Helpful questions to ask yourself about items:
Have I used this item in the past year?
Has anyone else in my home used it in the past year?
Do I have a definite use for this in the foreseeable future?
If its broken, is it worth fixing?
Does this item serve a worthwhile purpose in my life?
Do I need to keep it for legal or tax purpose?
Is it more important to me to keep this item than to have the space it occupies?
Do I love it?
Does someone in my household love it?
Would it be difficult or expensive to get another one if I/we needed it?
When your house has less items cluttering up your home its easier to clean, organize and to find things when you want them. You might be surprised to find you own multiple of an item because you couldn't find it so you bought a new one.
Showing posts with label Cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cleaning. Show all posts
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Homemade Cleaning Products
I like making my own cleaning products. I have also done a lot of looking into other natural cleaners. Some of these recipes I have tried and use. Other I have as of yet not tried.
Dishwasher Detergent:
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup Kosher Salt
1/4 cup Citric Acid (or 2 pkg lemon unsweetened Kool-Aid)
Mix all ingredients well. Place 1 tbsp in both detergent spots. For added anti microbial benifits you can add a few drops of tea tree oil to each compartment. (I also use vinegar as a rinse agent)
All-Purpose Cleaner
1 tsp vegetable oil based Laundry Detergent
1 tsp Borax
2 tbsp White Vinegar
1 qt Hot Water
Herbal Cleaning Solution
Steep 1 cup of herbs in 3 cups of boiled water overnight; in morning, strain out the herbs & add to 1 gallon of hot water. Also add 1 cup cider vinegar & 2 tbsp liquid soap.
Recommened herbs: agrimony, angelica, bay, cinnamon, cloves (1/2), coriander seed, lavender, pennyroyal, peppermint, rosemary, & thyme.
Glass Cleaner
(my favorite formula)
1/4 cup plain vinegar
2 cups water
1/2 tsp liquid soap
Mix well in spray bottle
Formula#2
Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to a 16 oz spray bottle & fill the rest of the bottle with warm water.
Formula#3
Combine 1 cup rubbing (70% isopropal) alcohol, 1 cup water, & 1 tbsp white vinegar in a 12 oz spray bottle.
Wall Cleaner
Dissolve 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon warm water. Stir in 1/2 tbsp ammonia.
Instead of ammonia I used 2 cups lavender herbal water. From what I saw it worked pretty good.
Wood Clean & Polish Solution
Mix 1/2 tsp olive oil & 1/2 cup vinegar or lemon juice in a spray bottle. Shake well. Spray onto a microfiber or flannel cloth & use cloth to clean & polish wood.
I found using 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 lemon juice & a few drops lavender essential oil made it smell okay.
Tub & Tile Cleaner
Formula #1- Mix 1 2/3 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid, & 1/2 cup water. Then add 2 tbsp white vinegar. Apply, scrub, & rinse.
Formula #2- Combine 1/4 cup borax & 1/4 cup baking soda. Add 1 1/2 cups hot water & stir until mixed. Apply, scrub, & rinse.
Nontoxic Bug Spray
Mix 3 tbsp liquid peppermint Castille soap with 16 oz water in spray bottle. Spray directly on ants, spiders, & cockroaches to kill them.
Soft Scrub
Mix baking soda and dish soap into a paste consistency. Make as needed. Does not store well.
Natural Disinfectant Cleaner
15 drops Grapefuit Seed Extract
2 cups Warm Water
Pour solution into spray bottle. Double the amount of grapefruit seed extract to create a super-strength cleaner for extreme jobs.
*Grapefruit seed extract prevents the spread of E. coli, straphylococcus, streptococcus, & many others.
Other Disinfectant
Spray a mist of hydrogen peroxide (3%) onto the surface and then spray a mist of vinegar. Allow to sit for a few minutes then wipe with a paper towel or cloth.
Cleaning Tips
-After spraying on a cleaning product wait a few minutes to allow the product to do its job.
