“Green” Cleaning

A friend of mine posted these recipes and I wanted to pass them on for those of you who are looking for things around the house to use for cleaning! Enjoy and feel free to comment with any other recipes you’ve tried that have worked!

All Purpose Cleaner
This works good for cleaning the table and counters, washing windows, mopping the floor, cleaning the toilet, etc...
Ingredients:
White distilled vinegar
Water
Directions:
1. Mix 1/2 part vinegar to one part water in spray bottle.
2. As an added boost, add in essential oils of lavender, tea tree, rosemary or citrus.
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Carpet Freshener
Ingredients:
Corn Starch
Essential oils if you'd like it smelling good.
Directions:
1.Fill sugar shaker bottle with cornstarch. If you're using essential oils, sprinkle a few drops in and shake well till mixed.
2.Sprinkle cornstarch on carpet and let sit for 15-20 minutes then vacuum.
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Carpet Stain Remover
I've combined a couple things I saw online and changed some ratios. This actually got 4 year old stains off my carpet! Yippee!!!
Ingredients:
Very warm water
Shampoo
All purpose cleaner with lavendar essential oil
Directions:
1. Use 3oz very warm water and 2 oz shampoo.
2. Place in spray bottle and swirl till combined.
3. Spray the shampoo mixture on carpet stains - not too much or it will be almost impossible to clean up. Let sit for 3 minutes (this is important).
4. Scrub with a nice scrubbing brush, then spray with all purpose cleaner.
5. Scrub again and then use a dry cloth to wipe away an excess soap/water.
You may need to spray a couple more times with the all purpose cleaner to get the soap suds out. Just keep working it with a dry cloth
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Dishwasher Cleaner
This is best done once a month as a maintenance. However, I used my dishwasher for at least a year before I did this. It worked great!
Ingredients:
White distilled vinegar
Directions:
1.Get a 1 cup measure and fill with vinegar.
2.Place on bottom rack of dishwasher and run a hot, long cycle.
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Drain Cleaner
Ingredients:
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Directions:
1. Dump 1/2 cup baking soda down drain.
2. Pour 1/2 cup vinegar down after baking soda.
This will clear most drains by itself. I had a very horribly bad clog in our sink. I waited till things started bubbling up into the sink and skimmed them out. I kept repeating pouring down baking soda, then vinegar and skimming things out till it stopped working - then I took a plunger and with 3 good plunges, my drain ran free.
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Furniture Polish
I have yet to use this one - I'm just waiting for mine to run out.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/8 cup lemon juice
Directions:
1. Put into glass jar with mister sprayer - you can find these at health food stores.
2. Shake well to incorporate.
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Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
2 1/2 ounces bath soap, grated into flakes - approx. 1/2 bar fells naptha or castile.
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
Directions:
1. Mix together and keep in closed container.
2. Use one tablespoon per load.
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Metal Cleaner
I have not used these but found it online here. Let me know if any work for you
*Aluminum: using a soft cloth, clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water.
*Brass or bronze: polish with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution.
*Chrome: polish with baby oil, vinegar, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifor aluminum foil shiny side out.
*Copper: soak a cotton rag in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. For copper cookware, sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.
*Gold: clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.
*Silver: line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth.
*Stainless steel: clean with a cl

oth dampened with undiluted white vinegar, or olive oil. For stainless cookware, mix 4 tbs baking soda in 1 qt water, and apply using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth.
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Mold and Mildew Cleaner
Ingredients:
White distilled vinegar
Essential oils - Lavender or tea tree are best
Directions:
1. Put vinegar full strength in a spray bottle.
2. Add several drops of essential oil

and swirl bottle together.
3. Use full strength on affected area. There is no need to rinse.
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Soft Scrub 1
Ingredients:
Baking Soda
Water
Directions:
1.Sprinkle area with

baking soda and moisten with water or your vinegar/water solution.
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Soft Scrub 2
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Baking Soda
Liquid dish soap
Directions:
1. Pour baking soda in bowl.
2. Squeeze enough dish soap in to make a paste and stir.