Simple DIY recipes for spring cleaning

Many store-bought chemicals are harsh, toxic, and dangerous for your health, environment, your pets and babies. Most of the products have an alternative home made versions that still cleans effectively and less the side effect.  Here is a collection of DIY recipes I find useful and simple to put together. It makes my cleaning chores more enjoyable. 

1. All purpose cleaner

(1)

- 1/4 cup baking soda

- 1/2 cup vinegar

- 2 Tablespoon Dish soap (optional)

- 1/2 gallon water

optional lemon juice or essential oil

Mix all together, it makes a good general cleanser for kitchen and around the house.

(2)

1 cup water and 1 teaspoon of Lemon essential oil.

You can also add other essential oils such as Tea tree, Eucalyptus, or Lemongrass. (optional)

Just mix together in a spray bottle. Shake well before use.

2. Liquid Dish soap

- 2-1/2 cup water (boiled and cooled)

- 1 Tablespoon Borax

- 1 Tablespoon Washing soda (not baking soda)

- 2 Tablespoon distilled white vinegar

- 1/2 cup liquid castile soap

optional essential oil of your choice (lemon, rosemary, peppermint....)

Mix all together and pour into a dispenser. 

3. Sink Cleanser

(1) Lemon juice and salt make a nice cleaning scrub for the kitchen sink. Brush the sink with this paste and rinse with a lot of water.

(2) Just baking soda and water make a nice paste for scrubbing too. Rinse with water afterward.

4. Grout cleaner

- 2 teaspoon cream of tartar,

- Lemon juice

Mix the above ingredients to brush the grout. Rinse out with water.

5. Drain cleaner

1. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the drain.

2. Mix 1 cup white vinegar and juice of half a lemon. Pour it down the drain and wait for 5 minutes.

3. Pour 1 gallon of hot water down the drain.

Baking soda and vinegar combination creates a bubbling chemical reaction to stir up what's stuck in the drain. Use regularly to keep the drain clean and open.

6. Toilet bowl scrub

(1)

- ½ cup baking soda

- 1 cup distilled white vinegar

Spray vinegar in the toilet bowl, seat, outside of the toilet and handle. Add baking soda into the toilet bowl only. The baking soda and vinegar should start reacting. Brush the bowl and flush. Wipe clean the other part of the toilet.

(2)

- ¾ cup borax

- 1 cup white vinegar

Mix and pour into the toilet bowl. Let it sit for several hours or overnight if possible. Brush and flush in the morning.

7. Shower spray

- 1 Cup of  water

- 1/8 Cup of hydrogen peroxide

- 1/8 Cup of Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

- 1/2 Teaspoon of castile soap or Dish Liquid 

- 1/2 Teaspoon of white vinegar

Mix all together in a spray bottle. Spray on the shower doors and walls. Let it sit for a little while, scrub and rinse for the first time use. Then just spray to the shower door and wall after shower every day. No rinse required.

8. Wood floor cleaning and polish

- 1 gallon of hot water

- 3/4 cup of olive oil

 - 1/2 cup of lemon juice or a few drops of lemon essential oil

Just wipe on the wood floor with a soft cloth. Keep the floor clean and shiny. 

9. Wood furniture clean and polish

- ½ cup of white vinegar

- ¼ cup olive oil

- 1 Tablespoon of  lemon juice

- 1 tbsp vegetable glycerin (optional)

Mix well and wipe on with a soft cloth. No need to rinse.

10. Glass and mirror cleaning

(1) Just add Club Soda with water in a spray bottle. 

(2) Alvin Corn Homemade Glass Cleaner

- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

- 1/4 cup white vinegar

- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

- 2 cup warm water

Make sure the water is warm enough to dissolve the corn starch first. Mix everything else and place in a spray bottle. Shake well before use. Wipe with soft cloth.

11. Microwave cleaning

Put 1/2 cup of water in a microwave safe container. Add juice from half of a lemon into the water. Microwave for 3 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes. After it cools down, wipe inside with damp cloth.

Alternatively, use about 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the water instead of lemon. And microwave the same way. Let cool and wipe. The acidity and steam should loosen all the dirt and grime for easy cleaning.

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Nature cleaning product

If making homemade detergent is not for you. There are two an all time favorite nature products that are green, safe and effective. It is Dr. Bronner's Castile soap and Organic Sal Suds liquid cleaner. You probably heard of Dr. Bronner's castile soap. Many DIY homemade products use it as a base. Their Sal Suds liquid cleaner is a stronger version. It can be used as dish liquid or even laundry detergent. Both are all purpose depending on how you dilute it. The downside is the price. It is always cheaper to make it at home. 

There are tons of organic and environmentally friendly cleaning products on the market. Honestly, I am skeptical of most of them. Read the ingredients, do some research and try the product yourself to see if it is as healthy and nature as they claim. With a homemade cleaning product, you have more control of your space and health. 

For a pdf download of the above recipes, please click here.

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