Natural Options – All Purpose Cleaners

Did you know that, in the United States, 800,000 tons of Hazardous Material is shipped on the road every day?

Did you know that much of that Hazardous Material is used to make the household cleaning supplies you buy in the store?

With that in mind, below are some natural, all-purpose cleaner recipes that can be made at home, generally with ingredients that you might already have on hand!

• Baking Soda: use it on a damp sponge to clean & deodorize any surface, including in your kitchen or bathroom!
• Baking Soda: dissolve 4 tablespoons in 1 quart of warm water to make a general cleaning solution. 
• Baking Soda: make a paste with baking soda and water and use it as a general cleaner. 
• Baking Soda/Borax & Castile Soap: use a little of this mixture and a lot of water to clean your floors, or more of it and less water to clean a sink, or a tub, or a cat box, or buckets, etc. – anything that is able to be rised well once the cleaning is complete.
•  Vinegar and Salt mixed together makes a good surface cleaner.
•  Salt, water, and a bit of vinegar makes a good paste which can be used as a general cleaner.

Here’s one that is a little more complex, but can be used in a spray bottle:

• 3 tablespoons vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon washing soda, 1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap – all mixed with 2 cups of hot water. Spray it on and wipe it clean!

Here’s some information about the products you will be using in the above cleaning recipes:

• Baking Soda was the primary cleaning agent in the restoration of the statue of liberty!  Is is scientifically known as sodium bicarbonate, and is known as a non-toxic, all-purpose cleaner, which cleans and deodorizes.
• Borax, scientifcally known as sodium borate, deodorizes and increases the effectiveness of soap.
• Castile Soap is soap made exclusively from vegetable oil (as opposed to animal fat).
• Salt is generally used as an abrasive in cleaning recipes; by itself it is not a “cleaner.”
• Vinegar (scientifically – acetic acid) removes stains and cuts through grease.  It also softens water (increasing its cleaning effectiveness).
• Washing Soda is called sodium carbonate in the science field. It is a disenfectant and also cuts through grease.  Like Borax, it increases soap’s cleaning effectiveness.

Quick Warning: Just because it is “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean that it is safe to ingest or to leave sitting around – especially for kids or pets.  Borax CAN BE TOXIC to pets and children, so be careful!  It’s probably a good idea to label the ingredients of your cleaners and keep them away from children and pets.  You should also tell any others in your household where the borax (and any products containing borax) are located and what they are to be used for.

Enjoy making your new, natural cleaners; maybe even make it in bulk and give it away (with the recipe) as gifts for the holidays!  Leave a comment telling us other natural all-purpose cleaner recipes that are not included above!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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