-To disinfect sponges: Place damp sponges in the microwave & "cook" them on high for 1 min. Do NOT microwave Dry sponges! They can catch fire.
-To ease cleaning your microwave place 1 cup vinegar in a microwave safe bowl and cook on high for 5 min. Then you can easily clean the inside. This also helps deodorize as well.
-For burnt on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, then add hot water. Let soak overnight.
I have future plans to make my own laundry detergent and herbal rinse. Since I'm not exactly sure on the recipe I will share later.
Dishwasher Detergent:
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup Kosher Salt
1/4 cup Citric Acid (or 2 pkg lemon unsweetened Kool-Aid)
Mix all ingredients well. Place 1 tbsp in both detergent spots. For added anti microbial benifits you can add a few drops of tea tree oil to each compartment. (I also use vinegar as a rinse agent)
All-Purpose Cleaner
1 tsp vegetable oil based Laundry Detergent
1 tsp Borax
2 tbsp White Vinegar
1 qt Hot Water
Herbal Cleaning Solution
Steep 1 cup of herbs in 3 cups of boiled water overnight; in morning, strain out the herbs & add to 1 gallon of hot water. Also add 1 cup cider vinegar & 2 tbsp liquid soap.
Recommened herbs: agrimony, angelica, bay, cinnamon, cloves (1/2), coriander seed, lavender, pennyroyal, peppermint, rosemary, & thyme.
Glass Cleaner
(my favorite formula)
1/4 cup plain vinegar
2 cups water
1/2 tsp liquid soap
Mix well in spray bottle
Formula#2
Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to a 16 oz spray bottle & fill the rest of the bottle with warm water.
Formula#3
Combine 1 cup rubbing (70% isopropal) alcohol, 1 cup water, & 1 tbsp white vinegar in a 12 oz spray bottle.
Wall Cleaner
Dissolve 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon warm water. Stir in 1/2 tbsp ammonia.
Instead of ammonia I used 2 cups lavender herbal water. From what I saw it worked pretty good.
Wood Clean & Polish Solution
Mix 1/2 tsp olive oil & 1/2 cup vinegar or lemon juice in a spray bottle. Shake well. Spray onto a microfiber or flannel cloth & use cloth to clean & polish wood.
I found using 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 lemon juice & a few drops lavender essential oil made it smell okay.
Tub & Tile Cleaner
Formula #1- Mix 1 2/3 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid, & 1/2 cup water. Then add 2 tbsp white vinegar. Apply, scrub, & rinse.
Formula #2- Combine 1/4 cup borax & 1/4 cup baking soda. Add 1 1/2 cups hot water & stir until mixed. Apply, scrub, & rinse.
Nontoxic Bug Spray
Mix 3 tbsp liquid peppermint Castille soap with 16 oz water in spray bottle. Spray directly on ants, spiders, & cockroaches to kill them.
Soft Scrub
Mix baking soda and dish soap into a paste consistency. Make as needed. Does not store well.
Natural Disinfectant Cleaner
15 drops Grapefuit Seed Extract
2 cups Warm Water
Pour solution into spray bottle. Double the amount of grapefruit seed extract to create a super-strength cleaner for extreme jobs.
*Grapefruit seed extract prevents the spread of E. coli, straphylococcus, streptococcus, & many others.
Other Disinfectant
Spray a mist of hydrogen peroxide (3%) onto the surface and then spray a mist of vinegar. Allow to sit for a few minutes then wipe with a paper towel or cloth.
Cleaning Tips
-After spraying on a cleaning product wait a few minutes to allow the product to do its job.
-To disinfect sponges: Place damp sponges in the microwave & "cook" them on high for 1 min. Do NOT microwave Dry sponges! They can catch fire.
-To ease cleaning your microwave place 1 cup vinegar in a microwave safe bowl and cook on high for 5 min. Then you can easily clean the inside. This also helps deodorize as well.
-For burnt on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, then add hot water. Let soak overnight.
I have future plans to make my own laundry detergent and herbal rinse. Since I'm not exactly sure on the recipe I will share later.
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