Yes, this post is about ecologically friendly cleansers, but be patient! There IS vodka in here…
If you’re like me, you hate cleaning. Don’t get me wrong, I have a very clean and tidy home. In fact, I’m a bit OCD when it comes down to the old “a place for everything and everything in it’s place.” But I dislike the actual act of cleaning. Doesn’t everyone?
Plus – every time I reach for the glass spray or caustic all purpose cleaner, I feel really guilty about how my OCD is affecting the environment. I mean, why should Planet Earth have to suffer just because I want things spic-and-span at all times?
So instead I found these really great – and easy – recipes for ecologically friendly cleaners.
First, you’ll want to stock up on some ingredients, but you probably already have a lot of these in your home, and the ones you don’t have are way cheaper than any pre-made cleaner – environmentally friendly or not – that you can buy at the store.
What you’ll need:
- VODKA! (yes, seriously)
- white vinegar (kills most mold, bacteria, and germs);
- baking soda (deodorizes, scours surfaces, and is a natural cleaning agent);
- lemon juice (it has antibacterial and antiseptic qualities, is a natural bleach, and it controls odors);
- olive oil (polishes);
- salt (scours, cleans, and deodorizes);
- tea tree oil (kills germs);
- hydrogen peroxide (kills bacteria and mold);
- pure castile soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s (cleanses);
- empty spray bottles and reusable rags;
- essential oils you like the smell of
Recipes:
All-purpose cleaner Equal parts vinegar and water. The vinegar smell dissipates as soon as it dries, but if it bothers you add a few drops of lemon juice. Put into a spray bottle and use for almost all of your cleaning.
Windows and mirror cleaner Pour a quarter of a cup of vinegar in a spray bottle, and fill the rest with with warm water. A bit of Eucalyptus oil rubbed on the mirrors will prevent them from fogging up.
Floor soap Fill a bucket with warm or hot water, add a quarter of a cup of vinegar and a dash of castile soap. Dunk your rag in the bucket, ring out, and wipe down the floors.
Carpet deodorizer For general cleaning on light colored rugs, sprinkle baking soda before you vacuum. For stains, mix equal parts borax or baking soda, salt, and white vinegar. Apply the paste to the stain and let dry, then vacuum.
Tubs, countertops, and sink scrub Mix baking soda with a bit of castile soap. You can add an essential oil for fragrance if you like. Scrub and rinse.
Oven cleaner Combine three parts baking soda, one part salt, and one part water. Spread the mixture across the oven surface and let sit for eight hours. Scrape and wipe clean.
Natural drain cleaner Take a half a cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Let it fizz, then flush with hot water.
Wood cleaner Mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice. Rub the mixture into the furniture with a soft cloth and wipe away excess.
Moldy grout remover Mix a half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one cup of water. Spray it on the moldy area, let it sit for 1 hour, and rinse.
Shower spray Fill a spray bottle with water and five to 10 drops of tea tree oil. Keep this in your shower. Shake up and spray after each shower. This will keep mold and mildew at bay and it smells good, too! Replace it biweekly.
Toilet Mix a quarter of a cup of baking soda with one cup of vinegar. Pour the liquid into the basin and let sit for a few minutes. Scrub and flush.
Stainless steel polish Rub a little olive oil on the surface to remove streaks and prints.
Air freshener Simmer a pot of water with cinnamon sticks and cloves or a few drops of an essential oil you like on the stove.
Marble, granite, or stone countertop cleaner These materials require a different cleanser because the acidity of vinegar can etch the surface. Instead, substitute rubbing alcohol or VODKA for vinegar in your all-purpose cleaner.
Now, I recommend the vodka route on this last recipe. Here’s why: first of all, rubbing alcohol is poisonous while vodka is not (at least if you don’t overdo it, that is!); secondly, vodka smells better than rubbing alcohol – way better in my opinion 
; and last, but certainly not least, you can mix yourself a nice martini to ease the pain of having to clean.
But I would also suggest that you clean your countertops last to avoid the possibility that you enjoy this recipe so much, you never quite make it to the other chores!
