Disinfectants

Hot water mixed with soap, vinegar, baking soda, etc. will kill some bacteria. Make sure to get the water as hot as you can stand.

OR USE

1 Gallon hot water
1/2 cup Borax

OR

Plain Alcohol, sponge and let dry on its own

****Many essential oils, such as lavendar and tea tree are natural disinfectants****

Dishwasher

Dishes/Dishwasher Care

Dishwasher Cleanser/Freshener
1 cup of Baking Soda - Run it through the rinse cycle once a month

Dishwasher Detergent
1 1/2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda
2 Tbsp Borax

For extra dirty dishes, like pots and pans, pour some baking soda in the overflow cup so that it rinses the dishes with baking soda during the first cycle.

Laundry Recipes

All recipes from http://www.tipnut.com/

10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes
Recipe #1
1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).

Recipe #2
Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar

Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Recipe #3
Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Recipe #4
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated - you could also try the other natural bar soaps)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

Recipe #5
Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap - grated
1 cup Washing Soda

In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted.
Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
Set aside to cool.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)

Recipe #6
2.5 gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 Tbsp Glycerin
Melt bar soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until soap is melted.
In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add melted soap mixture, washing soda, borax and glycerin. Mix well.
Use 1/2 cup per full load.

Recipe #7
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Washing Soda
2.5 gallons hot water

Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is dissolved.
Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well.
Use 1 cup per full load.

Recipe #8
2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Recipe #9
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)
Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

Recipe #10 - (Powdered)
1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap

Mix well and store in sealed container.

I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding).

Liquid Detergents Note:
Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use.

*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).
Optional:
You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.
Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree

Homemade Laundry and Stain Removal Recipes

Here are two more laundry stain removers you can try:
Recipe #1
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

Recipe #2
2 quarts water
1/2 cup ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
2 Tbsp laundry detergent

Directions:
Mix ingredients then store in spray bottles. Spot treat stains then soak overnight.

Stain Removal & Fabric Care

Chocolate:
Club Soda. Soak stain with club soda before washing.
Cola: White Vinegar. Apply undiluted vinegar directly to the stain within 24 hours. Wash as usual.
Perspiration stain: White Vinegar or Lemon Juice. Sponge stains with a weak solution of white vinegar or lemon juice.
Grease on suede: Vinegar. Sponge spot with a cloth dipped in vinegar. Dry and restore nap by brushing with a suede brush

Laundry products and usage ideas
White Vinegar. Eliminate soap residue by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the washer's final rinse.
Fabric Softener: Vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics but strong enough to dissolve alkalies in soaps and detergents. Vinegar also breaks down uric acid, so adding 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water is especially good for babies' clothes. To get wool and cotton blankets soft and fluffy as new, add 2 cups white vinegar to a full tub of rinsewater. DO NOT USE VINEGAR IF YOU ADD CHLORINE BLEACH TO YOUR RINSEWATER. IT WILL PRODUCE HARMFUL VAPORS. Baking Soda. 1/4 to 1/2 cup baking soda per wash load makes clothes feel soft and smell fresh.
Vinegar. To remove smoky odor from clothes, fill your bathtub with hot water. Add 1 cup white vinegar. Hang garments above the steaming bath water.
Cornstarch. For homemade laundry starch, dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 1 pint cold water. Place in a spray bottle. Shake before using. Clearly label the contents of the spray bottle.

Soft Scrubbers

Recipes from: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/homemadehouseholdcleaners.htm

Basic Soft Scrubber
1/2 cup baking soda
Enough liquid soap or detergent to make a frosting-like consistency (see note, below)
5 drops antibacterial essential oil such as lavender,tea tree oil, or rosemary (optional)

Pour the baking soda in a bowl; slowly pour in the liquid soap or detergent, stirring all the while, until the consistency reaches that of frosting. Scoop the creamy mixture onto a sponge, wash the surface, and rinse.

Note: If you have hard water, you will want to choose a liquid detergent instead of a liquid soap. Most health food stores offer all-purpose liquid detergents and soaps. These are the best choices because they include no synthetic perfumes and dyes, and tend to be the most concentrated.

If you are lucky enough to have soft water and can use a liquid castile soap in your soft scrubber, consider one in which peppermint has been added, for extra antibacterial action.

After cleaning with the above soft scrub, some people like to bring the stainless steel to a high polish by rubbing the surface with straight household vinegar. I’ve found that just rinsing the soft scrub well does the trick.Stay away from all chlorine-based products on stainless steel.
A nice aspect of clean stainless steel is that the reflective surfaces pick up the look of the rest of the décor as in a mirror, always fitting in, neutral in a way.
Watch for a new trend of non-shiny metal appliances such as those made with brushed chrome, nickel and pewter, but beware of pewter because I’ve never figured out how to remove stains from it, and I’ve tried.

Commet Type Scrub Powders
This is an easy one. You can use baking soda! Sprinkle on sinks, counters or anywhere you need to get rid of build up or stains. Dampen slightly and scrub with a soft cloth to prevent scratching.

All Purpose Cleaners

All Purpose Cleaners

Vinegar cleans most surfaces, add a little salt if you need more umf.

Recipes from http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/homemadehouseholdcleaners.htm
My Homemade Cleaner
By Crystal Miller
In a clean, empty gallon milk jug put:
2 Tablespoons ammonia
1 teaspoon dish detergent
1 pint (2 cups) rubbing alcohol
4 drops food coloring – optional [I wouldn’t do this!]
a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a nice fresh scent, I use Orange

Here is a cleaner you make right in your spray bottle:
All-Purpose Cleaner
2T vinegar
1 t Borax
Hot water
a few drops of a mild dish detergent
10 drops of essential oil, optional
In a 16 spray bottle put vinegar, borax and hot water. Swish around until borax has dissolved. Add the drops of dish detergent and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add the essential oil (I like using orange or lavender).

All Purpose Cleaner in a Bucket (for big jobs like walls)
½ cup ammonia
¼ cup vinegar
¼ cup baking soda
Mix the above ingredients with 1 gallon of warm water and use for basic cleaning jobs around the home. Double the above ingredients for cleaning shower walls or other extra heavy duty areas.

Floor Cleaner

Hard Surface Floor Cleaner
2 Gallons Warm Water
2 Cups Vinegar

Wood Floors (not laminate wood):
1 Gallon Olive Oil
1 Gallon White Vinegar

For Ceramic Tile:
1 Gallon of Water
1/4 Cup Vinegar, more if you need it

Carpet, Spot Remover
Form a paste with vinegar and baking soda. Rub into carpet in one direction with a scrub brush (an old toothbrush will work great) Allow it to dry, and brush the paste back loose, vacuum.

Deodorizer
Instead of purchasing the scented powders to spread on the carpet to deodorize, use baking soda; let sit for 30 minutes to an hour, even overnight if you can, and vacuum.

Glass Cleaners

Glass Cleaners

Glass Cleaner I (More like Windex)
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Rubbing Alcohol
1 Tablespoon Vinegar

Glass Cleaner II (This one is good if you’ve been using Windex, it gets the film off, then you can quit adding the soap and start adding a little alcohol for quick evaporation)
2 Cups Water
¼ cup White Vinegar
1 tsp Liquid Soap or Detergent

Glass Cleaner III (More like Windex)
2 Cups Water
3 tbsp Ammonia
1 Tbsp Vinegar

Glass Cleaner IV
Equal part warm water and vinegar

Glass Cleaner V
Straight Vinegar (gets tough spots off quicker)

Glass Cleaner VI
3 Cups Water
2 Tbsp of Borax

Glass Cleaner VII
1 Quart Water
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice