5 Ingredients You Need In A D.I.Y Cleaning Kit

Borax- A Natural color safe bleach: At the same time, you're using this product as a laundry booster it also acts as a natural bleaching agent, which is safe for both whites and colored fabrics. Borax is actually a naturally occurring mineral, and there are many companies that sell it.

Laundry- Borax is great when used with detergent to help along the laundry. Its alkaline nature make detergents act more effectively. In addition, borax is a whitener, which will help your clothes look sparklingly clean.

Drain and Toilet Cleaner-Borax poured down a blocked drain, left to sit for some hours and then washed down using warm water can unblock a drain quite easily.

Dishwasher-Dishwashers often develop nasty smells after being used several times. After your final rinse, sprinkle some borax over the base, leave it overnight and wash it out the next morning. Its deodorizing properties will help wipe out the nasty smell.

Floors- Borax, dissolved in a large amount of water, can be used to clean floors and tiles, leaving them sparkling.

Surfaces- (Spray) Mixed with vinegar and dish-soap, borax makes a great all-purpose cleaning spray which can be used over most kind of surfaces safely, like counter tops or appliances.

Scrubbing Paste Borax added to lemon juice make an effective scrubbing paste which can be used on stubborn stains near kitchen fixtures. The paste can also be used to scrub ovens, sinks or stainless steel cutlery.

Cautions- While borax is a natural product, there are some dangers associated with it. Overexposure on skin can cause irritation and blistering. Borax, if ingested, can be dangerous, particularly for small children or pets. Because of these dangers, some people prefer to use alternatives like baking soda in place of borax for their cleaning needs. However, it cannot be denied that borax has its own functions and uses.

You may be wondering, when you read these recipes, what is washing soda?

Well, it is not the same thing as baking soda, which is a common misconception. However, both washing and baking soda are related, since baking soda's scientific name is sodium bicarbonate, and soda crystals' scientific name is sodium carbonate. This means they are similar, but not identical chemical compounds.

In fact, both washing and baking soda are naturally occurring substances found together in trona, which is the substance mined to get both types of soda we generally use here in the United States today.

Soda crystals are a highly alkaline substance, with a pH of almost 12.0 (the highest is 14.0).

This high alkalinity means that it can act as a laundry booster, when added to the wash, by increasing the effectiveness of laundry detergent, especially in areas with hard water.

Similarly, because laundry soda is so alkaline it is a powerful cleaning agent for your home, and is used in y different cleaning solution.

Please note that because of laundry soda's high alkalinity it can cause skin irritation, so wear rubber gloves while cleaning with any solution containing it, and also rinse the area thoroughly if it gets in contact with your skin.

Further, as with all homemade cleaning products (and commercial cleaning products) keep it out of reach of children and pets, and label all containers holding it. Finally, make sure you don't use it to clean aluminum, because the high alkalinity will cause the aluminum to pit and change colors.

Baking Soda- It's 100 percent sodium bicarbonate, which can be used as a leavening agent in baked goods. When mixed with an acid, baking soda reacts, making bubbles and giving off carbon dioxide gas, which causes dough to rise.

There are many non-poisonous products that can be used for basic household cleaning. Next to vinegar, the most useful of these is baking soda.  Like vinegar, baking soda has three major things going for it as a cleanser: •It's non-toxic. Sure, eaten in large amounts it might make you feel unpleasant, but it's not poisonous.

•It's multi-purpose. The suggestions in this article are only a few of the many ways that baking soda can be used as a household cleanser.

•Best of all, it's CHEAP! The cost of baking soda (especially when purchased in several pound large boxes) is far less than that of any other, specialized cleaning agent.

Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda, as it is also known) is a naturally occurring material, present in most organic life forms. It can be "made" from sodium carbonate, or soda ash. The soda ash is dissolved in a carbon dioxide rich solution, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) precipitates out.

As its name suggests, baking soda can be used for cooking. It can also be used medicinally and, as we will discuss in this article, for cleaning.

In the kitchen- The kitchen is the most likely place to find baking soda. Don't stop with using it for baking, though!

