Non-toxic home care

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.

SOFT SCRUB CLEANSER RECIPE

You can use this cleaner really anywhere in your house. Common places include the tub, bathroom sink or on kitchen counters. It also works well on floors and garbage cans – basically on any surface that becomes greasy or grimy.

Ingredients:
1 clean Mason jar with lid
3 1/3 cups baking soda
1 cup of liquid soap
1 cup water
4 tablespoons vinegar

Instructions:
Mix baking soda and liquid soap in your jar. Dilute with the water and add the vinegar last. Stir until the lumps are gone. If it's too thick, add more water. Keep the lid on the jar because this mixture will dry out. Stir or shake well before using. For future uses, add more water if cleaner seems dry.

GLASS CLEANSER RECIPE

Ingredients:
2 cup white distilled vinegar
2 cup distilled water
6 drops essential oil of your choice

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together. Pick an oil you'd like, or just skip.

Non-toxic formulas here.

Cute label download here.

Stain Remover

For stains that don’t go away after trying other stain removers, here is what works for practically anything:

1. Heat up some water in a big pot on the stove. Make it hot, but not boiling.
2. Add 2 scoops of an oxygen base cleaner and a small squirt of liquid dish detergent.
3. Put the clothes in the pot and cover it with the lid.
4. Soak for 4-6 hours, or more if needed.
5. Wash clothes as usual in the washing machine.

Tip!  The generic brand of oxygen cleaner at the dollar store works just as well as OxyClean.  It’s the same thing.

 

I like that it doesn’t fade colors (but it wouldn’t hurt to test a small spot first, just to make sure).  It can remove the yellow storage stains from vintage linens.  It can even help to lighten perspiration stains.  I’m not kidding, I tried it.

Not sure who shared this with me.

Homemade Carpet Spot Cleaner

Homemade Carpet Spot Cleaner

4 cups warm water
1/2 cup vinegar
2-3 Tablespoons baking soda

Add the vinegar and baking soda to the warm water in a large bowl. Stir slightly and watch it fizz and foam. Dip a scrub brush into the mixture and scrub those spots in your carpet away. Let dry and then vacuum.