Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to go to a natural cleaning class. I had such a great time. While I already make many of my own natural cleaners, I came away with a few new "recipes". May I just say that making your own cleaners is so easy, cheap, healthier for your family and the environment, requires less storage and is safer. However, the best part is they seem to work so much better than the stuff you buy in the store. In the words of the natural cleaning guru who was teaching the class, "Natural cleaners rock!" It was nice to see someone else get as excited about this kind of stuff as myself. I'm going to randomly be posting the new "recipes" I've acquired, which will include: dishwasher soap, laundry soap, "Comet" and a new method to kill ants. Are you excited yet? Well, here's the first recipe.
Homemade Natural Window Cleaner:
In a spray bottle (Dollar Store), mix the following:
1 cup white distilled vinegar
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup filter, distilled or purified water
Shake and store. Use as you would any window cleaner. HOW EASY WAS THAT? I've already used this on my mirrors and a window and was impressed with the results. I hope that whetted your appetite for more homemade natural cleaning product recipes that I will be posting in the weeks.
Have an awesome day!
Jackie
Wow Jackie, What a great tip! I will definitely be giving this one a try! Here's one for you that my Grandma passed to me; when you are cleaning out your microwave, instead of spraying it with harsh chemical cleaner, just place a bowl of water with half a lemon in it and set the microwave for five minutes on full. The steam will loosen the dried on bits and the lemon steam will help to cut the grease making the job much easier!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting your microwave cleaning tip. While I no longer a microwave (by choice), I know there are others reading this who will find your tip very handy. Thanks for sharing with us! So glad you stopped by. Hope to "see" more of you.
God Bless,
Jackie
Yes, this works great! It also works really well without the vinegar.
ReplyDeleteMy son has to wash windows professionally before wrapping windows in plastic (you know, all the ads and pics on windows) and he uses 1 part alcohol with 1 part water. That is all I use anymore.
Thank for the tip, Connie. That would be even cheaper and easier!
ReplyDeleteWe just ran out of window cleaner, I hadn't replaced it yet- I kept thinking, I can make some, if I only new the igredients!!! Thanks! On the water, by purified do you mean boiled tap water?
ReplyDeleteKimberly,
ReplyDeleteThat what I would think it meant, too. Although, honestly I don't think you need to go that far. I used filtered water (even a Brita pitcher would do) and it worked fine. So glad my post was timely for your cleaning needs!
Hi.
ReplyDeleteNot trying to out do you here but what I use for windows is sooo simple. I buy a bottle of club soda and put a squeeze trigger in it and there you have it. Love it. Have been using this for many many years. No smell, no chemicals etc.
I don't use paper towels on mirrors or window though. I use regular bath wash clothes. I do get some lint but as soon as I get the glass clean I turn the rag and dust off the lint. I have cleaned others houses for a while and this is what I use exclusively.
Bernice,
ReplyDeletePlease never feel like you're one-uping me. I'm always open to new ways to clean naturally. Thanks for sharing your tip. I've heard of using Club soda (Clean House, Clean Planet book), but I never had it on hand. I'll have to give a try one of these days. Thanks!
I love homemade cleaning products too. I don't add the alcohol to mine just vinegar and water and it works a treat. I can't wait to see what other recipe goodies you have to share.
ReplyDeleteMy mama handed this recipe down to me and I've used it 'round the Ponderosa for years! Excellent cleaner.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
God bless you!!!
What a great recipe. Looking forward to hearing more.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, that large bottle of White Vinegar has become a mainstay in my house -- good for so many things :0)
Sandy
Oh yes, wonderful vinegar and "natural" cleaning! That's how we "met" remember?? :) I too keep several LARGE bottles of vinegar in the house...SO useful!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Camille
Ohhh sounds good. Now I just need to go to the store....
ReplyDeleteMy husband is getting sick of the vinegar smell everytime he walks in the house. Can I add some citrus oil to this mixture?
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have a microwave adn that is awesome! Do you think it would work with lemon juice from a bottle? I rarely have fresh lemon in the house.
ReplyDeleteStacie,
ReplyDeleteAdding essential oils would not be a good idea with this recipe because it would cause streaking. The vinegar smell goes away as soon as it drys completely. I would suggest you clean your windows and mirrors when Steve is working. Otherwise, as these other ladies have suggested, you could omit the vinegar entirely or use club soda.
Love Ya Sis!
Jackie
Great tip! I was just sitting here thinking about how smuged up my TV screen is (impossible to keep clean with a toddler!), but I didn't have any windex. I'm going to mix up a batch of this today. Thanks for saving me a trip to the store!
ReplyDeleteYears ago I copied a cleaning spray recipe out of "Dave's Mom's Cookbook" (David Letterman that is). The ingredients were similar only the ratio was different.
ReplyDelete1 Cup rubbing alcohol
1/2 Cup white vinegar
few drops liquid dish soap
water to make one gallon
I had on hand a one gallon refill of Windex type cleaner. I have never bought another and have been refilling it with my own for years. We use if for windows, counters, tables etc.
Heather Duyck
(a friend of Stacie)
Heather,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your recipe! Glad you stopped by.
God Bless,
Jackie
I found this recipe some time ago as a cleaner for laminate wood floors and have LOVED it. Just the other day I was out of glass cleaner and thought I would try it on a mirror and was very pleased with the results!
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteThat is great that you found another use for this. Love when I can use the same cleaner for different jobs!