I have started making my own cleaner after reading frequently about the danger of chemicals in the home.  In addition, I've been trying to watch my costs at the grocery store. It's actually not hard and I have come to love the control I have over my fragrances.

I picked up Clean House Clean Planet by Karen Logan.  This booked is chalked FULL of great homemade cleaner ideas!  Here's the way you make your own multipurpose cleaner.

Ingredients:  Liquid soap or detergent (I use Original Dawn, or Lemon Joy), white distilled vinegar, borax, purified water, and an essential oils for fragrance.

How to Make:  Mix 2T of vinegar with 1tsp borax.  Pour through a funnel into a spray bottle of 16 oz.  (I use a 32 oz bottle so I double this recipe for my container).   Fill the rest of the bottle with very hot water.  Shake until the borax is dissolved.  Add the 1/4 cup of liquid soap or 1/8 cup of liquid detergent last.  To scent, add 10 to 15 drops ( or whatever smells good to you) of essential oil.  I like to use a combination of lavender/lemon, orange/lemon, or lemon/peppermint!

Here all of my supplies...



Here is my finished product...

Be sure to check out Rocks in My Dryer for more Works-for-Me Wednesday tips.

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Posted by Tammy's Recipes (.com)

Does the borax harm any surfaces (that you've tried), or not? I have all these ingredients on hand... I should try this! :)

Tammy

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Posted by Anonymous

Wonderful! I lost my recepi of this and it's nice to find one here. Thanks!



I posted a cleaning your glass and windows tip at Works For Me Wednesday :) in case you're interested :) - LIza

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Posted by SnowFairy

I was just thinking of this Monday when my 4-y-o wanted to help clean the bathroom. I wouldn't let her use the regular cleaner and determined I needed to find something she could use too.

Is this mix going to get a bathroom disinfected? Is a pre-schoolr safe to wield it? (I don't know anything about Borax.)

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Posted by Anonymous

I have a recipe that is really close to this, instead of dawn, I use Dr. Bronner's castile soap, and I add 1/2 t of washing soda, and a few drops of essential oils for an antibacterial bonus, like Tea Tree Oil and Lavender EO

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Posted by Anonymous

This is something I had never thought to do. I do like vinegar for a lot of things though.

Thanks!

http://strandedinthemountains.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Anonymous

Is this a non-toxic cleaner? I thought that dish soaps and laundry detergents were toxic, so I guess I'm a little confused? Perhaps it's because it's in a small amount...

I make my own bleach solution which is safe because the bleach is in such a small amount, too. Though, I wouldn't want to let my child possibley get ahold of it and drink it!

There's nothing like saving money on expensive cleaners is there? And nothing like having safer cleaners in the house. :)

Proverbs31
http://bringinggoodhome.wordpress.com

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