I want to make my own all natural cleaners, etc. How?

[Sterla]

I'd like to try and rid our house of as many chemicals as possible, and I figure cleaning products are a good place to start. I have heard of a few things that are good: vinegar, lemon juice, bi-carb soda, etc... but does anyone have a 'recipe' for making your own cleaners?

TIA

[Oorki Galoorki]

using vinegar and bicarb you dont need a recipe you just use it instead of chemicals..
what in particular do you want to "make"?

[msadelaide]

I saw a segment on Oprah and they said bicarb, vinegar and lemon juice are all effective cleaners. You could throw away all your cleaning products and get by nicely using these.

There was no particular recipe. I would think mixing them (seperately) with some water and using a spray bottle.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I use Bicarb and vinegar for everything... bathroom, kitchen, laundry, floors.....

You'd be hard pressed to find any chemicals in this house, and bicarb and vinegar are dirt cheap too!!!

[Sterla]

Okay - so very simple then!!! That's what I like to hear! I guess I'm wondering though... say for really tough stains? Vinegar or bi-carb, or a bit of both? Or to disinfect something?

[Pretty Butterfly]

I have a spray bottle, half vinegar, half water for mirrors, benches, toilets and such.... I just have different coloured microfibre cloths for each spot... For the loo,I sprinkle in bicarb, throw some vinegar in, and it fizzes and cleans really well with just a toilet brush.

Hard stains, eg carpet, tiles, after craft etc, a paste of bicarb and vingar, leave it a while, clean off, and clean up with vinegar/water again.

I put bicarb in with the wash, and a rinse of vinegar. Same with the dishwasher.

I love not turning on a hot shower and having all the chemical fumes come up... it used to drive me crazy. I use a bucket of hot water with vinegar and a squeege. Beautiful sparkle and streak free!

[Fleur]

Bicarb vinegar & lemon juice is pretty much all I use.

For the kitchen benches I have a spray bottle with vinegar & water. I use a mix of bicarb & vinegar on the stovetop, benches if they are bad, bath, basins... etc. Vinegar & hot water for floors & windows. Vinegar in rinse water in the washing machine.

Just read your post PB - much the same

[Sterla]

Thanks Pretty Butterfly and Jasp - that's really helpful! I already have vinegar and bi-carb, and an empty spray bottle in the house... can't wait to get cleaning (I may regret saying that, lol!)

[Fleur]

Lol, you know it's funny I used to use a lot of bleach & stuff, but I actually find the vinegar & bicarb better (more effective) than the yucky commercial stuff and as PB said, so much cheaper. Have fun cleaning !