How to Make Green Cleaners for an RV

An all-purpose interior cleaner in one bottle helps reduce interior RV clutter.

Green cleaners made of biodegradable ingredients are a wonderful option, but they are often expensive. Eco-minded RV owners who wish to save money by making their own natural cleaning agents can do so with household items and can create a product that is as good as a commercial green cleaner. The best approach to take when making your own eco-friendly RV cleaner is to consider what formula would best clean a variety of surfaces. A homemade cleaner that can take care of glass, counter tops, sinks, toilets and showers will cover a majority of your RV interior, leaving only upholstery and carpeting to be dealt with separately.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle (with at least 32-oz. capacity)
• Latex gloves
• Borax
• Distilled white vinegar
• Hot water
• Liquid soap (not dish detergent, but liquid castile soap or coconut-oil soap)

Instructions

1. Purchase a spray bottle or thoroughly clean an existing spray bottle of its previous contents. Spray bottles with liquid-ounce measurements printed on the side make measuring the different ingredients much more convenient.

2. Remove the top from your spray bottle and measure 2 teaspoons of Borax into the bottle. Remember to wear gloves when pouring out the Borax. Although Borax is made from naturally occurring minerals, it is a skin irritant nonetheless.

3. Add 4 tablespoons of white vinegar to the Borax and stir. Acetic acid is the active ingredient in white vinegar that cleans and deodorizes surfaces, and it doesn't leave a vinegar scent behind upon drying.

4. Add 3 cups of hot water to the Borax/white vinegar mixture. Stir the mixture thoroughly to prevent any of the powdery Borax from lumping.

5. Add 1/4 teaspoon of liquid castile soap or coconut-oil soap to the mixture and stir thoroughly. Screw the top back onto the bottle tightly and shake the contents vigorously to further combine.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to label the spray bottle for identification and store the homemade cleaner out of reach of children.

References

• GreenerChoices: Cleaners: Green Buying Guide 2/09
• Healthy Child Healthy World: Recipes for Safer Cleaners