Make Your Own Cleansers

Did you know how easy it is to make your own cleansers for around the house? How about how much money you will save by doing so? You might be surprised. Some are toxic, however, so treat your homemade cleansers just as you would any other, and keep out of reach of children! The cleansers, not yourself.

Basic ingredients include baking soda, vinegar, water, detergent, ammonia and bleach. Some people claim bleach and asthma are related, so you may opt not to use cleansers requiring this ingredient.

If you do use store bought cleansers, remember, products with a warning label that says poison are most hazardous, danger is somewhat less hazardous, and warning or caution less so still, so if you can buy products that say warning or caution rather than hazardous, it is an improvement.

Now, homemade cleansers are often not as powerful as those you buy, or may not be as gentle to surfaces. Remember, detergents may be abrasive. You may also have to mix them fresh for greatest effectiveness.

Do not use products with baking soda on aluminum!

Recipes

General Purpose Cleansers

1. 1/4 cup baking soda
   1 quart water
   Mix well and use.
2. 2 Tbs ammonia
   2 Tbs detergent, liquid
   1 quart warm water
   Mix well and use.

Glass Cleaner

1. 1/2 cup vinegar
   1 gallon water
   Mix well and use.
2. 1 Tbs ammonia
   1 quart water
   Mix well and use.
3. 3 Tbs ammonia
   1 Tbs vinegar
   3/4 cup water
   Mix well and use. Slightly stronger formula than previous two.
4. Clean your glass with the newspaper. Yes, really. Crumple up, dip in water and clean. Wipe dry with paper towel or cloth.

Mildew Remover

Bleach! Obviously, use this only on surfaces that won't be damaged by the bleach, and keep it well away from children. You may also dilute the bleach. Keep the room well ventilated for your own comfort while using bleach.

Drain Cleaners

1. Use a plunger! Don't try this one, however, if you previously poured down a commercial drain cleaner that might still be present in the drain, as it could expose you to hazardous chemicals. It's not easy in many cases, so just call it exercise!
2. Plunger didn't work? Get a metal, flexible snake, available in the plumbing department of home improvement stores, or you can rent one as well if you need a longer snake. Crank the handle, and the clog may be pushed away.
3. Ok, now is the time to try the homemade recipe. Or you can just use this to start and go to #1 if this recipe doesn't work.
   1/2 cup baking soda
   1/2 cup vinegar
   boiling water
   Pour down baking soda, followed by vinegar, then allow to work for at least five minutes. Pour boiling water down the drain.

Oven Cleansers

1. Recent spills:
   Sprinkle water, then salt on spill in still-warm oven. Scrape away when oven is cool.
2. Other spills:
   Sprinkle water, then baking soda on spill. Scrub with fine steel wool. Wipe with damp sponge.
3. Heavy duty spill:
   Place bowl with 1/2 cup ammonia in warm oven and leave overnight. Wipe clean in morning.

Laundry Detergents

1. Basic:
   1 cup soap flakes (Fels Naphtha or Ivory Soap are good choices)
   1/2 cup washing soda
   1/2 cup borax (Warning, toxic)
   Mix and store. Use 1/2 cup or so per load.
2. Hard water:
   1 cup soap flakes
   1 cup washing soda
   1 cup borax (Warning, toxic)
   Mix and store. Use 1/2 cup or so per load.

Homemade cleansing product safety

Do not reuse containers for different cleansers without rinsing at least three times to ensure all old ingredients are gone.

Label all homemade products clearly.

Keep all cleaning products out of reach of children.

Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia. This will create a deadly gas.

Rinse all containers and measuring cups well after use.

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