Almost five years ago, I decided to remove toxic chemicals from my living environment. I left behind the commercial cleaners and began researching my own DIY green cleaning products. There are some great green cleaning products out there, but don't be fooled by greenwashing! If there's a "warning" or "danger" label, are you sure you want that around you? Not only do we breathe in the toxins, they also get directly absorbed into our bloodstream through our skin.
Here is the list of my favorite DIY recipes. I like to get nice reusable plastic or glass spray bottles to fill. I recommend you label each bottle with the recipe, so it's easy to refill.
All Purpose Cleaner
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/8 tsp Castile soap
- optional - 9 drops essential oil (Eucalyptus or Tea Tree oil is naturally antibacterial/antimicrobial)
Pour into a spray bottle and shake before each use
Bathroom Mold Spray
- 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3%)
- 2 parts water
Pour into a spray bottle and shake before each use
Glass/Mirror Cleaner
- 1 part white vinegar
- 4 parts warm water
Pour into a spray bottle and shake before each use. Use newspaper or microfiber cloth to clean.
Disinfectant
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- 18 drops essential oil (Eucalyptus or Tea Tree oil is naturally antibacterial/antimicrobial)
Pour into a spray bottle and shake before each use
Laundry and/or Dishwasher Rinse
- 1/2 c white vinegar
- 1 drop essential oil - optional
Use 1/4 c per load in laundry rinse cycle
Garbage Pail Deodorizer/Tub Scrub
- 1 cup Baking Soda
- 15 drops Eucalyptus oil
Scrub mixture with a damp sponge. Let sit for 5 minutes before rinsing. After cleaning garbage can, sprinkle a handful on the bottom (once dry).
Soft Scrub Cleaner
Mix baking soda and Castile soap until you have a smooth paste (some water can be added), stir in a few drops of the Eucalyptus oil. Take a damp sponge, dab into the paste and use to scrub over stained areas. Wipe off with a damp, clean cloth.
by Anjie Cho
