Getting Closer to #64 - Homemade Household Cleaners

I am on my way to replacing all of our store-bought cleaners with natural cleaners. My all-natural, cloth diapering friend in Michigan gave me some of these links and I am getting excited to do more with lemon, baking soda, club soda and white distilled vinegar.

Simple Mom's List of Household Cleaners

Making Homemade Cleaners Work Better - Small Notebook

25 Safe, Non-toxic, Home Cleaners

Easy Recipes for Natural Cleaners - Simple Organic

66 uses for Distilled White Vinegar

60 uses for Baking Soda

75 uses for Baking Soda

Homemade Dryer Balls (no more dryer sheets!)

I've also been tempted to start using homemade laundry detergent. Here are the ingredients and descriptions for where to get the ingredients...

Glass Cleaner
2 cups of water
1/4 cup of white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap

Diva Detergent
1 55 oz. box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 cup Mule Team Borax
2 Cups Oxygen Cleaner
1/2 cup Simple Green
1/2 cup Water Softening Powder

Details about ingredients:
- Washing Soda – The Arm and Hammer is the only brand I’ve ever seen. Walmart and most grocery stores carry it. Strong enough to actually change organic compounds (pee & poo) and keeps them suspended in the water so they can easily be washed away. It is a naturally occurring compound free from enzymes, dyes, and perfumes, and is the main ingredient in most powdered laundry detergents.

- Borax – Found in the grocery aisle. Whitens and brightens without phosphates and enzymes. Borax is too harsh, both to fabric and sensitive skin to be used in large amounts, and tends to not rinse out well. Less is more with Borax in laundry. (makes and excellent household cleaner, though).

- Oxygen Cleaner – I use Sun Brand…it’s the cheapest and most pure….Oxyclean brand has additives and fillers. For Oxygen Cleaner…the cheaper the better. Stain remover and whitener. Oxygen cleaners do not react well with extremely hard water and will add to scum build up. If you have extremely hard water, as noted above, add additional water softener.

- Simple Green – A concentrated liquid cleaner…most grocery stores carry it….Walmart has it in the automotive section. If you can’t find Simple Green, you can use any concentrated multi-purpose cleaner (ie: Lysol 4 in 1). Provides the necessary surfactants-to lessen the water tension and allow the detergent to become a part of the water and actually get into the clothes

- Water Softening Powder – This is a key ingredient…and if you have hard water you will want to double it. White King makes a powder, but it can’t be found in all areas. If you can’t find a water softening powder, use ½ cup of liquid. You’ll need to use a 1 lb box of baking soda for each half cup liquid added to offset the additional liquids so you don’t end up with a solid mass of detergent in a couple of days. (I can’t find powder in my area, so I use Calgon Liquid + baking soda).
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- Put all dry ingredients in a large container – (bucket, dishpan) mix with your hands to combine.

- Put gloves on before adding liquid ingredients as there is a chemical reaction that makes it get rather warm…..and could burn your skin. Drizzle the wet ingredients over the top of the dry ingredients. Mix with your hands until well combined and all liquid is mixed in and there are no clumps. If it still seems too moist, you can add a box of baking soda**. Humidity levels in different parts of the country can make a difference here, as your dry ingredients might have a higher moisture content. Store in a sealed container. I have used Rubbermaid, Tupperware, coffee cans….whatever you have on hand.

- Use 1-2 1/8 cup scoops (the kind that came with the oxygen cleaner) per load. You’ll have to experiment a bit to find what works best with your water condition and washer size.

- It seems this detergent does not work as well in FL washing machines…..those that have had success in FL’s are dissolving it in water before adding it to the detergent dispenser…..there just isn’t enough water in a FL to effectively dissolve it on its own.

- Other effectiveness issues come from those with extremely hard water. I would suggest leaving the recipe as is and adding additional water softener to the washer. You may have to experiment to find the proper amount….the water should feel silky. Water softener should be added before clothes and detergent.….and definitely use vinegar in the rinse cycle.

**When you’re buying your ingredients, buy a box or two of baking soda….the store brand will do. It’s super cheap and if your detergent seems too moist and is clumping….you’ll have it on hand to add.