DIY Eco-friendly CleaninG
Cleaning Supplies
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate - gentle abrasive scrubber
White vinegar - disinfects, deodorises, and removes dirt
Lemon - cuts through grease
Olive oil - polishes wood and lifts dirt
Castile soap - all-purpose cleaner and soap
Essential Oils - wonderful smells and loaded with great cleaning benefits from lifting grease to antibacterial and antiseptic properties
White vinegar - disinfects, deodorises, and removes dirt
Lemon - cuts through grease
Olive oil - polishes wood and lifts dirt
Castile soap - all-purpose cleaner and soap
Essential Oils - wonderful smells and loaded with great cleaning benefits from lifting grease to antibacterial and antiseptic properties
cleaning techniques
There are many more uses to the above cleaning supplies but I have listed a few of my favourites. Don't forget to add your favourite essential oils for a blissfully fresh smelling home!
Baking Soda
Burnt on pans - boil baking soda and water, leave to cool and scrub
Stains in mugs - a sprinkle of baking soda and scrub
Deodorise carpets, mattresses and furniture - sprinkle baking soda, let sit and vacuum up
Deodorise drains and garbage disposals - sprinkle in baking soda, let sit, add vinegar, let sit, pour boiling water down. Great for removing gunk, orders and buildup.
Laundry - add 1/2 cup to your wash, resulting in cleaner/softer clothes
Toilets - sprinkle in toilet and scrub, add vinegar for extra cleaning action
Rubbish bins - baking soda and vinegar will clean out bins and deodorise them
White Vinegar
Cutting boards - disinfects
Microwave - small amount in a bowl and microwave for 3 mins, then clean away any baked on mess
Hard water deposits/lime - spray and wipe
Crusty shower head - bag of vinegar over the shower head, scrub in the morning
Window cleaner - streak free cleaning - 2 parts vinegar to 10 parts water. Light spritz then wipe and buff with a microfibre cloth
Note: Do not use vinegar on wood floors, marble or other stone surfaces as it can damage or dull the surface.
Olive Oil
Stainless steal wood surfaces - finish with a soft buff for sparkling appliances and moisturised wood
Removing sticky labels - leave on for 15mins then scrub clean
Silence squeaky doors/cabinets/appliances - small spritz on hinges for squeak free motion
Condition leather furniture - apply small amount with a microfibre cloth, follow with a buff
Protect cleaning tools (metal and wooden parts)
Castile soap
Dish soap - 1 part castile soap to 10 parts water
All purpose cleaner - 2T castile to 500mls water
Floor cleaner - 1/8 cup castile soap to 1 bucket hot water
Scouring scrub - 1 cup castile to 3 cups water mixed in a spray bottle. Shake out some baking soda and then sprits the cleaning solution and scrub or wipe away dirt and grime.
Note do not use castile soap on waxed surfaces as it can break down the wax
Baking Soda
Burnt on pans - boil baking soda and water, leave to cool and scrub
Stains in mugs - a sprinkle of baking soda and scrub
Deodorise carpets, mattresses and furniture - sprinkle baking soda, let sit and vacuum up
Deodorise drains and garbage disposals - sprinkle in baking soda, let sit, add vinegar, let sit, pour boiling water down. Great for removing gunk, orders and buildup.
Laundry - add 1/2 cup to your wash, resulting in cleaner/softer clothes
Toilets - sprinkle in toilet and scrub, add vinegar for extra cleaning action
Rubbish bins - baking soda and vinegar will clean out bins and deodorise them
White Vinegar
Cutting boards - disinfects
Microwave - small amount in a bowl and microwave for 3 mins, then clean away any baked on mess
Hard water deposits/lime - spray and wipe
Crusty shower head - bag of vinegar over the shower head, scrub in the morning
Window cleaner - streak free cleaning - 2 parts vinegar to 10 parts water. Light spritz then wipe and buff with a microfibre cloth
Note: Do not use vinegar on wood floors, marble or other stone surfaces as it can damage or dull the surface.
Olive Oil
Stainless steal wood surfaces - finish with a soft buff for sparkling appliances and moisturised wood
Removing sticky labels - leave on for 15mins then scrub clean
Silence squeaky doors/cabinets/appliances - small spritz on hinges for squeak free motion
Condition leather furniture - apply small amount with a microfibre cloth, follow with a buff
Protect cleaning tools (metal and wooden parts)
Castile soap
Dish soap - 1 part castile soap to 10 parts water
All purpose cleaner - 2T castile to 500mls water
Floor cleaner - 1/8 cup castile soap to 1 bucket hot water
Scouring scrub - 1 cup castile to 3 cups water mixed in a spray bottle. Shake out some baking soda and then sprits the cleaning solution and scrub or wipe away dirt and grime.
Note do not use castile soap on waxed surfaces as it can break down the wax