Toilet Cleaner 2 (comparable to Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner)

1 cup vegetable-oil based soap

2 cups baking soda

¼ cup water

2 tbsp vinegar

Directions - Mix together and pour into spray bottle. Spray inside toilet bowl and under rim; scrub with toilet brush.

Floor Cleaner (Tile)

1 cup vinegar

1 pail of hot water

Directions – Mix and apply. Wipe Clean

Floor Cleaner (Wood)

1/8 cup vegetable-oil based soap

1 gallon water

Directions – Mix and apply. Wipe Clean

Floor Cleaner (No-Wax Floors)

¼ cup vegetable-oil based soap

¼ cup lemon juice

2 gallons hot water

Directions – Mix and apply. Wipe Clean

Scouring Powder

1 cup baking soda

1 cup borax

1 cup salt

Directions - Mix together and put in an old jar with holes punched in the top. Cover with plastic wrap when not using. Use as any other scouring powder.

Essential Oils

Essential oils not only add a pleasing scent to your cleaning supplies, but can also act as a antiseptic, disinfectant, bactericide, fungicide, insecticide, or insect repellent. Here is a chart of some oils:

Antiseptic / Disinfectant / Bactericide / Fungicide / Insecticide / Insect Repellent
Eucalyptus / X / X / X / X
Lavender / X / X / X
Lemon / X / X / X / X / X
Orange / X / X / X / X
Peppermint / X / X / X / X
Tea Tree / X / X / X / X
Rosemary / X / X / X / X / X
Thyme / X / X / X / X / X
Juniper / X / X / X / X

INSERT YOUR CONTACT INFO HERE

Introduction to Green Cleaning

Green Cleaning Recipes

Save money and the Earth!

Saving

Your Health & the Earth

An EPA study found indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times higher (up to 100 times higher) than outdoor levels. Cleaning supplies and household hazardous materials were often the cause.

Ingredients such as EDTA, NTA, phosphates, nitrates, VOCs, and chlorine can cause both human health and environmental problems if used improperly, disposed of improperly, or used over long periods of time.

Less harmful, effective, and inexpensive cleaning products can be made with common household ingredients. Forget commercial cleaners and make your own green cleaning products at home!

Basic Ingredients

There are five basic ingredients found in virtually all green cleaning supplies made from scratch.

Baking Soda: A base used to clean and deodorizes, increases the cleaning power of soap, and is also useful as a mild scouring powder. Found in baking aisle of grocery store.

Borax: A base that cleans, deodorizes and disinfects. Found in laundry section of grocery store. CAUTION: POSSIBLE EYE IRRITANT

Vegetable-oil Based Liquid Soap: This is an effective cleaning agent alone, and it biodegrades quickly. Found in cleaner section of most grocery or health food stores.

Washing Soda: Disinfects, cuts grease and removes stains. Found in laundry section of grocery store. Make sure it is phosphate free.

White Vinegar: A dilute acidic cleaner that cuts grease and lime. Very versatile. Found in salad dressing section of grocery store.

Other common ingredients:

Essential Oils – depending on the type of oil, it can also be an antiseptic, disinfectant, insecticide, insect repellant, or fungicide. Also used to give pleasing scent to cleaners (almost always used when vinegar is an ingredient). A few drops go a long way.

Lemon juice – An antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and a natural degreaser. It is often used with baking soda to clean out pipes or as a substitute for vinegar.

Recipies and Tips

All- Purpose Cleaner:

1 tsp Borax

2 Tbsp Vinegar

½ cup vegetable-oil based soap

warm water

A few drops of essential oil

Directions - Add borax to warm water in 24oz. spray bottle, cap, and shake. Add vinegar and shake again. Then add soap and oil.

Window/Glass Cleaner:

1 part water

1 part vinegar

A few drops of essential oil

Directions – Fill a spray bottle ¼ full with warm water. Pour vinegar in until ¾ full, cap, and shake. Finish filling with warm water, cap, and shake. Then add essential oil

Tip – To minimize streaking, always use a dry piece of rag or paper.

Disinfectant:

Warm water

1 Tbsp borax

3 Tbsp vegetable-oil based soap

Tea tree oil or another disinfecting essential oil

Directions – Fill a spray bottle at least ½ full of warm water. Add borax, cap, and shake. Then add liquid soap and oil and finish filling the spray bottle with warm water.

Toilet Cleaner 1:

Baking soda

Washing soda (optional)

Directions – Sprinkle ingredients in and around toilet bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes. Scrub clean and flush.

Tip - add a few drops of a disinfecting essential oil.