       A box or small bowl of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, or any cupboard will keep away unpleasant odors.

·    Similarly, baking soda will keep away garbage odors; sprinkle the bottom of the pail, and then sprinkle again after you put a new bag in.

·         Grease fires can be put out by sprinkling them with baking soda.

·         To clean surfaces, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth. Wipe, then rinse with clean water.

·         To remove stale smells from food containers, rinse out with hot water and baking soda. If the smell persists, let the container soak overnight in the baking soda and water mixture.

·         To clean silver, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Rub the paste onto each item, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

·         To remove scuff marks or grease spills from the floor, sprinkle with baking soda and then wipe with a warm, damp cloth. This is even safe for no-wax floors!

1.   For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily.

2.   In the Bathroom

3.   9.To remove stubborn stains from most surfaces, use a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda, one part water). Apply, let stand, then scrub or wipe clean.

4.   Hairbrushes and combs can be cleaned in a baking soda solution.

5.   To avoid clogged drains, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down weekly. Rinse through with hot water.

6.   All Around the House

7.   To remove scents from a carpet, sprinkle with baking soda. Let stand for at least fifteen minutes, then vacuum. Repeat as needed.

8.   If there is a smoker in the house, put baking soda in the bottom of each ashtray to keep away some of the stale smoke smell.

9.   Baking soda in the litterbox will help prevent odors.

10. To quickly clean pets and remove "wet dog" odor, sprinkle with baking soda and brush out their fur.

Castile Soap- If you have longed for a soap that you can trust is made with pure, all-natural, chemical-free ingredients, Castile would be at the the top of the list. Castile soap represents one of the best natural and biodegradable soaps that can be manufactured by hand.

Castile soap is not only a great soap for washing your body and hair as part of a natural skin care routine, but you can do the laundry with it — plus, it can safely be used by children. Castile soap is also very popular among vegans and vegetarians it’s plant-based. Also, it doesn’t lose potency with time and is often seen in the form of liquid Castile soap or pure Castile soap as a bar.

Speaking of potency, a study shows that Castile positively affected contaminated orthopedic wounds when used to irrigate and ultimately cleanse the wounds. A comparison was made using normal saline, Castile soap, benzalkonium chloride, bacitracin or sequential irrigation with all of the above combined. While sequential irrigation treatment significantly lowered the rate of wound complications when applied, so did Castile soap all by itself!

A Little History of Castile Soap

Probably the most popular maker of Castile soap is Dr. Bronner. Dr. Bronner’s parents began this successful business manufacturing the soaps in the basement of the Heilbronner home in the Jewish quarter of Laupheim, Germany. Around the 1880s, the Heilbronners innovated the first liquid Castile soap, supplying public washrooms across Germany.  The Dr. Bronner that we know on the label today eventually made way to the U.S., where he continued the family business, ultimately founding Dr. Bronner in the 1940s. 

Though Dr. Bronner died in 1997, Dr. Bronner’s, the company, became the largest personal care company to be certified under the USDA National Organic Program, with bar and liquid soaps being certified by the highly reputable certifier Oregon Tilth.  Castile soap has been around for a very long time and was created just following the popular Aleppo, which is quite possibly one of the most important soap and household cleaning products ever made. An all-natural chemical-free soap, Aleppo was made from mixing oil from laurel (bay) trees with olive oil and soda. This is where Castile got its inspiration, however. Castile is one of the most popular European soaps today and has gained a ton of popularity in the U.S., found in health food stores and basic supermarkets today. Soap became a critical part of revolutionizing public sanitation and personal hygiene in Europe, especially with the prevention of spreading diseases. Initially, production of European soap was localized to the Mediterranean area, which slowly started spreading with the arrival of Muslim soap makers to Spain and Italy during the 12th century. This popular new creation enabled Spanish cities of Malaga, Carthagene, Castile, Alicante, and Italian cities of Savone, Genoa, Naples, Bologna and Venice to become soap export centers all of Europe. Among all those early European-made soaps, one managed to distinguish itself by its high quality and ability to clean better than others. This was Castile soap.

