Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Frugal Cleaning



Now I do not used distilled water, I don't have a distiller or I would!  But still these should be good...
A few items to keep on hand for FRUGAL and GREEN cleaning are:
  • Distilled Water (when you clean you should start without stuff in your liquid)
  • Vinegar (plain old cheapo white vinegar)
  • Dishwashing liquid (I like Trader Joe’s)
  • Borax
  • Washing Soda
  • Baking Soda
  • Essential oil (optional)
So here are a few recipes to start:
Multi-Purpose Cleaner
1 teaspoon Washing Soda
1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
4 cups hot distilled water (or fill your 32 to almost full)
Put the top on your sprayer and shake it up a bit. Use this for your regular cleaning in Kitchens, baths, etc. Don’t use it on stone or granite. I haven’t made one for that yet.
Window Cleaner
1/4 cup Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
4 cups distilled water (or fill your 32 to almost full)
Put the top on the sprayer. Give it a shake or two. Use on Windows and glass. You can also use it on ceramic tile. Use newspaper to wash your windows. I use a microfiber cloth to clean mirrors and tile.
Floor Cleaner (Not the Mop Bucket kind -Ok for sealed Wood, Ceramic Tile, Sealed Stone and Laminate)
1/3 Cup Vinegar (NO MORE)
Fill the remainder of the 32 with Distilled Water
Shake it up.
To use: Spray (don’t squirt) on dust mop for daily clean-up. For build up on Wood or laminate floors, spray the floor and use a microfiber mop or cloth to buff the floor.

Linen Spray *
1 1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 teaspoon Lavendar (or fragrance of your choice) essential oil
2 cups distilled water
I used a 16 oz spray bottle so a little was left. Place in spray bottle and shake well before using. Spray on your linens when you make the bed or use to iron with.
Oven Cleaner
Make a paste with Baking soda and water. Spread a bit on baked on gunk. Let sit a bit and then scrub off. Repeat if necessary. It also does a great job scrubbing grease off the inside of the oven window.
Soap Scum
Use a little baking soda with the Multi-Purpose Cleaner to scrub soap scum off shower doors and tubs.
Toilets
Use 1/4 cup of borax in the bowl. Swish it around some. Let sit in bowl about 30 minutes. Swish again and flush. I also put the same amount of Borax in the back of the toilet every so often to disinfect the whole thing.
* I have not used this one, I do not use febreeze either..

1 comment:

  1. I used the window cleaner and the multi purpose cleaner today.. LOVE them both!! The multi purpose cleaner really got the hand prints off the walls well, plus food, hot chocolate, and whatever else the kids missed.

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