Safe Cleaning Solutions Page

Deodorant


this is not my original recipe but i tell you it works and oh, boy is it simple.

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup baking soda

5-6 tablespoons coconut oil

optional few drops of essential oil, lavender here

mash it like richard in encounters

put it in a container and use it.

 i have found that the mixture's consistency changes with warm and cool temperatures but works no matter what.
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Wipes
A fabulous cousin shared how she makes her own baby wipes. We still use wipes around here, especially in the car, after a meal on the go, to clean up a not so serious injury or to swipe the sweat from our brows.
...

Here it is:
"I use mostly purified water, a tiny amount of Dr Bronner's soap, tea tree oil (or vitamin E or grapeseed oil), then essential oil. I have been putting it on bounty paper towels cut into squares. I store it in tupperware. It can mold if you make too much, but that hasn't happened to me yet. Now I'm putting everything in a spray bottle & spraying cut up prefolds as I change."
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We had some old t-shirts around so I cut them up and made mine with castor oil, lavender and witch hazel.  Since we don't have babies around I thought the cloth would be nice and the second container is a different shape and color for easy identification between clean and dirty.  If you use cloth diapers I would image you could leave the used wipe in the diaper for washing.

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Thanks for all of comments and questions.  I would like to make sure I clarify about the use of purified water in your cleaning solutions.  It is recommended because of the minerals found in tap water.  Especially when cleaning glass, purified water can make a noticeable difference.
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The Toilet

I usually clean with baking soda or borax and a vinegar/water mixture.

Other solutions:

Hollywood Bowl from Clean House, Clean Planet
Mix about half a cup of liquid soap and two cups of backing soda together.  Dilute with 1/4 cup water and 2tsp. vinegar (will foam), add about 50 drops of tea tree oil.

Borax is a natural detergent and can be sprinkled in the toilet and left to sit overnight, this leaves the scrubbing the next day that much easier.

For stubborn stains, hard water or copper pipes, pumice stone can do wonders (sold at most hardware stores)


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I have been making my own cleaning solutions for while now.  I have done some reading on the subject and have found many different solutions that are very simple and can be modified to suit most every job.  Two books I have found very helpful;  Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan and Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck.
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Most Basic Essentials:

• Distilled White Vinegar
• Liquid Soap (Dr. Bonner's and Murphy's Oil are great)
• Purified Water
• Essential Oil of your choose (Tea Tree oil has antibacterial and fungicide properties)
• Baking Soda

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The Bathtub

I usually clean by sprinkling baking soda around the tub

then spray with a water, vinegar and essential oil mix,
(one third vinegar to two thirds purified water and about 30 drops of tea tree oil)

sometimes I will combine this with castile soap, scrub,

and you are done.

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Other Solutions for bathtubs:

Earth Scrub from Clean House, Clean Planet
Mix about 2 cups baking soda with half a cup of liquid soap in a bowl.  Dilute with half a cup of water.  add 2 tbsp. vinegar last.  Stir until lumps are gone.

Earth Paste from Clean House, Clean Planet
Mix about 2 cups of baking soda with half a cup liquid soap in a bowl.  Add 2 tbsp. water.  Mix with a fork until smooth.  Stir in 2 tbsp. vinegar last.

Murphy's Oil Soap and warm water can do wonders.

Lemon and salt are also wonderful cleaning agents.