Clean Green and Save Green

I have a friend who keeps pitching the wonders of DIY cleaning products. Initially he tried to convince me to switch to natural by telling me how much cheaper make-it-at-home products are compared to commercially produced cleaners. Even as the words were spilling out of his mouth, he realized how weak his argument was because I very seldom pay full retail for cleaning products.

Then he tried to sell me on the whole green thing. I'm ashamed to admit that the environmental position wasn't working with me either. I thought it would take too much time to make my own cleaning products, and I didn't think changing my habits would have that much impact on the condition of the world.

So he switched tactics and tried one more thing. He began - little by little - to convert me into one of the globally aware.

It worked. I now recycle paper, plastic, and glass. I have my own little compost bin. I carry a reusable grocery bag whenever I go shopping. And I was thrilled to find out that some (a lot) of my frugal ways are as good for the environment as they are my bank account.

And I have begun to consider the possibility of maybe making my own green cleaners someday...

It turns out that making your own green cleaning products only takes a few minutes and has many benefits. Besides being more environmentally-friendly, and healthier for you and your family, they can help you cut costs as well.

Here are a few simple do-it-yourself recipes to clean your home with, along with some go-to multitaskers that might be in your kitchen right now:

• Vinegar – Cuts through grease and removes mildew. Put in a spray bottle to use as a disinfectant, mildew remover, or grease cutter. For a general all-purpose cleaner, mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Add some lemon juice for scent. For grimy surfaces, mix in a bit of salt.
• Lemon – Cuts through grease and acts as an anti bacterial.
  
• Salt – Acts as an abrasive.
  
• Baking soda – Cleaner, abrasive, and deodorizer. Used dry, it's a great appliance cleaner; wipe it off with a damp sponge.
  
• Club Soda - Poured into a spray bottle, club soda is a great all purpose cleaner and window cleaner. It's especially good for getting acid-based stains like coffee out of clothing.
• Cream of Tartar - This common baking ingredient is a mild acid that can be used as a sink and bathtub stain remover. It can also be used to remove spots from aluminum cookware.

Air Freshener. Pour 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice, and 2 cups hot water into a spray bottle and spritz away to remove odors. (Note: While white vinegar has a slight scent while wet, it leaves no odor when it dries.)

Detergent Booster. To reduce the amount of laundry detergent you need to use (especially if you have hard water) add baking soda or washing soda to your wash. These minerals soften the water which increases the detergent’s cleaning power. For liquid detergent, add 1/2 cup of soda at the beginning of the wash. For powdered detergent, add 1/2 cup of soda during the rinse cycle.

Window Cleaner. Just add 3 tablespoons vinegar per 1 quart water in a spray bottle and you've got a safe, eco-friendly window cleaner. Some recommend using half vinegar and half water. For extra-dirty windows try this: 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, 3 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 cups of water. Shake well. The best way to get streak-free windows? Use newspaper instead of paper towels to wipe them.

"Soft Scrub". Use baking soda to clean up in the kitchen. For a "soft-scrub" for countertops, mix baking soda and liquid soap to until you get a consistency you like. The amounts don’t have to be perfect. Make only as much as you need, as it dries up quickly. To clean extra-greasy ovens, mix together 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime; rinse surfaces well (gloves are recommended as washing soda may irritate skin).

Borax Bathroom Cleaner. For a good all-purpose bathroom sanitizer, mix 2 teaspoons of borax, 4 tablespoons of vinegar, and 3 to 4 cups of hot water in a spray bottle. (Borax is a water softener and sanitizer that is sold in most grocery stores.) For extra cleaning power, add 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap to the mixture. To clean your toilet bowl, pour 1 cup of borax into the toilet before going to bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner, add 1/4 cup vinegar to the borax.

Baking Soda Bathroom Cleaner. To clean out your sink and bathtub, mix some baking soda with a bit of water to form a paste. Scrub and rinse. To clean your toilet bowl, mix ¼ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of vinegar. Pour into your toilet and let sit for a few minutes. Scrub and rinse.

Drain Cleaner. Pour 1/2 cup salt down the drain and follow with boiling water. Run hot tap water until clog clears.

Copper and Brass Cleaner. Dissolve 1 part salt to two parts vinegar. Soak until shiny. To use as a scrub, increase salt to make a paste and scrub until clean!


If you have some DIY green cleaner recipes that you like, please feel free to share. I plan replace my chemical cleaners with homemade products as they run out. After all, I love to save money wherever I can, and if I can help save the planet in the process...well, that just makes good practical cents.