How to Make Organic Cleaners

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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The majority of cleaning products used today contain harsh chemicals that remain on the surfaces you clean and touch daily. Chemicals also end up in runoff water and cause unnecessary damage to the environment. Cutting back on some of your standard cleaning supplies and replacing them with organic cleaners can make a big difference. You'll save money, help the planet and keep your home a healthy one.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

White vinegar
Baking soda
Salt or cornstarch
Lemon juice
Washing soda

Step1

Stock up on some basic supplies. You'll need white vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon juice to start. Other items like essential oils--tea tree or citrus--rubbing alcohol and washing soda (sodium carbonate) are also a good idea. Have some empty, clean spray bottles with labels, plenty of cloth rags, and a mop and bucket.

Step2

Check around online for several versions of organic cleaner "recipes." Use whichever you're most comfortable with. It may make the most sense to start off simply before you venture into more complicated cleaning solutions. None are overly difficult, however.

Step3

Start in the bathroom. Make a glass cleaner using a mixture of a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar and about a quart of water in a spray bottle. For sticky spots on glass caused by hairspray, dab with rubbing alcohol. Tackle the buildup on shower doors with 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 3/4 cup of hot water, adding a little lemon juice if you wish. You can also use white vinegar to wipe down toilet seats.

Step4

Clean the kitchen, using the same glass cleaner from the bathroom where needed. For greasy spots near the oven and on cabinet doors, dilute 1/4 cup of lemon juice in a quart of hot water.

Step5

Make the carpet fresh again with 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt or cornstarch. Sprinkle the mixture on the carpet and let it sit for about 30 minutes before vacuuming. Also, leave a sprinkle of cinnamon or allspice for 15 minutes to scent a freshened rug.

Step6

Do the laundry without harsh detergents. Wash whites in a combination of 1/4 cup of sodium carbonate and 1/4 cup white vinegar. The vinegar smell disappears when the clothes are dry and it freshens your laundry. For darks, use 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of salt. The salt brightens the colors.

Step7

Tackle the floors. One gallon of hot water with 1/2 cup of white vinegar is safe for any floor, including wood. Add citrus oil to help polish your wood floors. Use citrus oil undiluted on a rag to polish your wood furniture.

Tips & Warnings

Wash rags after cleaning and reuse them next time.
Some ingredients, although organic, can still irritate. Use caution when mixing cleaning products and always keep them out of reach of children and pets.