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There is a difference between "natural" and "environmentally safe." If your goal is to produce cleaners with non-toxic natural ingredients, be sure that is what you are getting. For instance, Isopropyl Alcohol is shown on one site (eartheasy.com) as environmentally safe, but with a warning that repeated use can cause illness in humans.
The same website lists Citrus Solvent and Trisodium phosphate (TSP) as two "easy-to-use natural alternatives." Reader beware. Continue reading on the descriptions and you'll find that they may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities and they may be dangerous if swallowed (no, you wouldn't swallow them, but consider small children and pets).
With a few simple ingredients available from your local store you can make some wonderful homemade cleaners that are truly natural and safe, as well as inexpensive. This list of ingredients includes:
Washing soda
Borax
Baking soda
Salt
Vinegar
Lemon
Liquid soap (such as Castille, which is pure and chemical-free)
Ivory Soap (99% pure)
If you want to make your products with a special scent, use essential oils. Lemon, orange, and lavender are popular essential oils. Tea tree is another, with one benefit being that it is also an antibacterial.
No need to stop with basic household cleansers. For a quick and easy furniture polish you'll want to add coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil or any other oil, along with beeswax, to that list. A bit of orange or lemon oil will add a wonderful scent as well. Not only will your body thank you, but your furniture will shine naturally because of your efforts. -
Two easy-to-make, inexpensive household cleansers include laundry soap and an all-purpose cleaner. When compared to off-the-shelf detergents, you'll find that these homemade cleaners cost about half as much. The cost of this laundry soap (depending on your area), is approximately $11, and it produces enough to wash about 64 loads of laundry. A similar amount of detergent purchased premade off the shelf may cost the same (depending on the brand and sale), but will only wash half the amount at 32 loads of laundry (estimating 1/4 cup of detergent).
Laundry Soap:
4 cups grated Ivory Soap
2 cups washing soda
2 cups borax
Essential oil for scent
You'll use only 2 tbsp. (that's right, you don't need 1/4 cup to clean your clothes, just two tbsp. for even the toughest loads). Have a spot you need removed? Make a paste with some of the detergent, rub it on the spot, let it sit a few moments before washing, and viola! The spot is gone.
This detergent can also be used as a floor cleaner, but be sure to rinse after using. A good vinegar and water mix with a touch of essential oil for scent makes a great floor rinse.
For a great kitchen or bathroom cleanser:
1 cup grated soap
1 cup borax
1 cup vinegar
4 cups water
Heat water and vinegar to boiling, remove from heat, and add dry ingredients. Stir well and let sit. It will set up into a jelly-like mass, which you can then use for floors, counters, toilets, tub, sinks or whatever else. For the added benefit of antibacterial cleansing, add 20 drops of tea tree oil.
