Tackle grime with cheap DIY cleaning products
It’s time to bust out the buckets and brushes for annual spring cleaning.
Consumers spend hundreds of dollars each year on specialized cleaning products, sucked in by marketing hype promising to make cleaning jobs easy. The problem is, nobody’s figured out how to bottle elbow grease, which is the active ingredient in getting things clean.
Many products we use on a daily basis are downright harmful, not only to humans and animals but also to Mother Earth. They pollute our oceans and threaten our drinking water. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group rates the safety of 2,500 products at Some products get A ratings, but plenty score poorly.
I’ve started mixing up homemade brews to bust dirt and grime in every room of the house. These do-it-yourself recipes are not only nontoxic, but they cost pennies to make. Most important, they are safe and work just as well as namebrand products. Ask your grandma.
If you don’t have them on hand, stock up on white vinegar, ammonia, baking soda, bleach, isopropyl alcohol, castile soap and a bottle of your favorite essential oil, which will make formulas smell nice. And never underestimate the power of plain soap and hot water.
For safety’s sake, when making your own products, always clearly label bottles with lists of ingredients and keep them out of reach of children. Test formulas on inconspicuous areas first to make sure they won’t damage finishes. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products, as dangerous, toxic fumes will result.
Now, grab a clean spray bottle and a measuring cup.
Mix 2 cups rubbing alcohol, 1⁄2 cup ammonia and 1⁄2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle, then top with distilled water. Tip: Use old newspapers to buff windows to a sparkling shine. Tile floor cleaner: Mix 1⁄2 cup white vinegar with 1 gallon warm water in a bucket and mop away. This not only cleans ceramic floors well but disinfects too. For wood, check with the manufacturer for recommendations. Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil, and the whole house will smell terrific. Oven-rack cleaner: Cooler weather makes it a good time to set the selfcleaning cycle on the oven. Use this trick to get stained, dingy racks shining like new. Fill the bathtub with very hot water and add 1⁄2 cup automatic dishwasher cleaner. Line the tub with a towel to protect the finish, add the racks and soak for a several hours or overnight. With a little scrubbing, baked-on gunk comes off like magic. Furniture polish: Mix 1⁄4 cup vinegar and 3⁄4 cup olive oil (use the cheap stuff ) in a spray bottle and use sparingly to polish wood with a microfiber cloth. Granite counter cleaner: Mix 2 cups water, 1⁄4 cup isopropyl alcohol, five drops essential oil and a few drops of dishwashing liquid or castile soap in a spray bottle. Spray liberally on countertops, wipe and buff dry with a microfiber cloth. Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle equal parts vinegar and baking soda into the bowl and let the bubbles do the work. Scrub and flush. This dynamic duo also cleans and deodorizes drains. Mildew remover: Mix 3 parts baking soda and 1 part castile soap into a paste. Let sit on stain for a bit, then scrub and rinse. Also, spray mildew liberally with fullstrength white vinegar and let it sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing. Vinegar also removes hard-water stains. (Of course, there’s good old bleach too.)