Squeaky Clean: Healthy Home Made Cleansers

Spring 'Cleaning' Is In The Air...

Here are some handy recipes to whip up DIY cleansers for your home I found over at Oprah.com. These recipes will save you money & they're earth friendly! Be sure to leave a comment or post a pick if you decide to try!

All-Purpose Cleaner

8 cups of water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 baking soda
Mix in a spray bottle. Good for hard water stains. Can be stored for later use.

Disinfectant All-Purpose Cleaner

2 cups water
3 drops Castile soap
30 drops lavender essential oil
Mix in spray bottle. Use on any surface (countertop, toilet, tile, kid's room).

Glass Cleaner

1 1/2 to 2 cups water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70 percent)
1 to 2 drops essential oil
Mix in spray bottle. Use to clean all glass surfaces or mirrors. Use newspaper instead of paper towels if possible.

Oven/Stove Cleaner

1 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. baking soda
Mix ingredients in bowl or jar. Apply paste to spill spots. Let sit for two hours. Wipe up with sponge or scrub with old toothbrush.

Toilet Cleaner

1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
Mix ingredients in bowl or jar. Pour into toilet. After three minutes, scrub with brush and flush.

Bathroom Cleaner

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
Mix in spray bottle. Spray on areas with mold and leave on for at least an hour before rinsing.

Soap Scum

1/4 cup water
1/2 cup baking soda
Mix ingredients to make paste. Use to scour away soap scum with clean sponge, cloth or bristle brush.

Drain Cleaner

8 cups water
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup baking soda
Pour baking soda down the drain followed by the vinegar. Let sit for five minutes. Flush down with near-boiling water.

Carpet Stain Remover

1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 borax
1/4 cup salt
Mix in bowl or jar. Rub paste into carpet and let dry. Then vacuum.

Carpet Deodorizers

1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup dried herbs (lavender, basil or rosemary)
Mix ingredients in flour sifter and sprinkle around room. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

Wood Furniture Polish

2 tbsp. borax
1/4 cup lemon juice
Mix and apply to clean cotton cloth. Use wide strokes to polish wood surface.

Fabric Softener

1/2 cup white vinegar
Add to rinse cycle in place of liquid fabric softener.

When to Clean-A Few Tips For A Better Clean

According to Health Magazine there should definitlely be a "method to the madness" for Neat*Freaks obsessed with dirt and grime. As a fellow "freak," I was a little taken back by the tips that I was not familiar with as part of my "Clean Routine." Not to worry, because within minutes I was making mental notes on and computing new strategies on how to use this new Intel in the never ending campaign to rid my home (car, workplace, etc) of germs!

I'll share these tips and some of the "germ-iest" things/places in your home after the break!

Clean in Seconds Flat

The Microwave. It ranks high on the list of man's great time saving inventions. Cancer-causing, killer-death, energy waves aside, the microwave has simplified the culinary experience.

They are a mainstay in most American homes. Heating, re-heating, de-frosting, popping, steaming, these babies see a lot of action. Have you looked at the inside of your microwave lately?

I like to clean. I like putting my food into a clean microwave, but spending hours scrubbing and rubbing to keep the it clean-not for me. Besides, many of the chemicals you clean other parts of the house with can be toxic. Remember we are taking about a machine that heats up the food you'll eat.

I have a tried and true, quick and easy method that gets my unit squeaky clean in minutes.

You'll need:

• A microwave safe bowl
• 2 cups of water
• 1/2 cup of white vinegar (optional)

Process:

Place water and vinegar in the bowl (vinegar is a great natural cleaner for the home) and place the bowl in the microwave for 5 minutes. The steam from the mixture should loosen the caked on food. Remove the bowl and wipe down the inside of the microwave.

That's it! The process from start to finish takes about 20 minutes depending on the condition of the microwave.

Enjoy!

Check Your Shoes @ The Door

                                                                          Source


Do you remove your shoes when you enter your home? Do you get the "side eye" glances, frowns, and moans when arriving guests find out they must part from what is sometimes the often the highlight of their ensemble before even making an entrance?

I am a big advocate for shoe removal in my home and while I know it can be a hassles, but it's the little things that can bring lots of comfort in a home! Living in the city my daily adventures take me above and below ground. I walk through and around things that makes my skin crawl! While I know that there is dirt everywhere and you can never truly live dirt free, (outside of a bubble anyway) I take solace in knowing I am doing what I can to lessen the contaminants and pollutants in my abode.

Did you know that in Japan shoes are left outdoors as a symbol of the conscious desire to leave the outside world outside? I love NYC but I definitely wouldn't walk the streets barefoot. For me this is the equivalent of wearing shoes indoors. 

Aside from the benefit of added cleanliness (wearing shoes indoors can track dust, dirt, mold, feces and more throughout your home) removing shoes has added benefits:

• Socks, bare feet, and "house shoes" or indoor only slippers help to lessen the wear and tear on hardwood floors and keep rugs cleaner

•  If there are small children in the home who like to play and roll around the floor, removing shoes can keep your home healthier

• For those that enjoy bare feet at home clean floors are definitely a bonus

•  Floors may have to be cleaned less frequently

Invest in some extra socks and slippers for house guests.
These are from NJUTA slippers can be purchased at Ikea for $2.49

 Hanes Men's Socks will fit most and won't break the bank. 10 pairs-$10.00. Available at Walmart, Target, or Kmart.

And if you're like me and thinking "How will I keep all of these shoes from cluttering the front door?" Check out these entry way "shoe keepers." These are from Target.