Instead of buying expensive cleaning products, try these all-natural alternatives from the book Homemade: 707 Products to Make Yourself to Save Money and the Earth…
Kitchen: Oven cleaner
This is a lazy cleaner’s dream come true. Pour ¾ cup of clear household ammonia into a small bowl, and place it in your oven. Keeping the oven off, close the door and leave the bowl in overnight. In the morning, take the bowl out and wipe down the inside of the oven with a moist paper towel or damp sponge dipped in baking soda.
Bathroom: Mould and mildew remover
This cleaner will finally get rid of icky mould from your paint and tiles. Pour ¼ cup of chlorine bleach, three teaspoons of borax, and 1.5 cups of water in a spray bottle, shaking to mix. Keeping the room well-ventilated, spray the affected area. After it sits for ten to 20 minutes, wipe mould away.
Den: Carpet freshener
This herbal freshener doesn’t just mask odours—it truly freshens up the carpet’s fibres. In a bowl, crush a large handful of fresh lavender to release the flowers’ scent. Add a cup of baking soda and mix. Using a cheese shaker or can with holes punched in the lid, sprinkle liberally on the carpet. Let it rest for half an hour, then vacuum.
Living room: Air freshener
Sprayed with a light hand, this air freshener will perfume any room with a hint of spice. Pour ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol, 25 drops of bergamot essential oil, eight drops of clove essential oil, and five drops of lemon essential oil into a spray bottle. Shake well to combine, then add a cup of distilled water and shake again for another minute or two. Let the mixture sit for a few days to let the scent mature and blend, then give a quick spritz to freshen the room.
Kitchen: Disinfectant
Replace your normal chemical spray with this natural solution. Combine the zest of an orange with three cups of white vinegar in a container. Remove the zest and strain a cup of the liquid into a clean 32-ounce spray bottle, then fill the rest with water.
Dining room: Furniture polish
Not only does this homemade furniture polish come together in a snap, but you can just spray it and forget it—no buffing necessary. Combine ¼ cup boiled linseed oil, 1/8 cup vinegar, and 1/8 cup whiskey in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Spritz onto a clean cloth and wipe it on. As the alcohol evaporates, it will take the dullness away with it.
Hallway: Wall cleaner
To get scuff marks and stains off the walls without harming your paint job, combine ½ cup borax, 1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia, ¼ cup white vinegar, and a gallon of water in a large bucket. Use a clean sponge to apply the solution to the wall, going from bottom to top to avoid streaks. Finish by using another sponge to rinse with plain water.
Garden: Fertilizer
The acidity in coffee grounds makes acid-loving plants like conifers, azaleas, and rhododendrons happy. Leaving a six-inch ring between the plant’s trunk and your mulch, spread a three-inch thick mulch of the grounds (after you’ve made your coffee with them!) around the base of those plants. If you need more, many cafes will be happy to let you have theirs for free.
Laundry room: Fabric softener
This DIY fabric softener is cheaper than any store-bought version. Fill the machine with water, then add ¼ cup of baking soda, followed by the dirty clothes. During the final rinse cycle, pour ½ cup of vinegar into the softener dispenser or straight into the machine, depending on your model.
Bathroom: Toilet bowl cleaner
This homemade cleaner is powerful enough to get your dirtiest areas squeaky clean without using chlorine. Mix 2/3 cup of borax with 1/3 cup of lemon juice in a bowl. Apply the paste to the toilet bowl with a sponge and let it sit for two hours. Then scrub the borax-lemon juice mixture away and flush the toilet.
Kitchen: Cabinet cleaner
Spruce up dingy cupboards with this cleaning solution that removes dust, dirt, and odour. Combine a cup of clear household ammonia, one cup of white vinegar, ¼ cup of baking soda, and one gallon of warm water in a large bucket. Use a sponge to apply it to the cabinets, then wipe up excess liquid with a clean cloth.
Yard: Weed killer
It can be tough to dig weeds out of small crevices, like between flagstones or in cracks of a footpath. Get rid of them easily by dousing the unwanted plants with boiling water. Repeat the next day if they haven’t withered. Just don’t use this method near gardens, where the hot water could kill your precious plants.