Cleaning ingredients from www.ehow.com
Distilled white vinegar
There appears to be very little that you can’t do with distilled white vinegar. This product I would keep on hand in the gallon jugs. I usually buy 2 one I keep in my pantry and one is in my laundry area.
Hydrogen Peroxide
You usually think of this for cuts because it is a wonderful germ killer. That is why it works so well with the vinegar to destroy all those germs and bacteria that love to live on your counter tops, in your sinks, toilet and other surfaces in your home.
Lemon Juice
Some surfaces can not take the acid in the distilled white vinegar and lemon juice is a better choice for your acid component. Great side affect of lemon is that insects especially spiders do not like it.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is great for so many things. You can purchase it in larger boxes or bags and it is great to keep on hand. Many people do not realize but adding baking soda to your toot paste on your tooth brush will help to relieve you of tooth pain and it is great for getting rid of plaque and freshening your breath.
CASTILE LIQUID SOAP
Castile soap is commonly found in health food stores due to it's mild and natural ingredients. If you want a greener alternative to commercial soap, or have concerns about the chemicals in most soaps, Castile soap is the solution. Castile soap is made mostly of olive oil, making it gentle and hydrating to your skin. You can buy castile liquid soap on the internet and in stores but if you want Take a look at the following recipe from www.ehow.com and make it yourself.
Castile Liquid Soap Recipe Easy to Make
Things You'll Need:
2 cups olive oil
1/2 cup lye granules
12 cups water
candy thermometer
Step 1
Heat the olive oil to 80 degrees. You will allow it to cool to 75 degrees before adding the lye.
Step 2
As the olive oil is cooling dissolve the lye into the 12 cups of water. Use a wooden spoon to stir the lye as it dissolves. Use extreme caution when mixing and pouring lye! Work in a well ventilated area, wear eye protection and keep some vinegar handy in case you get some lye on your skin. The vinegar will neutralize the lye.
Step 3
DISH DETERGENT
Dish detergent is pretty non toxic so any brand you prefer is fine to use in the recipes however reduce the amount you add if you are using a “concentrated:” brand.
WATER
You can use regular tap water but I usually use distilled water because of the minerals having been removed especially in the window cleaner recipe. When a recipe calls for warm water it is usually to help with the dissolving of the dry components of that recipe and it does not have to be warm when using it to clean.
OLIVE OIL
Olive oil is produced by grinding olives and extracting the oil by mechanical or chemical means. For these recipes you can use pure olive oil rather than virgin or extra virgin which are more expensive.
ESSENTIAL OIL
Essential oils are extracted from herbs, flowers and plants and provide various fragrances. See the list of oils and descriptions on page
CLUB SODA
This beverage contains the mineral sodium citrate, which helps it loosen dirt and soften water so that it dries without water spots. It is great for cleaning glass and appliances and removing stains from fabrics. Avoid types marked low sodium because they may have a lower mineral content, which would make them less effective.
BORAX
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.
Borax has a wide variety of uses. It is a component of many detergents
Because of its toxicity I do not use it myself.
TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is a pale yellow colour to nearly clear hydrophobic essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor.[ Tea tree oil has beneficial medical properties when applied topically, including antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral action, and is also believed to have beneficial cosmetic properties. Tea tree oil is usually used diluted, as reactions are common with pure tea tree oil, but it can also cause irritation for some people when diluted. Tea tree oil is toxic when taken internally, and so should never be added to food or drinks.
WASHING SODA (SODIUM CARBONATE)
This mineral is highest on the ph scale and therefore has the most cleaning power, but it is also the most caustic. It is an effective abrasive cleaner and can boost the power of laundry detergents. Avoid using it on fiberglass, aluminum, no‐wax floors, and delicate fabrics. It can irritate the skin, so use gloves when cleaning with it. Like borax, washing soda can also be found in the laundry section. Arm & hammer super washing soda is a popular brand.
OXYGEN BLEACH
Powdered oxygen bleach is a great alternative to chlorine bleach and is friendlier to you and the environment because it is usually sodium per carbonate (a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and washing soda). It is especially useful for whitening laundry, removing stains from fabric, and cleaning grout. For maximum cleaning power, look for a content of 75 percent sodium per carbonate, and avoid those that have added artificial fragrance or dye.
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