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Sarah White
Over the last year or so I’ve been making a real effort to reduce my waste and impact on the planet. One area I wanted to tackle was cleaning. We all like a clean home and with products targeted to every area of that home, it’s easy to end up with lots of products…usually all in plastic bottles.
So I took on the challenge of making my own cleaning products and I wanted to share some of those recipes with you, along with a few tips.
Tips.
- Use up any cleaning products you still have first and then keep the bottles to fill with your DIY recipes.
- Or if you need to buy bottles, I would recommend the Amber Glass Bottles.
- Make your own cloths from towels you no longer use or clothes you no longer wear. If this is not possible, purchase reusable and recyclable cloths.
- When it’s time to replace them, switch your scrubbing brushes and scourers to biodegradable and recyclable materials. I use LoofCo which is made from a mixture of coconut and loofah plant.
Common Ingredients for Cleaning.
All of these recipes contain one or more of the below ingredients and you probably have most of them in your kitchen cupboards already.
Baking Soda: Baking Soda cuts through grease and grime, deodorises and helps lift stains.
Citric Acid: Citric Acid removes soap scum, hard water stains and calcium deposits. It’s also anti-bacterial and kills mold and mildew.
Essential Oils: Aside from improving the scent of your cleaning products, essential oils can be anti-bacterial. I would suggest using tea tree, lavender, peppermint, or anything citrus.
White Vinegar: White Vinegar is anti-bacterial, cuts through grease and deodorises.
Recipes.
Antibacterial Cleaner:
- 150ml White Vinegar
- 350ml Water
- 10 Drops Essential Oil
Bath & Sink Cleaner:
- 4tsp Citric Acid (plus additional)
- 500ml Water
Mix ingredients and spray solution. Sprinkle additional citric acid on top. Leave for 30 minutes and then scrub with a scouring pad.
Carpet Cleaner:
- 100g Baking Soda
- 10 Drops Essential Oil
Mix ingredients and shake over carpet. Leave for 30 minutes, then hoover.
Descaler:
- 250ml White Vinegar
- 2tbsp Citric Acid
- 250ml Water
Mix ingredients, spray and leave for 30 minutes (if using inside a kettle leave for a few hours). Rinse thoroughly with water.
Drain Cleaner:
- 60g Baking Soda
- 120ml White Vinegar
Pour ingredients in to drain. Leave for 20 minutes and then pour boiling water down the drain.
Hob & Oven Cleaner:
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Anti-Bacterial Cleaner (recipe above)
Mix baking soda and water to form a thick paste. Apply to hob/oven and leave for 15 minutes. Spray antibacterial cleaner and wipe clean.
Stain Remover:
- 30g Baking Soda
- 120ml White Vinegar
- 1tsp Washing Up Liquid
- 250ml Water
Mix ingredients, spray and leave for 30 minutes. Then blot clean, this can be repeated if needed.
Toilet Tabs:
- 125g Baking Soda
- 30g Citric Acid
- 1tbsp Washing Up Liquid
Mix ingredient and press in to ice cube tray. Allow to dry overnight and then store in an airtight container. Place tab in toilet for 20–30 minutes and then scrub.
Washing Machine Cleaner:
- 125g Citric Acid
- 60g Baking Soda
Put ingredients in to the drum and wash on the hottest setting. You can also clean the gasket with white vinegar.
Well that’s my top tips and recipes, I’d love to hear yours. You can tweet me.