Tips & Tricks for Homemade Supplies

Today I spent the better part of my morning experimenting with different recipes for household items. I have finally finished my regular stash of harmful chemical cleaners. I scoured the internet for the last several weeks looking for just the right ingredients that will get the job done without compromising the air quality in my home like so many other cleaners do.  My usual Mr. Clean febreze all purpose cleaner is replace with vinegar, water, lemon, baking soda and tea tree oil. Fabric refresher replaced with water, baking soda, and vanilla extract. Dusting spray with olive oil, lemon juice, white vinegar and water. And the glass cleaner replaced with white vinegar and water.

I believe the best part of having all homemade cleaners is that Emma can get in on the action without getting harmful chemicals on her. When I clean my kitchen counters now I know it's safe around my food because I use the ingredients in my food! Add to this the fact that I can actually breathe while scrubbing my bathroom it's amazing.


My best friend in cleaning was bleach. I used it on everything. I would dilute a little in a bucket of water and mop the floors, wipe down the walls, pour some in the toilet bowl, soak my whites in the tub in it. I used bleach everywhere. The downside to this is that bleach dried my hands out, left an awful smell on my skin and practically burned my lungs when I would breathe.

I found this lovely little list on this website.

The ABC’s of the Toxic Chemical Connection

1. Begin by thinking of your home as a toxic waste dump. The average home today contains 62 toxic chemicals – more than a chemistry lab at the turn of the century.
2. More than 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since WW II.
3. Less than 2% of synthetic chemicals in wide spread use have ever been tested for toxicity, birth defects or their mutagenic or carcinogenic effects.
4. The majority of chemicals have NEVER been tested for long-term effects.
5. An EPA survey concluded that indoor air was 3 to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.
6. Another EPA study stated that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.
7. CMHC reported that houses today are so energy efficient that “out gassing” of chemicals has nowhere to go, so it builds up inside the home.
8. We spend 90% of our time indoors and 65% of our time at home. Moms, infants and the elderly spend 90% of their time in the home.
9. Cancer rates have almost doubled since 1960.
10. Cancer is the number one cause of death for children.
11. There has been a 26% increase in breast cancer since 1982.
12. Breast cancer is the number one killer of women between the ages of 35 and 54.
13. Primary suspects are laundry detergents and bleach, household cleaners, and pesticides.
14. There has been a call from the U.S./ Canadian Commission to ban bleach in North America.
15. Bleach is being linked to the rising rates of breast cancer in women, reproductive problems in men, and learning and behavioral problems in children.
16. Chemicals get into our body through inhalation, ingestion and absorption.
17. We breathe 10 to 20 thousand liters of air per day

Amazing isn't it. 

I never knew all that harmful stuff was in MY house. How could I be so stupid to use products that have untested chemicals in them. 

The problem is that we have not been properly educated and the information is so hard to find. Don't believe that just because it is on a grocery store shelf makes it safe. I used to waltz into the grocery store, go through the cleaning aisles and pick up windex, bleach, pine sol or mr. clean, febreze, glade scented plug ins, clorox bleach toilet bowl cleaner, all purpose sprays and never think a thing of it. Now that I know better I'm skipping all of that. No more scrubbing bubbles here.

Air fresheners one of my all time favorite things could have been interfering with my reproductive health. There was no warning label stating it can cause birth defects, infertility and hormonal imbalances. The state of California stated that 5 types of phthalates are known to cause reproductive harm and birth defects. You can find more information here.

Now that I have ranted about the evils of chemicals and how they are now officially banned from my home here's how to make some standard cleaning supplies.

All Purpose Cleaner:

I use this to wipe down kitchen counters, cabinets, floors, toilets, showers anything hard and non-porous. It gives off an amazing clean fresh smell. No chemicals that will burn your nose when you're done. 

1 Gallon container from water

1/2 cup baking soda

1/4 distilled white vinegar

50 drops of lemon juice

10 drops of tea tree oil

Hot water

First place a large funnel in the mouth of your one gallon container. Pour in vinegar, and baking soda. Remove funnel and add lemon juice and tea tree oil, then add hot water shake and cap. 

I made two gallons of this all purpose cleaner. It works great on everything except for class because of the baking soda. 

Window and Glass Cleaner:

1 spray bottle (I used an old fabric refresher bottle after I washed and boiled it.)

Water

White vinegar

This one is super simple.

In the large spray bottle pour in equal parts water and vinegar. 

That's it. =]

Dusting Spray:

1 large spray bottle

Water

2 tsp olive oil

20 drops lemon oil

1/4 white vinegar

Add to a spray bottle and fill to the top with water. Just be sure to give it a good shake before spraying. 

Air Freshener:

Spray bottle (recycled again.)

Water

A few drops of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of baking soda

Use a funnel to add all ingredients to spray bottle, shake and spray. You can use any essential oils that you would like to switch up the scent. I happened to have vanilla extract on hand and it make a lovely warm sweet scent. 

I'm working on replacing our carpet cleaning solution, dish soap and dish detergent.