Cleaning has always been part of everyone’s daily activities, however most cleaning solutions contain harsh chemicals, cost you some money while some are not always as effective as they should be. Most times you might not get your favorite cleaning solution in the store or they might be out of stock at the time you need them. What would you do in situations like this? That is why it is important to know how to make some of these cleaning solutions so as to save you money and time as well as prevent you from getting bad cleaning agents. Here is a list of some cleaning solutions that can help you with your day-to-day cleaning activities and also tips on how to make use of pantry items for cleaning. Sounds amazing right? Let’s get down to it
General tips
- Blend the cleaning agents in little sizes. This helps to retain the power of the cleaning agents as adding too much at the same time could make the cleaner less effective. There are no additives added in the mixture and hence blending smaller sizes would prevent the cleaning agent from being less effective.
- Always remember to add few drops of your preferred essential oil so as to add good and fresh scent to the solutions
- It is advisable to name each container including the container containing the ingredients. If you are the type that uses spray bottles more than once or containers that are similar to food containers, then you should ensure that each container is labeled appropriately
- Keep local cleaning agents away from kids, pets and weak adults
How to make dishwashing liquid
Ingredients
- 2 cups of warm water
- 3 tsp of liquid Castile soap
- 2 tsp of glycerin
- 2 tsp of distilled white vinegar
- 10 drops of essential oil
Procedure
- Mix all the ingredients in a big-sized spray bottle.
- Shake thoroughly before using the solution.
Uses
- It is used for cleaning dishes as well as tough surfaces such as floors and counters
- Can be used for removing spot stains on carpets, upholstery etc.
Important Note: Do not mix chlorine bleach with strong chemicals such as ammonia, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide etc. Mixing these chemicals together might cause health problems for you as well as cause damage to surfaces.
How to make glass and window cleaners
Ingredients
- ½ cup of distilled white vinegar
- ¼ cup of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
- 1 tsp of cornstarch
- 2 cups of warm water
Procedure
- Mix all the ingredients in a big-sized spray bottle and swirl carefully to mix the ingredients.
- Shake thoroughly before usage
Uses
- Very perfect for cleaning windows and mirrors
- Suitable for cleaning glass topped tables
Important Note: Avoid using self-made glass cleaners for cleaning electronics such as televisions, computer monitors etc.
How to make all-purpose cleaner
Ingredients
- 1 cup of distilled white vinegar
- 1 cup of water
- Strips of lemon zest
Procedure
- Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle.
- Store solution in a cool place
Extra Tip: if you are having troubles cleaning up some stains, all you need to do is to spray a little quantity of baking soda on the surface and then spray the cleaner on the surface. Wipe the surface with a microfiber fabric.
Uses
- Used for cleaning surfaces such as kitchen counters, bathroom counters etc.
- Used in cleaning trashcan
- Effectively removes fingerprint stain on walls
Important Note: Avoid using this self-made cleaner on marble, it can cause damages to the stone
How to make dishwasher detergent
Ingredients for powdered detergents
- 1 cup of borax
- 1 cup of washing soda
- ½ cup of powdered citric acid
- ½ cup of kosher salt
Procedure
- Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and keep in a tight container.
- Add 1 tsp of the detergent per dishwasher load.
Ingredients for dishwasher tablets
- 1 cup of washing soda
- 1 cup of kosher salt
- 1 cup of baking soda
- ¾ cup of lemon juice
- Silicone candy molds or ice trays
Procedures
- Add washing soda, kosher salt and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Squeeze out the lemon juice and add it in the mixture.
- Â If you have already squeezed out your juice, pour the juice into the container and thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
- Â After blending the ingredients, add 1 tsp of the wet mixture into silicone candy molds.
- Â Allow to dry, then store in a tight bottle and keep your detergent in a safe place.
Uses
- Used in cleaning dishes in a dishwasher
- Suitable for washing pans with burnt food