Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies

 
For the past year or so, I have been using up our regular, store-bought cleaning supplies and not replacing them.  No, I haven't stopped cleaning my apartment, I've just been trying to make my own stuff.  I have done this for a few reasons:

- it's a LOT cheaper.

- I'm a bit sensitive to some chemicals and scents.  Whenever I walk down the cleaning supplies/detergent aisle at the store, my eyes start to water and my throat starts to burn.  Because I get to control what goes into everything, no more watery eyes and scratchy throat.

- I hate shopping for them (perhaps for the above reason?).  When I run out of something, it's really nice to be able to just whip up another bottle at home.  

- it's better for the environment (I am by no means perfect when it comes to improving the environment.  I still use plastic spray bottles.  I suppose this is still better than buying a bottle of spray cleaner at the store and then tossing the bottle out, but still not ideal.  Every little bit helps, right?).


It only takes a few basic household items to make your own cleaning supplies.  I use baking soda, vinegar, essential oils (tea tree and orange), and, my favorite ingredient, Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Liquid Soap.  I prefer the peppermint, but it comes in an array of other scents.  It's available at most health food stores, and even some big box and grocery stores, usually in the health and beauty aisle.

There are tons of recipes for cleaning solutions all over the internet.  My favorite for an all purpose cleaner is taken from a book called Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan.  She calls it 'Merlin's Magic':

- Fill a 16oz spray bottle with water.
- Add 3 tablespoons of Dr. Bronner's liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil.
- Shake.

That's it!  This is what I use to clean bathrooms, garbage cans, anything that can get especially gross.  I even use it to clean the toilet bowl.  Just spray, sprinkle with some baking soda, and then clean as usual.  The baking soda makes it extra scrubby.  Some people aren't crazy about the smell of tea tree oil, but I have found that the scent dissipates quickly.  Concocting your own cleaning supplies is easy, doesn't take a lot of time, and is definitely worth the savings. 

Keep in mind that although this cleaning solution is homemade, it can still be dangerous.  PLEASE keep it out of the reach of children and pets.