HOMEMADE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

Floor Cleaners
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Mix in your cleaning bucket and use this to clean vinyl type floors.

Wood Floor Cleaner
½ cup vinegar
1 gallon water
The most important thing to keep in mind while cleaning wood floors is that they can not get overly wet. When you use the above mixture, dip your sponge mop into the solution and squeeze until almost dry. Then mop. Never put the cleaner directly on the floor. Dry any streaked or wet area with a clean towel as you go along the floor.

All Purpose Cleaners
I like to make a large batch of my favorite household cleaner. I make this in a gallon size container and fill spray bottles as I need it.
~In a clean, empty gallon milk jug put:
2 Tablespoons ammonia
1 teaspoon dish detergent
1 pint (2 cups) rubbing alcohol
4 drops food coloring – optional
a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a nice fresh scent, I use Orange
Fill the rest of the gallon jug with hot water. Pour into spray container to use.

Here is a cleaner you make right in your spray bottle:
All-Purpose Cleaner
2T vinegar
1 t Borax
Hot water
a few drops of a mild dish detergent
10 drops of essential oil, optional
In a 16 spray bottle put vinegar, borax and hot water. Swish around until borax has dissolved. Add the drops of dish detergent and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add the essential oil (I like using orange or lavender).

All Purpose Cleaner in a Bucket (for big jobs like walls)
½ cup ammonia
¼ cup vinegar
¼ cup baking soda
Mix the above ingredients with 1 gallon of warm water and use for basic cleaning jobs around the home. Double the above ingredients for cleaning shower walls or other extra heavy duty areas.

Soft Scrubbing Type Cleaners
Here is one of my favorites for cleaning counter tops, sinks or any area that needs some scrubbing without the worry of scratching the surface.
Homemade “soft scrub” Type Cleaner
There are no measurements necessary for this one. Simply put a small amount of baking soda in a bowl and add liquid dish detergent until you have smooth paste or frosting like substance. This very well on sinks and counters and won’t scratch the surface.

Window Cleaner
This one can be made right in your spray bottle.
½ t mild dish detergent
3T vinegar
2 cups water
Put all these ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake this up some and use it just like the commercial variety.

Homemade Window Cleaner #2
3T Ammonia
1T vinegar
Put in spray bottle and fill the rest of the way up with water.

Commet Type Scrub Powders
This is an easy one. You can use baking soda! Sprinkle on sinks, counters or anywhere you need to get rid of build up or stains. Dampen slightly and scrub with a soft cloth to prevent scratching.

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Add vinegar to laundry rinse water: removes all soap and prevents yellowing.

After shampoo hair rinse: 1 ounce apple cider vinegar in 1 quart of distilled water.

To remove lime coating on your teakettle; add vinegar to the water and let stand overnight.

Reduce mineral deposits in pipes, radiators, kettles and tanks by adding vinegar into the system.

Clean jars with vinegar and water to remove odor.

Add vinegar to your deep fryer to eliminate a greasy taste.

To eliminate mildew, dust and odors, wipe down walls with vinegar-soaked cloth.

Clean windows with vinegar and water.

Hardened paint brushes: simmer in boiling vinegar and wash in hot soapy water.

Clean breadbox and food containers with vinegar-dampened cloth to keep fresh-smelling and clean.

Pour boiling vinegar down drains to unclog and clean them.

Clean fireplace bricks with undiluted vinegar.

An excellent all-purpose cleaner: vinegar mixed with salt. Cleans copper, bronze, brass, dishes, pots, pans, skillets, glasses, windows. Rinse well.

Remove stains from stainless steel and chrome with a vinegar-dampened cloth.

Rinse glasses and dishes in water and vinegar to remove spots and film.

Prevent grease build-up in your oven by frequently wiping it with vinegar.

Wipe jars of preserves and canned food with vinegar to prevent mold-producing bacteria


****A word of caution on making homemade cleaners: never mix bleach with any type of acid such as ammonia or vinegar. It will cause toxic fumes that are very dangerous