Castile soap managed to establish such popularity because the Spanish city of Castile had an abundance of olive oil, which was a crucial ingredient used in the production of this high-quality soap. While the original recipe for Aleppo soap required laurel oil, this type of oil was in short supply; however, the city of Castile had easy access to olive oil and that enabled the creation of a pure white soap that was very mild and effective. The whiteness was seen as purity, which made it very popular with Spanish royalty. As centuries went by, Castile soap began to make its way all over Europe, entering the British market during mid-1500s by sea.

Most cleaning products fall into one of two categories: toxic or expensive. While both types will clean almost anything (or at least, anything within their limited range of capabilities), there's a third option. It's inexpensive and not at all poisonous to humans. It's multi-purpose as well--one container will take care of laundry, kitchen cleaning, even bugs and weeds. This "miracle cleaner" is vinegar. Vinegar is a weak form of acetic acid that forms through the fermentation of sugars or starches. It is completely edible, and cannot harm your stomach. And luckily for us, many things can be cleaned using it.

The uses of vinegar are nearly endless. In addition to cleaning, it is an excellent item for cooking and for home science experiments (remember the vinegar-and-baking soda volcanoes from grade school?). The health benefits are many as well.

Here we are focusing on the uses of vinegar as a cleaner.

Note: plain white vinegar is the best for the following uses; cider and other vinegars may have unwanted side effects. Vinegar is used in 100% concentration unless otherwise specified. Vinegar- Refrigerator: Skip the toxic chemicals where you store your food. Instead, try surface cleaning with white vinegar. Wipe up spills with a 50-50 vinegar-water mix. You can even keep a bottle of the mixture stored in your fridge!

Drain: Pour vinegar onto a scrub brush small enough to get inside the disposal. Sprinkle the brush with baking soda, then scrub to remove odors and built-up crud, says Mary Findley ofGoClean.com, a former pro cleaner and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Cleaning.

Cutting boards: For cutting board surface cleaning with white vinegar, spray with straight vinegar, then rinse to clean.

Microwave: Surface cleaning with white vinegar isn't limited to countertops. Get at hard-to-clean microwave stains by placing 1/2-cup vinegar and 1/2-cup water in a glass bowl. Microwave 2-3 minutes, or until it boils. Wipe buildup away with ease!

Stained plastic containers: Coat in vinegar. Let sit. Wash as usual, says Leslie Reichert, aka The Cleaning Coach.

Countertops: Cleaning kitchen countertops with white vinegar is simple: Just spray onto your surface, then wipe away with a warm, wet rag. However, avoid cleaning countertops with vinegar if you have a granite or marble surface.

Toilet: To clean a toilet with vinegar, pour a cup of vinegar in the bowl. Let sit overnight. (For tough jobs, empty the toilet water first.) The next morning, sprinkle with baking soda or borax; scrub, then flush.

General bathroom cleaning: Use straight or a diluted vinegar cleaning solution to scrub away bacteria, especially around the toilet, where it can curb urine staining and odor.

Tub or sink drain: Pour 1/2-cup distilled white vinegar around closed drain and let sit several hours. Scrub to remove buildup. Drain, then rinse.

Shower: Findley's shower deep-clean regimen: Bring vinegar to a boil, then use it to wipe down the shower door and walls. Keep them damp by wiping them down every 5 to 8 minutes for 30 minutes. Then, dampen a nonscratch sponge in vinegar, sprinkle with baking soda, and scrub. Rinse. Bye-bye germs, mold, water spots, and soap scum!

Showerhead: Pour some white vinegar into a plastic bag, and secure it to your showerhead with a twist-tie. Make sure there's enough vinegar so the bottom part of the showerhead is submerged. Leave the bag on overnight. Remove the next morning just before showering.

Tile surfaces: Mix 1/2-cup white distilled vinegar with a gallon of warm water. Mop floors or scrub countertops with the solution and allow to air dry.

