Do you hate it when the smell of bleach burns your nostrils?
Are you paranoid of mixing certain cleaning chemicals because they might knock you out... literally (That's just ridiculous to me)
Have you realized that you’re spending too much money on cleaning products?
Are you concerned about the chemicals you’re exposing your family or children to?
Allow me to fill you in on some really cool tricks for creating your own customized cleaning products.
These mixtures will satisfactorily clean and disinfect your home, from the kitchen to the bathroom and all the air in between.
First Let's Identify Which Essential Oils are Great for Cleaning and Why:
Lemon oil is an antiviral and antibacterial
It is useful in the bathroom as well as for degreasing and getting out old stains and is also famous for smelling great.
Tea tree oil fights germs, bacteria and viruses
It's also great for combating certain bugs.
Rosemary oil is an antibacterial and antiseptic
This one is great for homemade dish soap and laundry detergent.
Consider using this one as an air freshener also as its aroma increasing your alertness and focus.
Wild orange oil is effective against grease
It’s scent also makes you happy!
Lavender oil is antibacterial
It also helps cancel out the scent of vinegar and is a great scent for bedroom linens.
Eucalyptus oil is germicidal
It's also good to know that this one is effective against dust mites!
The eucalyptus scent is great for stinky places like the kitchen and bathroom, you can also put some of the eucalyptus leaves in your cupboard to keep out pests.
Peppermint oil is antibacterial
This is yet another great air freshener and like the eucalyptus oil, peppermint will also help keep pests like ants and spiders out of your home. Try using 1 cup of water and 10-15 drops of this oil in a spray container and go to work.
Cinnamon oil is antibacterial and antiseptic
This spicy one is powerful against mold and mildew and you can use ground cinnamon or the pure oil to rid your home of pests.
Pine oil is common for it’s scent but it also kills yeast spores, E.coli and other germs.
Great for cleaning mold and mildew in the bathroom and leaves a great scent
Thyme oil is one of the most powerful fighters against germs
This one kills salmonella so it’s a great addition to a homemade dish soap that you can use to clean cutting boards or whatever else comes in contact with raw meat.
Common Household Items That are Undercover Cleaning Agents:
Baking Soda
When mixed with vinegar, baking soda provides a fantastic bubbling effect that helps with all sorts of messes. You may also be surprised to learn that baking soda can kill viruses while also deodorizing and effectively clean up greasy messes.
Vinegar
I'll always remember my mom telling me to put a bowl full of vinegar in my car and let it sit over night, it will absorb any gross smells without leaving your car stinking of vinegar. I thought she was crazy until I tried it. The lesson here? Listen to my mom, especially when it comes to cleaning tricks. Because vinegar is so acidic, it's quite effective against grease.
Lemon Juice
The juice of a lemon takes care of business when it comes to mold, and as always it will leave the room smelling much less like a dark cavernous basement, and more like a room that's been bathed in fresh lemon juice.
Castile Soap
This is the soap that is made entirely from plant oils- no chemical detergents or animal products. More than likely you'll recognize the Dr. Bronners brand since they pretty much own the market for castile soaps.
Now let’s address some of those Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have the same essential oils that some of the recipes call for?
- No worries! The best oils to use for cleaning include: lemon, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree (melaleuca), rosemary and cinnamon.
Feel free to mix and match these however you like.
Why can’t I use castile soap for recipes that also call for vinegar?
- If you want to have a slimy, gross, gloppy mess, then by all means combine these two ingredients!
Otherwise it’s best to avoid using castile soap when the recipe also calls for vinegar.
A natural replacement for castile soap can be any natural soap that is plant based and free of any synthetic fragrances, dyes or triclosan.
There’s a brand called Seventh Generation that makes a nice natural dish soap that is also sold on Amazon.com
Finally! Here Are Some Recipes:
All-Purpose Cleaner:
Try this one: Equal parts vinegar and water mixed in a spray bottle, you can also add 5-10 drops of lemon oil for a fresh scent.
Be careful though, if you have marble, granite, or stone, countertops!
The vinegar can be too acidic for these surfaces.
Vodka is great for Martinis, and it's also a great replacement for vinegar in this case.
For Your Toilet:
If you nearly gag when you lift the lid then try this one:
Pour ½ cup of baking soda and about 10 drops of tea tree essential oil into the toilet.
Add ¼ cup of vinegar to the bowl and scrub away while the mixture fizzes.
The baking soda and vinegar work wonders on gross toilets, and the tea tree will help to deodorize and sanitize.
Disinfectant:
Toss out your bleach and use this instead:
Mix 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap (Castile soap works great), and 20-30 drops of tea tree oil.
Dish Soap:
Here's a great way to make your own and customize your scents:
Mix 1 cup of liquid Castile soap and 3 tablespoons water- this will do the trick if you don't have any essential oils, but if you add a few drops of any essential oil, you'll at least enjoy some pleasant scents while you're washing away last night's lasagna.
Windows/Mirrors:
This is without a doubt the easiest homemade cleaner possible... All you gotta do is use 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water.
If you don't have vinegar, once again vodka will also work to help prevent streaking.
PRO TIP: Use a few drops of essential oils in this mixture because if you use it on your bathroom mirror not only will the steam from your shower activate the oils and get the room smelling lovely, it will also help prevent the mirror from fogging up so dang much!
Drain Cleaner:
Everyone loves a clogged drain... NOT. Here's how to remedy that disappointing situation:
Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain, then pour down ½ cup of vinegar and if you don't want to get a face full of whatever is clogging your drain, I strongly suggest taking the simple precaution of covering it up, the lid from any of your pots will work great.
When the fizzing sibsides, flush it down with a gallon or so of boiling water!
For Your Floors:
If you're lucky enough to have hardwood floors- not that fake stuff, then unfortunately this one won't work for you.
But if you've got any other type of floors then this one has your number.
All you need is one part white vinegar with two parts warm water in a bucket.
If you're feeling frisky then add a few drops of pine oil and you've made your own little version of Pine-sol!