I enjoy cleaning and making everything sparkle in my house. However, I always disliked cleaning the bathroom not because of the actual cleaning part but because of the awful cleaners I thought I had to use to get the bathroom clean. They would make me cough, irritate my nose, and give me a slight headache. What was I using, you may ask, that would cause such a reaction? Just your average bathroom cleaner. As I started becoming more educated about cleaners and reading more labels, I realized there was a reason that I hated those cleaners so much. They are full of horrid chemicals that have been linked to many illnesses and diseases. Did you know that there are 63 synthetic chemical products found in the average American home, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals (source )? Yuck. I would like to avoid as much harmful stuff in my house as possible so I opt to make my own cleaners. This one is quick to mix up, doesn’t take many ingredients, and is a very frugal option, costing much less than a bottle of regular cleaner from the store. ”So, it’s green,” you might say, “but does it actually clean anything?” Yes! Vinegar has been cited in studies to kill 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (source) and tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties. I love it! Smells like essential oils, cleans great, and is easy on my wallet. I use it mostly in the bathroom but it also works well as a kitchen counter spray and floor cleaner.
Ingredients:
Step One:
7:56 am on October 24th, 2011
This is very interesting. Where could I find liquid castile soap? I am definitely going to try this frugal option.
8:14 am on October 24th, 2011
Thanks for the recipe. I’m going to have to try it. Visiting from the Barn Hop.
8:26 am on October 24th, 2011
Elisabeth, you can find liquid castile soap at many health food stores. I have also found it at Trader Joe’s, Target, and online at VitaCost (where I buy my supplements).
3:51 pm on October 25th, 2011
Actually, vinegar is excellent for getting rid of odors. I had a house that had an air handler at the end of a hall between two bedrooms. The front bedroom had a musty odor and I used to keep a Pyrex dish of vinegar on top of the armoire to kill the odor. Then we discovered the a/c unit was leaking and was causing the odor. I also keep a bowl of vinegar in our travel trailer over the winter to prevent that must odor.
Thanks for this recipe! I use vinegar with lemon essential oil. Never thought to add the rest of the ingredients – all of which I have on hand!! Very cool! Can’t wait to try it. =)
8:25 pm on October 25th, 2011
I use only vinegar and baking soda for most of my cleaning…as I have an allergy for all those chemicals.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
8:28 am on October 26th, 2011
Connie, I am also a big fan of baking soda. I often use baking soda in the tub or on my counters when they need a good scrubbing.
8:29 am on October 26th, 2011
Tori, thanks for the tip about vinegar and odors. I will have to try that out!