Mattress disinfectant: Mix distilled white vinegar, a little rubbing alcohol, and some tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Lightly spritz on your mattress to help combat dust mites, mildew, and general odors. For a deeper clean, follow with a dusting of baking soda. Let dry, then vacuum.

White vinegar uses extend to fabrics and textiles, too.

Wood furniture: Use 1/4-cup white vinegar mixed with 1-cup olive oil -- plus a few drops of lemon or orange oil, if you wish -- to clean and condition wood furniture.

Carpet odor and dust mite remover: Mix a few drops of your favorite essential oil with some distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spritz lightly throughout. (Test in an inconspicuous spot first for colorfastness.)

Carpet rinse: After shampooing your carpet, rinse it using 1/2-cup vinegar per gallon of water. This lifts dirt-attracting soap residue, so carpets stay cleaner, longer.

Carpet pet odor remover: Wet spot with vinegar. Sprinkle with baking soda, and work the two together with a brush or your fingers. Let dry (ideally overnight). Vacuum.

Wood floor wash: Add 1/2-cup vinegar to a gallon of water to clean wood and laminated floors.

As a fabric softener: Use vinegar instead of fabric softeners in laundry, Findley says. "It softens clothes and removes the static at a fraction of the cost of fabric softeners," she says. "Just add a cup to the final wash or rinse water.

Air freshener: Add a 1/2-teaspoon vinegar to a 4-ounce spray bottle, then fill with distilled water, plus a few drops of your favorite essential oil, if desired.

Window cleaner: Mix 1/4-cup rubbing alcohol and 1/3-cup vinegar in a 32-oz spray bottle, then fill with water. Lightly spritz on a lint free cloth to clean.

All-purpose cleaner: Mix 1-cup vinegar, 2 teaspoons borax, 4-cups hot water, 5 drops liquid dish soap, 10 drops tea tree oil, and 10 drops your favorite essential oil (optional).

Disinfectant: Use a 50-50 vinegar-water mix to wipe down telephones, doorknobs, faucet handles, and more when cold and flu season hits, Findley says.

Essential Oils- The internet is flooded with DIY essential oil cleaner recipes. From kitchens to bathrooms, to bedrooms and beyond; there is a DIY cleaner for everything.

This list of cleaners has some great tried and true recipes that I have used to keep my house clean and smelling great! The essential oils used in each recipe are effective and natural – helping you replace toxic cleaners with natural alternatives without sacrificing quality or paying a high price.

1. Bathrooms-Quite often people don’t think about using essential oils in the bathroom because they think essential oils aren’t powerful enough to tackle those tough germs. Wrong! Some essential oils like tea tree, oregano, and eucalyptus have been proven to work against viruses like the norovirus, influenza, and even Staphylococcus aureus.

 2. Bedrooms- Bedrooms often contain dust and other airborne microbes that make linens smell musty. Freshen things up with Natural Beeswax Drawer Fresheners that will make your linens smell great. Also consider making a mattress spray with essential oils that are airborne antimicrobials (eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, rosemary and Siberian fir are great options). Just put a few drops of the oils in a spray bottle along with some water and spray liberally on mattress.

3. Kitchen- I love cleaning my kitchen with essential oils. This Simple DIY All-Purpose Cleaner is a wonderful base for any kitchen cleaner. Though the aroma is quite spicy, I find that black pepper essential oil works well for cleaning.

In 2010, researchers Karsha and Lakshmi found that black pepper essential oil was effective against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Streptococcus faecalis, Gram-negative Escherichia coli (e. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi (salmonella). When paired with citrus oils (bergamot, lemon, orange, grapefruit), it makes a great kitchen cleaner.

4. Floors- From hardwood to carpets, I’ve used essential oils to clean my floors very effectively. I love to use this Homemade Carpet Deodorizer with Essential Oils once a month to freshen my carpets. For tile and hardwood, I often add lemon essential oil to my cleaners to help dissolve dirt and marks.

5. Furniture- This Natural Wood Dusting Spray works well and is quite budget friendly. It’s made with lemon, sweet orange, and cedarwood essential oils which leave behind such an amazing aroma.
 Thank you for reading.
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