Spring has sprung and this is the perfect time to clean and freshen your house. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money on cleaning products when you can whip up your own with a few simple, inexpensive ingredients.

The basic ingredient list includes:

• White Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Rubbing alcohol
• Ammonia
• Mild dish detergent
• Washing soda (can be found in the laundry products aisle)
• Borax (also in the laundry section)

Use clean jars or bottles for mixing and storage. Do not use food containers – children can think the contents are something to eat. Also, don’t mix your products in empty cleaning product bottles; residue from the original product may interact with your product, causing a dangerous reaction. Label each product and store out of reach of children. NEVER mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or vinegar – it will create dangerous, toxic fumes!

Here are a few recipes to get you started:

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

Mix in a 16 oz. or larger spray bottle:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water

Use on sinks, countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces, floors, toilets, and showers.

WINDOW CLEANER

• 3 tablespoons ammonia
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Put in a spray bottle and fill the rest with water.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

• 1 bar Ivory® or 1/3 bar Fels Naptha® soap
• 1/2 cup washing soda
• 1/2 cup borax powder

Grate the bar soap into a cooking pot. Add 6 cups of water and heat until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into a clean bucket. Add the soap mixture from the pot and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel slightly. Optional: Add 1 ounce essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice.

Use 1/2 cup per load. This is a low-sudsing soap which removes dirt and odor and can be used in high-efficiency machines.

For more product recipes, check out Homemade Household Cleaners and Green Cleaning: Recipes for a Healthy Home.

Sources: Homemade Household Cleaners

Clean It Green!, C. Rogers, UF/IFAS Extension Suwannee County.

Author: Judy Corbus – jlcorbus@ufl.edu

Judy Corbus is the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Washington and Holmes Counties.
http://washington.ifas.ufl.edu;http://holmes.ifas.ufl.edu

Living Well in the Panhandle

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