DIY Cleaning Supplies, Save Money and the Environment
Everyone, whether they live in a dorm, an apartment or a house, needs some kind of arsenal of cleaning supplies. Doing laundry and cleaning surfaces throughout your home take a variety of different products, which can take up space and eat your wallet.
There are various ways to make your own cleaning supplies, though. These versions of cleaning supplies are great for those interested in DIY and saving money. They may also serve those who have allergies to certain chemicals found in everyday cleaning supplies or those looking for a substitute when they have run out of something. Making household cleaning supplies may also cut down on waste and be more environmentally friendly.
Even though you use showers to clean yourself, they can get pretty dirty. If you want to take off all that soap scum and other gunk that somehow accumulates all over the walls and fixtures in your shower, try this concoction. Mix equal parts Dawn dishwashing soap and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture throughout your shower and let it sit for two hours, and then wipe off.
Finding the perfect outfit before going out and then realizing that one of the elements is severely wrinkled is quite often a great annoyance, especially when you don’t have time to throw it in the dryer to straighten it out. Mixing together equal parts fabric softener, water and white vinegar and spraying it lightly on clothing can help pull out the wrinkles. Just make sure to straighten out the material after spraying it.
Sharing a sink and a shower with more than yourself, especially if those you share with are people with long hair, can clog up drains pretty quickly. This technique cleans out clogged drains without using harsh chemicals. First, pour 1/2 cup baking soda in the drain. Then, pour a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar and the juice from 1/2 a lemon down the drain after the soda. Wait five minutes, then pour in 1 gallon of hot water. Baking soda cuts through the stuff clogging your drain, and the vinegar makes it bubble, which helps it cut more. The lemon adds acidity to help eat away at the clog as well.
An all-purpose cleaner can be used on countertops and surfaces throughout the home. Using a homemade, more natural cleaner ensures that these surfaces aren’t harmed by chemicals. To make one yourself, mix 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon dish soap and 2 tablespoons vinegar into a spray bottle. Give the mixture a few shakes, then fill the bottle with warm water. Let it sit for a while, and then you are in the clear to start cleaning.
Laundry detergent is one of the most-used cleaning products in the home. Using a homemade detergent is cost effective because it makes larger quantities cheaper and can be a great solution for those with sensitive skin because it uses less chemicals.
Ingredients:
• Borax powder
• Castile soap
• Washing soap
• Baking soda
• Lemon, lavender or
• grapefruit essential oil
For liquid detergent:
• Bring 1 quart water to a boil.
• Take the pot off the stove, and stir in 2 cups borax powder, grated castile soap and 2 cups washing soap. Stir in until all of the powder and soaps are dissolved.
• Allow mixture to cool down, and pour into a 5-gallon bucket.
• Add 2 gallons of water, and stir mixture again.
• Store this mixture covered, and use ½ of a cup per load.
For powder detergent:
• Pour 16 cups baking soda into a bucket.
• Add 12 cups borax powder into the mix and 8 cups of grated castile soap.
• Add 3 teaspoons essential oil into bucket.
• Using a whisk, mix the ingredients together thoroughly.
• Store this mixture with a lid, and use 1/8 of a cup per load.
There are numerous techniques and ingredients you can use to make your own cleaning products. Using the most natural ingredients can help lower your carbon footprint and reduce the amount of chemicals used in the home. More recipes for making cleaning supplies can be found online. There are also recipes for more specialized types of cleaning supplies, like oven cleaners and silver polishes.
For those concerned about their impact on the environment, saving space on their shelves, saving some money or just trying something new, making your own cleaning supplies is something to try out.
