Cleaning Green
Like many I always thought cleaning green did not have the same effect that store brand products, but not only does cleaning green work just as well if not better, it is so much safer to use both for your health and the environment around us and at a fraction of the price! You can get started by using items you already have on hand.
Here are just a few products to get you started:
- Borax
- Baking Soda
- Olive oil or Grape seed oil
- Vinegar
- Lemons
- Natural Essence oils (found at your local health food store)
All-purpose Cleaner
Use the following in order:
- 1/4 cup Borax
- 3 cups hot water
- 1/4 Cup Castile soap
- Natural essence oil of your choice (3-4 drops)
The hot water will dissolve the Borax when you shake well.
This can be used safely on any counter top including marble.
Window cleaner
- 1 cup Vinegar
- 1 cup water
- Natural essence oil (this will mellow the vinegar smell)
Mix well and use on tile, windows, etc.
Disinfectant spray
- 1 cup water
- 20 drops (1/4 tsp) tea tree oil
- 20 drops (1/4 tsp) lavender oil
Use this on mildew surfaces, tile, around sinks etc.
Furniture Oil
- 1 cup of olive oil or grape seed oil
- A few drops of your favorite natural essence
This works wonderfully on any wood surface. It can also be used to remove heavy soap scum from glass shower doors (rinse well with vinegar solution afterwards).
This also great for the skin!
Here are a few other ideas:
- Baking Soda and Borax are wonderful when used to scour showers, sinks and toilets. Add lemon juice and you’ve got a great rust remover.
- Use club soda on Stainless steel, or vinegar solution!
- Leave 1/4 cup Borax or Baking Soda and 1/4 teaspoon of tea tree oil in your toilet over night and just wipe down in the morning.
Cleaning green will leave your home not only spotless, but safe too!
11 comments
Marie | August 25, 2010
Thanks! That was great. I always wanted to clean green, but didn't know where to start without it being so expensive.
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Kim | August 25, 2010
Thanks, Lisa, for the great tips and the special samples! The olive oil and lavender gave a wonderful sheen to my wood furniture. I also liked the tea tree and basil for my bathroom surfaces. My house smelled like an herb garden. You are the best.
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Laurel | August 26, 2010
I have a question...Can you make the cleaning products in a bottle and then save them under the sink, or do you have to make the cleaning products fresh every time you need them? Thank You. I am super excited this is finally posted. I have been telling everyone I would share the link with them. I am excited to try this out. I spend so much money on cleaning supplies.
Lisa Singer | August 27, 2010
Hi Laurel,
Yes you can make them and then save them, all the recipes shared last a very long time!
Enjoy♥
Lisa
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Cherie | September 1, 2010
Great tips Lisa, I can't wait to clean my house. Question? Where can I buy Castile Soap?? Thanks again. May God continue to use you in a mighty way!!
Lisa Singer | September 2, 2010
Hi Cherie!
Glad you liked it! Castile Soap can be found at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and some Drug Stores.
It's normally on the bottom shelf and it's 100 % natural.
Lisa
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B Torres | September 30, 2010
Thank you for all the great cleaning tips. I'm so excited to try these items. I have very senistive skin and everything seems to disagree with me.. What do you use for your laundry and as a fabric softener? Thank you so much.
Lisa Singer | September 30, 2010
Hi, I use a naturally made Laundry soap called "Soap from the Urth" one of our leaders in study makes her own cold pressed soaps and Laundry soap as well. (Check out your local Farmers Market in Riverside) or online. Using Vinegar or Borax softens water. In the Grocery store look for natural and Bio degradable soaps. (Remember don't use a lot) Too much detergent can ruin your laundry!) I always dilute any natural softener.
Thanks!
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lori bray | October 10, 2010
Dear Lisa and Cathe,
First off thank you. I still have a cleaning business going on my 30th year. I have used some of these items to clean with before, but I need a more detailed list, like degreasers. In the mini viewing online or the you tube interview, you added ideas I would have to hear over and over again to get it all down. I loved your gift in a basket to clean their new place. What size bottles did you use and were they plastic or glass? Oh, and you mentioned cold pressed soaps and laundry soap by someone in the church. Who is it that makes these soaps??? Thank you...
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lori bray | October 10, 2010
Cathe, Lisa also mentioned that you liked basil and she mixed it with lemon, and put in in what? What kinds of oils are there? I happened to have a daughter who doesn't do well with lavender anything. Again thank you for this site.
Lisa Singer | October 11, 2010
Hi Lori, I'm glad you enjoyed the clip. All of the "recipes" for items we spoke about are listed on this site.
All natural essence oils are found at your local health food store. Make sure they are 100% natural. A little goes a very long way.
(Cathe just happens to love basil so you can substitute basil for lavender)
I use multiple size bottles in both glass or plastic. If I am using grapeseed or olive oil I always use glass.
It really doesn't matter what size bottles you use. It all depends if you like to create in bulk or not.
Tree tea oil, rubbing alcohol and Borax can be used as degreasers. ( I will often cut a lemon in half and add baking soda and use this as the scrubber for a degreaser...just rinse clean and it leaves a great fragrance.)
The cold pressed soaps that I mentioned are made by "Soaps from the Urth."
You can contact me at Harvest if you need any more assistance :)
Thanks again
Lisa♥
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Heather :) :) :) | March 18, 2011
I'm commenting really late. I'm just now watching all the videos/studies in this series. I'm in Southern Oregon and following these studies on my own at home :) :). I was really delighted with this segment. I've been making my own cleaning products for awhile. I really like these recipes and may try them out. I also make my own homemade laundry powder which is a lot of fun :) :) :) It's also cheaper and lasts longer ;) :) Thanks for sharing this with all of us :) Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)
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Melanie | April 28, 2011
I really enjoyed this.
I have a question about using Olive Oil on cabinets though.... won't it turn rancid after awhile?
I prefer Murphy's Oil Soap for surfaces like that.
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Emerald | December 10, 2012
Hi thank you for the tips. I have a one yr old and also 5 mos pregnant, knowing all these information is so helpful. Can you please tell me where i can buy lavendar oils and tree tea oils? Thanks
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Lisa S | December 11, 2012
Hi! You can purchase lavender and tea tree oils at any health food store. (Wholefoods, Clarks, Mothers) Make sure they are 100% natural plant extracts.
Enjoy!!!
Lisa
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