Making your own Cleaning Products

As I am trying to adopt a more eco-responsible way of living, I have started to make my own cleaning products. And guess what? I am just wondering why I didn’t start earlier! Because it’s super easy to make (it won’t take you more than 10 minutes), it saves you a lot of money and you are using natural products that will not harm the environment. I have started only a few months ago, so I am still emptying the products I have in stock, but as I move forward, I will try to share with you the recipes I approved.

Bathroom Cleaner Spray

What you need:

• 1 empty spray container
• 1 cup (250 ml) of white vinegar
• 2 cups (500 ml) of water
• 12 to 20 drops of tea tree essential oil (perfect against mold)
• Baking soda

How to make it:

1. Mix the vinegar, water and tea tree in the empty container.
2. Shake well.
3. Your bathroom cleaner is ready!

To remove scale, you can use baking soda – but you should not add it into the vinegar solution. Instead, proceed as follows:

1. Sprinkle some baking soda on the surface area you want to clean.
2. Spray the vinegar solution on it. You’ll see a chemical reaction that makes the baking soda foam.
3. Let stand for 5 minutes before rinsing.

Window Cleaner Spray

What you need:

• 1 empty spray container
• 1 cup (250 ml) of white vinegar
• 3 cups (750 ml) of water

How to make it:

1. Pour the vinegar and water in the empty container.
2. Shake well.
3. That’s it!

Dishwasher Pods

What you need – Makes about 10 pods:

• 1 ice cube tray
• 4 tablespoons of baking soda
• 4 tablespoons of soda ash (washing soda)
• 2 tablespoons of citric acid
• 2 tablespoons of salt
• (optional) 10 drops of lemon essential oil

How to make it:

1. In a bowl, stir all the ingredients together.
2. Spray with water (no more than 1 tablespoon) and toss until the mixture looks like crumble. If you put too much water, it will foam.
3. Fill the ice cube tray and press the mixture into cubes (e.g. you can use a cork).
4. Let dry for at least 8 hours.
5. Remove the pods from the tray and store them in a sealed container to protect them from humidity.

If you need a rinse aid, you can add 1/2 cup of vinegar in a recipient that you simply put in your dishwasher.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

What you need:

• 1 empty bottle with a dispenser
  Note: The only brand I found where you can unscrew the cap and thus reuse the bottle is “Seventh Generation.”
• 1 cup (250 ml) of white vinegar
• 2 cups (500 ml) of water
• 12 to 20 drops of tea tree essential oil (perfect against mold)
• 3 tablespoons of cornstarch

How to make it:

1. In a pan, bring 3/4 cup of vinegar and 1 1/2 cup of water to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, dilute the cornstarch in the remaining 1/2 cup of water.
3. When the vinegar/water solution boils, pour the cornstarch while stirring.
4. Keep on cooking for a few more seconds, then let the gel cool.
5. Add the tea tree drops to the remaining vinegar and pour them in the pan once it’s cold.
6. Stir and transfer into the empty bottle.