Running out of the cleaner when you are half way through the job can be a bit of a downer and morale damaging. However, you can always save yourself a trip to the store by making your own cleaner. You can do it while being friendly to the environment using common ingredients.
- Heavy duty scrubber
Make with – Half a lemon and ½ cup of borax
Ideal for – Rust stains on enamel sinks and tubs and also porcelain
To use, dip the lemon in the borax and use it to scrub. Avoid using on marble and granite.
- All-purpose deodorizer and cleaner
Make with – 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart of warm water
Ideal for – Appliances, refrigerator and kitchen counters
To use, pour on a sponge and wipe the surface to clean.
- Grease cleanser
Make with – ½ cup sudsy ammonia (with detergent) and a gallon of water.
Ideal for – grills, oven hoods, and other surfaces with tough grime.
To use, dip a sponge in the mixture and wipe the surface then rinse with clean water.
- Glass cleaner
Make with – ¼ cup rubbing alcohol (70%), 2 cups water, and ½ cup white or cedar vinegar. Add a 1 or 2 drops of an essential oil like lavender for a nice smell.
Ideal for – mirrors and windows
To use, put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray on a soft cloth which you can use to wipe with.
- Heavy duty cloth stain remover
Make with – 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup dishwashing detergent, 1 gallon hot water
Ideal for – stained cloths that can be bleached
To use, mix the ingredients in a plastic container, sink the garment for 15 to 20 minutes and scrub gently. If the stains do not come off, soak a little bit longer.
- Marble cleaner
Make with – 1 or 2 drop of dishwashing liquid in 2 cups of warm water. Do not use acidic ingredients like lemon, as they will wear away the stone.
Ideal for – Marble and other stone tops and surfaces.
To use, dip a sponge in the mixture and wipe the stone surface. Rinse completely with water. Dry with a cloth and buff to a shine.
- Dishwasher cleaner
Make with – ¼ cup of orange drink or powdered lemon.
Ideal for – cleaning the insides of a dishwasher
To use, pour the orange drink or the powder into the detergent cup of the dishwasher and run. You can let the mixture rest for 10 minutes before rinsing to have a brighter shine.
