Day 43: Home Cleaning Supplies

Dear Student,

Food was the obvious stuff to make from scratch… but had you considered the other things you buy at the grocery store…?

An important step in the move towards true self-sufficiency is being able to make your own cleaning supplies from commonly available ingredients. It sounds like an intimidating and difficult job, but, I assure you, it’s much easier than you think. And you likely already own most of the ingredients you’ll need.

Not only will your own creations be all-natural and better for the environment, but you’ll also save a ton of money by not buying expensive products that are little more effective than what you could easily make at home. Save even more money by bulk-buying the raw ingredients.

Plus, you can personalize your cleaning supplies recipes, adding your own preferred scents and making them more and less powerful as needed.

Most of these cleaning supplies are made from just a few everyday products, and you can avoid bringing toxic chemicals in your home if you make these yourself.

All-Purpose Cleaner And Deodorizer

6 tbsps baking soda

1 quart warm water

Dissolve the baking soda in the water and wipe out refrigerators, sinks, counter tops and appliances. Use a fresh batch every time.

Glass Cleaner

2 cups water

½ cup white or cider vinegar

¼ cup rubbing alcohol

1. Pour ingredients into an empty spray bottle.
2. Shake to mix.
3. Spray onto glass and shine with newspaper or a soft cotton cloth.

Disinfectant Wipes

1 cup water

¼ cup vinegar

6 drops lemon essential oil

6 drops tea tree oil

6 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Sealable container

20+ squares of scrap cloth (light cotton like a cut up old T-shirt works well)

1. Place the squares flat in the container.
2. Mix all ingredients well and pour into the container.
3. The essential oils, especially tea tree oil, have powerful antimicrobial properties.
4. Launder and reuse the cloth squares.

Oven Cleaner

Also a great recipe for removing burnt-on food from pots and pans.

½ cup baking soda

3 tbsps water

½ cup white vinegar

Spray bottle

1. Make a paste of the baking soda and water and spread over all interior oven surfaces. Leave overnight.
2. In the morning, spray vinegar at all the remaining baking soda spots until they fizz.
3. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Air Freshener

½ tsp essential oil of your choice

½ cup white vinegar

1½ cups water

Spray bottle

1. Combine in the spray bottle.
2. Shake and spray as needed.

Cleaning And Deodorizing Dishwasher Cleaner

2 cups white wine vinegar

Dishwasher-safe bowl

1. Place the vinegar in the bowl on the top shelf of the dishwasher.
2. Run a hot cycle. Removes odors and build-ups including lime scale.

Lime Scale Remover

For clogged showerheads and other places lime builds up.

2 cups white wine vinegar

1. If your showerhead can be screwed off the pipe, do so and submerge it in a container of vinegar and leave overnight.
2. If the showerhead cannot be removed, fill a small plastic bag with vinegar and tie or tape it over the shower head submerging the sprinkler head. Leave overnight.
3. The next day, remove from water and rinse thoroughly.
4. If still clogged, use a pin or narrow needle to remove blockages.

Scouring Powder

This is great for removing scum from baths or rust stains from sinks.

2 parts baking soda

1 part salt

1 part borax

1. Mix ingredients well.
2. Apply by dipping a wet sponge into the mixture and scrubbing.
3. Store in a sealable container to prevent moisture build up.

Dishwasher Detergent

1 cup salt

2 cups baking soda

2 cups borax

1 cup dish soap

1. Mix ingredients well.
2. Use 2 to 4 tablespoons per load.

Drain Cleaner/Unclogger

½ cup baking soda

½ cup white vinegar

1. Pour the baking soda down the drain, followed by the vinegar.
2. Leave for 15 minutes and then flush with hot water. The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar should dissolve fats and unclog the pipe.

Don’t use this cleaner if you have already poured commercial cleaners on this clog, as the vinegar could react with them and release dangerous gasses.

Mold Remover

1 part hydrogen peroxide

2 parts water

Spray bottle

1. Mix well.
2. Spray the mixture on the affected area.
3. Leave for one hour and wipe off.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

2 parts washing soda

2 parts borax

1 part bar soap (grated) or soap flakes (unscented)

1. Mix ingredients well.
2. Use a half-cup per load.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

½ cup borax

½ cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)*

½ cup dawn dish soap

4 cups hot water

Plastic container (sealable)

1. Use a funnel to pour all ingredients into the container.
2. Shake well before each wash.
3. Use a quarter-cup per load.

*If you can’t find washing soda, you can convert baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) into washing soda by spreading it on an oven sheet and cooking it in the oven at 400 °F for an hour.

Fabric Softener

1 gallon white vinegar

½ teaspoon essential oil of your choice

1. Mix well.
2. Use a half-cup per load.

Stain Remover

½ cup dish detergent

½ cup ammonia*

5 tbsps baking soda

1.5 cups warm water

Spray bottle

1. Pour ingredients into spray bottle.
2. Shake well before each use.
3. Spray onto the stain and let rest.
4. Launder as normal.

*Don’t use chlorine bleach with this stain remover, as it will react with the ammonia and could be dangerous.

Specific Types Of Stains:

Coffee and tea: Immediately pour boiling water over the stain. Alternatively, scrub with a solution of half borax and half water and rinse. Wash immediately.

Grass stains: Scrub with liquid soap or soak in a solution of half 3% hydrogen peroxide and half water, then wash.

Tomato stains: Scrub with white vinegar and wash immediately.

Red wine: Use a solution of half 3% hydrogen peroxide and half water to scrub and soak if needed, then wash.

Protein-based stains (blood, egg, urine, vomit, feces): Rinse in cold water (hot water will set the protein and smell into the fabric). Machine wash with a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide and a half-cup of baking soda.

Urine stains (mattresses and clothes):

8 oz hydrogen peroxide

3 tbsps baking soda

1 drop liquid handwashing soap

Spray bottle

1. Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and mix well.
2. Make a fresh batch every time, as the active ingredients denature and become inactive within 30 mins.

Wood Polish

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup lemon juice

1. Use a cloth to wipe the polish onto furniture

Silver Cleaner

Aluminum foil

Container to hold silverware

1 cup baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Hot water

1. Line a container with aluminum foil.
2. Fill with hot water and add ingredients.
3. Mix well.
4. Place silverware in hot water for five minutes or until tarnish vanishes.

Brass Cleaner (Non-Lacquered Brass)

White vinegar or lemon juice

Table salt

Sponge

1. Wet sponge lightly with vinegar or lemon juice and dip in the salt.
2. Rub over the brass.
3. Rinse completely and wipe dry with a cloth.

Aluminum Cleaner

1 part cream of tartar

8 parts water

1. Mix ingredients well.
2. Polish with a soft cloth.