There are websites, books, magazines, and companies, based solely on the purpose of promoting natural and homemade cleaners. I use pretty basic ones, vinegar and water make a great all purpose cleaner, and a little baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice go a long way.
I haven't tried making my own laundry soap yet but the idea intrigues me, I also found a recent post about making your own powdered dish soap. I need to go back and read the post again. I'm wondering how well it works and what the ingredients are. The smell of the powered dish soap we currently use burns my nose.
These are ones that I especially like to use:
Homemade Floor Cleaner
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Mix in your cleaning bucket and use this to clean vinyl type floors.
Wood Floor Cleaner (note from me: it's really important to dilute the vinegar properly when using this method on hardwood floors, too much vinegar will cause the acidity to wear through your finish)
½ cup vinegar
1 gallon water
The most important thing to keep in mind while cleaning wood floors is that they can not get overly wet. When you use the above mixture, dip your sponge mop into the solution and squeeze until almost dry. Then mop. Never put the cleaner directly on the floor. Dry any streaked or wet area with a clean towel as you go along the floor.
Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell. *Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.
*Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.
*Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
*Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.
*Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.
*Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.
*Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.
The New Homemaker has 27 ways to use baking soda. There is a great tip for sprinkling your camping gear with baking soda before storing it. That should take care of the musty smell we always get in our sleeping bags.
*I use it to absorb smells in the fridge, cabinets, and garbage can.
*Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet, let it sit for fifteen minutes and then vacuum to help remove odors.
*Mix baking soda with lemon juice or dish soap to make a soft scrub cleaner
*Sprinkle 1/4 cup baking soda down your drains, follow it with 1/4 cup vinegar and plug your drains. Let them sit for about thirty minutes, then pour boiling water down each drain. This acts as a natural declogger (is that even a word?)
*Keep baking soda on hand for putting out kitchen fires
Window Cleaner - Also from The Family Homestead
This one can be made right in your spray bottle.
½ t mild dish detergent
3T vinegar
2 cups water
Put all these ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake this up some and use it just like the commercial variety.
All Purpose Cleaner - mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Vinegar has enough acidity to dissolve mineral stains and soap scum, and it kills germs, bacteria, and mold. Spray and wipe.
You can clean rust off cast iron by cutting a potato in half, pouring liquid dish soap on your cast iron and then rubbing with the cut end of the potato. I think my sister first gave me this tip. It worked like a dream! Once your cast iron is clean you'll need to rinse it well and then season it.
I buy baking soda from Costco for a really great price. Check your local food supply stores if you don't have a Costco membership. Vinegar can be purchased in gallon jugs for next to nothing.
I am going to issue a warning only because I have had a customer do it. Use ONLY white vinegar for cleaning purposes, apple cider vinegar leaves a sticky residue if you attempt to clean with it.
