cups borax
2 cups baking soda
1 cup Lemi-Shine (found in the detergent aisle)
Mix well and store in airtight container. Use two tablespoons per load (1 in each compartment) with white vinegar in the rinse compartment.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe 2
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
1 cup Lemi-Shine (found in the detergent aisle)
Mix well and store in airtight container. Use two tablespoons per load (1 in each compartment) with white vinegar in the rinse compartment.
3. Homemade Foaming Liquid Hand Soap
Ingredients
■1/2 cup liquid castile soap (unscented or whatever your favorite scent is…I like using tea tree for the added antibacterial properties.)
■1/8 cup water
■4 drops essential oil scent of choice (I use orange, as I make this into a citrus soap.)
■1 tsp. homemade all-purpose citrus cleaner (1tsp. of vinegar can be an alternate here–but I simply LOVE my homemade citrus cleaner, and I always have it on hand. It also makes for a nice addition to this citrus soap.)
Directions:
Simply mix everything together and store it in an old liquid dish soap bottle! Use as you would store-bought liquid dish soap.
4. Homemade All-Purpose CleanerIngredients:
Recycled Glass containers
Orange peels (Or any other citrus fruit peels. This makes it smell great plus it adds cleaning power.)
1-2 TBS Salt (any kind)
Vinegar
Water
Essential oil (optional-I didn't use it with this batch)
Step One: Cut orange peels (I had these frozen from when I made orange juice) and fill any empty glass containers you have on hand (I'm crazy about saving ALL glass containers). If you don't have glass containers you can fill any containers that you have.
Step Two: Add some salt to the orange peels and let them sit for 20-30 minutes (or longer). This will pull the oils from the peels and ultimately make your cleaning solution stronger. You only need enough salt to lightly cover the peels.
Step Three: Fill the containers with vinegar and water. Next time I am going to do 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water because my solution smelled a tad bit too much like vinegar.
Step Four: Let the solution sit and be pretty for 2-3 weeks. The longer it sits the better. They make a great conversation starter too!
Step Five: Strain the solution and fill a squirt bottle with your natural
Orange cleaner
5. Homemade Disinfectant WipesSquares of cloth – I cut up one old white t-shirts
Water
Castile Soap
Tea Tree Oil
White Vinegar
some kind of container
· First,Take old white t-shirts and cut it up into squares. I got 24 wipes, some small and some bigger, out of one t-shirt. I’ll probably cut up another t-shirt just to make sure I have enough wipes on hand at all times.
· Then, I put them in a disposable baby wipe container that I kept to use for something like this. I didn’t fold them or make them look organized, I just threw them in the container.
· I mixed about a cup or so of water with a good squirt of castile soap, a few drops of tea tree oil, and some white vinegar. I didn’t measure, I just used a little of each, mixed it up, and poured the solution over the wipes.
Both tea tree oil and vinegar have disinfecting qualities and the castile soap is just for a little extra cleaning power. The tea tree oil and castile soap cover up any smell of vinegar.
6. Homemade Oven Cleaner
For really big jobs, you might consider a cleaning stone (also called a pumice stick or scouring stick). These are 100% natural scouring stones (shaped in a block or stick) that safely scour away even the worst build-up. They are safe for most ovens, although you may want to check your ovens’ owners manual to be sure. Just a little water and one of these blocks and you will see a sparkly new side to your oven that you forgot existed!
Another popular option is to generously sprinkle baking soda (that amazing household wonder) all over the surfaces of the oven interior, then spray it with water or vinegar. Allow it to sit overnight, then wipe clean in the morning. You may have to scrub a little, or repeat the process, until the job is done. My sister actually combines water and baking soda in a spray bottle, sprays it all over her oven surfaces, and then proceeds to use her oven. She says the heat makes all the dirt flake off with the baking soda, so when her oven cools down after baking, she just wipes it down.
If your mess is not a serious one, my favorite method is the citrus method. All you have to do is place some citrus peels (limes and lemons work particularly well) in a shallow pan and cover them with water. Place them in the oven at 350F for about 20-25 minutes (No longer or your peels will burn. Don’t ask me how I know.), then turn the oven off and allow it to cool. As soon as you can scrub at it without burning yourself, wipe away the grease with a rag or sponge.
Once your oven is clean, you will want to keep it that way! Place a large piece of aluminum foil under the coils on the bottom to catch any drips, and replace it regularly. The aforementioned citrus method is also great for oven maintenance – periodically do a citrus cleanse on your oven after you’ve baked (while the oven is still hot).
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2011/03/better-cheaper-safer-4-way-soft-scrubber.html
7. Homemade Natural Ant Killer
Best Homemade Natural Ant Killer
To make your own, you need borax, sugar, and water. That’s it.
Combine 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of Borax, and ½ cup of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for three minutes. Let it cool completely. It will thicken as it cools.
http://www.stacymakescents.com/homemade-ant-bait
8. Homemade Green Drain Cleaner
What you’ll need:
3 Tablespoons baking soda (bread soda)
1/4 cup white vinegar
Sprinkle the baking soda down the drain, and pour the vinegar on top so it bubbles. Let it sit for an hour, then rinse with boiling water. I use one kettle full of boling water, but you can use more/less if needed. You may find that the drain seems smellier after rinsing, especially if this is the first time you’ve cleaned it like this. Flush it with more boiling water, and if that doesn’t do the trick, just repeat the whole process.
9. Homemade Produce WashHow To Make Fruit & Vegetable Wash
Posted By Tipnut http://tipnut.com/produce-wash/print/
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 TBS baking soda
2 TBS lemon juice
Directions:
Mix ingredients then pour in clean spray bottle. Spray fresh produce generously. Sit for 5 minutes then rinse off well.
Note: Make sure to first mix ingredients in deep container since there will be some fizzing from the baking soda & vinegar.
There are also these tips and recipes to try:
*Make sure the sink is thoroughly cleaned or use a plastic dishpan just for this purpose
Sprinkle items with baking soda then gently scrub and rinse. This cleaning method safely removes dirt and residue. Mentioned previously on this page: 50 Quick Tips For The Kitchen [1].
A mix of 50/50 vinegar and water sprayed on fresh produce also works as a good cleaner. Let sit for a few minutes before washing off.
Add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar for every sinkful of water (standard size). Soak items for a minimum of 15 minutes before rinsing off and preparing.
Parasite buster: Add 1/2 teaspoon of chlorine bleach per sinkful of water and soak items for 30 minutes. Rinse then soak in clear water for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Add 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide (3%) per gallon of water and soak items for 20 minutes. Rinse then soak in clear water for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Residue cleaner: Add a few drops of your favorite liquid dish detergent (for handwashing dishes) to water, soak items for a few minutes then scrub and rinse well under clear running water.
Arrange fresh fruit and veggies in the sink then fill with water. For every gallon (16 cups) of water used, add 4 drops of grapefruit seed extract and an 1/8 cup of salt. Soak for a minimum of 10 minutes then rinse in clear water.
Fresh Produce Soak:
1/2 cup vinegar
3 TBS salt
Mix ingredients to dissolve salt then add to sinkful of water (stir to mix). Soak items for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove, pat dry.
Did You Know: You should wash the outsides of melons before cutting through them? If you don’t, the knife will drag the pesticides/dirt/bacteria from the outside rind into the fruit as you cut. The outside of melons can carry some seriously nasty cooties. See Melons: Safe Handling Practices for Consumers [2] (pdf).
10. Homemade Soft Scrub
Better, Cheaper, Safer 4-Way Soft-Scrubber
2 to 3-cup food storage container
1 1/2 cups baking soda (more or less as needed)
1/2 cup environmentally safe liquid laundry detergent or soap (i.e., Trader Joe’s Next to Godliness or Costco's Ecos are several; or use your own homemade liquid laundry soap)
Optional: Add 10 drops of GSE (Grapefruit seed extract) for additional disinfecting power (or use 10 drops of tea tree or lavender or rosemary essential oil for the same effect)
To Make: Place 1/2 cup laundry detergent in a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup baking soda and stir to combine (or use a rotary beater to quickly combine). Keep adding baking soda until mixture is the consistency of cake frosting. If needed, add a little water to achieve the right consistency. Transfer mixture to container. Keep container tightly closed. If mixture begins to dry, add in a little water and stir.
To use: Scoop out a little soft scrub onto a clean, damp rag. Scrub sink and faucets. Rinse. Use a clean dry cloth to dry and shine the sink and chrome faucets to a sparkling gleam.