The recipe is as follows:
1/2 to 1 cup liquid laundry softener (I love Apple Mango Tango)
1 cup vinegar
2 to 3 cups water
Mix
in a spray bottle, and spray as you would Febreze. Works wonders on
couches, beds and sheets, carpets, dog beds, car seats, etc.
Basic cleaning ingredientsBaking soda (bicarbonate of soda).
This mild alkali powder can be used for a variety of household cleaning
purposes, such as removing stains from tile, glass, oven doors, and
china; cleaning the inside of refrigerators; helping to absorb odors;
and removing baked-on food from pans. It also acts as a stain remover
for fruit juices and other mild acids.
Borax. A powder or
crystalline salt sold in most grocery stores, borax is a water softener
and sanitizer. It makes an excellent freshener when added to laundry and
is an all-around deodorizer.
Castile soap. A mild soap
available in liquid or bar form that can be used for general-purpose
cleaning. It was once made from olive oil, but now may include other
vegetable oils as well.
Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate).
This common baking ingredient is a mild acid that can be used as a sink
and bathtub stain remover. It can also be used to remove spots from
aluminum cookware.
Hydrogen peroxide. A mild alternative
to chlorine bleach that can be used for stain removal and mild bleaching
and killing germs. Available in drug stores and supermarkets.
Lemon juice.
This familiar ingredient can be used to lighten stains and cut grease.
It can also be used to remove tarnish can be used on brass, copper,
bronze and aluminum (not to be used on silver).
Washing soda (carbonate of soda).
A stronger alternative to baking soda, washing soda can be used as a
water softener in conjunction with laundry detergents (gloves are
recommended as it may irritate skin; not to be used with silks, woolens
or vinyl).
White vinegar. Good for a variety of household
cleaning tasks, vinegar may be used to help kill germs and deodorize,
remove some carpet stains, and clean coffeemakers, chrome, cookware, and
countertops. It can also be used to unclog drains. Note that while
white vinegar has a slight scent while wet, when dry, it leaves no odor.
However, don’t use it on acetate fabrics, such as in some tablecloths,
because it can dissolve the fibers.
Homemade recipesYou can make your own cleaners from the ingredients listed above. The recipes below are adapted from
Recipes for Safer Cleaners, published by the nonprofit group, Healthy Child Healthy World. (Please note that
Consumer Reports has not tested these recipes.)
Kitchen:•Countertops.
For a "soft scrub," mix baking soda and liquid soap until you get a
consistency you like. The amounts don’t have to be perfect. Make only as
much as you need, as it dries up quickly.
•Ovens. To
clean extra-greasy ovens, mix together 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of
washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to
oven surfaces and let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda
mixture and grime; rinse surfaces well (gloves are recommended as
washing soda may irritate skin).
•Microwave ovens. These
can be cleaned with a paste made from 3 to 4 tablespoons of baking soda
mixed with water. Scrub on with a sponge and rinse.
•Cutting boards.
Sanitize them by spraying with vinegar and then with 3 percent hydrogen
peroxide. Keep the liquids in separate spray bottles and use them one
at a time. It doesn’t matter which one you use first, but both together
are much more effective than either one alone.
Bathrooms:•Tub and tile cleaner.
Mix 1 2/3 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup liquid soap, and 1/2 cup water.
Then, as the last step, add 2 tablespoons vinegar (if you add the
vinegar too early it will react with the baking soda). Immediately
apply, wipe, and scrub.
•A good all-purpose sanitizer. 2
teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar, and 3 to 4 cups hot water in a
spray bottle. For extra cleaning power, add 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap to
the mixture.
•Toilet bowl. Pour 1 cup of borax into the
toilet before going to bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an
extra-strength cleaner, add 1/4 cup vinegar to the borax.
Livingroom:•Furniture polish.
Mix olive oil and vinegar in a one-to-one ratio and polish with a soft
cloth. Or look in a health-food store for food-grade linseed oil, often
called omega-3 or flaxseed oil, rather than the type found in hardware
stores to finish furniture. Linseed oil sold for furniture use often
contains dangerous petroleum distillates to speed evaporation.
•Windows.
Put 3 tablespoons vinegar per 1 quart water in a spray bottle. Some
recommend using half vinegar and half water. For extra-dirty windows try
this: 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, 3 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 cups of
water. Shake well. The best way to get streak-free windows--use
newspaper instead of paper towels to wipe them.
Metal polish:•Brass, copper, bronze and aluminum. To remove tarnish, rub metal with sliced lemons. For tough jobs, sprinkle baking soda on the lemon, then rub.
•Sterling silver.
Put a sheet of aluminum foil into a plastic or glass bowl. Sprinkle the
foil with salt and baking soda, then fill the bowl with warm water.
Soak your silver in the bowl, and the tarnish will migrate to the
aluminum foil. Rinse and dry the silver, then buff it with a soft cloth.
Air freshener:•A
simple recipe of 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vinegar (or lemon
juice), and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle can be sprayed in the air
to remove odors.
Floors and carpets:•Linoleum.
For extra grease-cutting, try this formula: 1/4 cup washing soda with 1
tablespoon of liquid soap, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 2 gallons hot water.
Put the washing soda in the bucket first and add the liquid ingredients;
that way the soda won’t splash out. Caution: Do not use this formula on
waxed floors.
•Sanitize floors. Add 2 gallons of hot water to 1/2 cup of borax. Put the borax in the bucket first, then add water slowly to avoid splashing.
•Wood floors. Add 1 cup of vinegar per pail of hot water.
•Carpeting and rugs.
To soak up and eliminate odors, sprinkle baking soda over the surface
of the carpet and let it stand for 15 to 30 minutes before vacuuming.
Laundry:•Laundry brightener. Add 1/2 cup of strained lemon juice during the rinse cycle.
•Fabric rinse.
Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar during the washing machine’s rinse cycle
to remove detergent completely from clothes, eliminating that scratchy
feel. (Note: This will not leave your clothes smelling like vinegar.)
•Detergent booster.
To reduce the amount of laundry detergent you need to use (especially
if you have hard water), add baking soda or washing soda. These minerals
soften the water, which increases the detergent’s power. For liquid
detergent, add 1/2 cup of soda at the beginning of the wash. For
powdered detergent, add 1/2 cup of soda during the rinse cycle.
•
Bleach. Use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach.
•Dry cleaning.
Many delicate "dry clean only" items can be washed at home by hand. In
general, it’s best to use cool water and a mild liquid soap. Squeeze or
wring gently and lay flat to dry.
Mold:•Use a
stiff brush, a non-ammonia detergent, and hot water to scrub mold off
nonporous surfaces. Use a stiff-bristle toothbrush to get between tiles.
You can also use a paste of baking soda and water. Don’t rinse. And
remember to wear gloves and a protective mask, since mold spores can be
inhaled.
