Do It Yourself: Cleaning Products

Brittany Cole

Why Homesteading?• Doomsday Prepers

• What happens when technology fails us?

• Penny Pinchers• Cost for both long

and short term

• Safety First• Reduce our waste

and be aware of what we are putting in our homes and bodies

So What is Homesteading? It's about using less energy, eating wholesome local food, involving your family in the life of the community and making wiser choices that will improve the quality of life for your family, your community and the environment around you. - Mother Earth News

Your cleaning arsenal…Baking SodaVinegarLiquid SoapBoraxWashing SodaLemon JuiceWaterHydrogen Peroxide

Baking SodaScience

Sodium Bicarbonate or Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate (NaHCO3)

Leavening agent and exfoliator

Use – read the box, there are so many uses for simple powder.

VinegarA mild acidUses – Much like

baking soda, far too many to list here.

Liquid SoapCastile Soap

Made from vegetable fat, primarily olive oil, not tallow (animal fat)

Good BrandsSeventh GenerationMeyerMethodEcover

Ingredients: Aqua (water), sodium lauryl sulfate and caprylyl/myristyl glucoside (plant-derived cleaning agents), lauramine oxide (plant-based cleaning agent), glycerin (plant-derived foam stabilizer), citric acid (plant-derived water softener), magnesium chloride and sodium chloride (mineral viscosity modifiers), essential oils and botanical extracts* for scented varieties only (see below for details),  methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone (synthetic preservatives).

Borax and Washing SodaBorax

Similar to baking soda it has many uses listed right on the box

Washing SodaScience

Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3)

Strong Base, lowers pHUse in mostly laundry

but it too has many uses listed on the box

Lemon Juice and Hydrogen PeroxideBoth of these are

natural bleaches.Hydrogen Peroxide

very good at sterilizing cutting boards, tooth brushes.

Lemon Juice has a strong acid that is a bit more nice smelling, not as strong as Hydrogen Peroxide but good for disinfecting

So why do we like these natural cleaning products?Cheap – Most of these can be purchased in

bulk and have many uses. Big bang for a little buck.

Safe – While Little Johnny should never be eating your general cleaner, no poison control needed if he does.

Feel good – This is a big one, too often do we find ourselves reading labels for everything. We feel better about homemade cookies, let’s feel better about what we clean with.

Do It Yourself Cleaning RecipesAll purpose sprayLaundry DetergentToilet ScrubDeodorizing DisksGlass cleanerDrain-OTile & Tub

All Purpose Spray1 c vinegar1 Tbs lemon juice3 c water1 Tbs castile or

liquid soap

Laundry Detergent1 bar fels-naptha or

plain soap½ c borax½ c washing soda

Grate soap, mix together.

Use 1 -2 Tbs per load, warm-water wash

Toilet scrub¼ c Borax¼ c Baking Soda

Shake in toilet bowl, spray with all purpose spray; let sit 5 mins.

Scrub with toilet brush, then rinse.

Deodorizing Disks2 cups baking soda2 cups distilled

water (or boil water for 10 mins)

Essential oil (lavender or citrus)

Silicone mold or muffin pan

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/09/freshen-up-your-home-make-your-own-homemade-deodorizing-disks.html

Glass Cleaner¼ cup vinegar4 cups warm water

Put in a spray bottle, spray and wipe with a newspaper or microfiber towel.

There are a few other versions, but I like this one best.

Drain-O½ cup baking soda1 cup vinegarHot water

Keep flushing till the fizzing stops

Tile & Tub2/3 c baking soda1/3 c borax

Mix well, put in shaker container

Use in moldy or damp areas. Let sit before wiping away.

Citations Alyssa. "Cupcake Apothecary." : 165 Uses for Vinegar. N.p., Feb. 2012. Web. 05 Mar.

2014. Cole, Brittany. "Keep It Clean, Keep It Home." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. "Difference Between." Difference Between RSS. N.p., 21 Mar. 2011. Web. 05 Mar.

2014. "Green Cleaning Products - NaturalCleaning Products|Ecover." Green Cleaning

Products - NaturalCleaning Products|Ecover. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. "GreenerChoices.org." GreenerChoices.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. Hunt, Heidi. "Homesteading and Livestock." Mother Earth News. N.p., 13 July 2007.

Web. 04 Mar. 2014. "Natural Dish Liquid." Seventh Generation. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. Noyes, Amy Kolb. Nontoxic Housecleaning. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green

Pub., 2009. Print. "The Ocean." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. "One Good Thing by Jillee | Sorting through the Beautiful Clutter of Life to Find That

"One Good Thing" Every Day and Sharing It with You!" One Good Thing by Jillee. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014.

Seymour, John. "Start a 1-Acre, Self-Sufficient Homestead." Mother Earth News. N.p., Aug.-Sept. 2011. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.