Clean Up

How many times did the dermatologist, pediatrician, and allergist ask me if I had considered changing detergents?  Wow!  I think I just started to roll my eyes at them when they began that spiel.  I tried all kinds of allergen free and free and clear and even went without fabric softener or dryer sheets.  No improvements!

This was a little more than a dryer sheet.  But all the detergent-changing and all natural detergent began to add up, so I began making my own.  I also began to make my own cleaning supplies out of total paranoia.  Then I realized how much money I was saving, so I haven't looked back.  Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

Counter Spray
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
several drops of essential oil
I use either lavender or lemon because of their antibacterial properties but tea tree is antibacterial as well, it just doesn't smell as nice. 
Place in spray bottle and shake well before each use.

Disinfecting Cleaner
1/2 cup borax
1 gallon boiling water
Mix together and add essential oil after allowing to cool.
Place in spray bottle and shake well before each use.

Floor Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
1/2 washing soda
1 T vegetable oil based liquid soap
2 gallons hot water
Essential oil-I like orange or lemon
Combine well to dissolve washing soda, and mop away!

Laundry Detergent
1 quart boiling water
2 cups bar soap (grated)  I use Fels Naptha or Ivory.
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda

Add grated soap to boiling water and stir until dissolved.  Pour soap into large pail and add borax and washing soda and then stir well.  Add two gallons of water and stir until mixed.  Refill all your old detergent containers.  Shake up the container well before each use, as the detergent will gel. 

Dishwasher Detergent
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/4 cup citric acid
1/4 cup coarse salt
Mix together and use 1 Tablespoon per load.  Add white vinegar to the rinse aid. 

Glass Cleaner
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 T cornstarch
1 quart warm water
Put in spray bottle and shake well before each use.

Happy cleaning!