Yesterday I posted in another thread saying that I make my own cleaning products and a few people asked for the recipes. I did a quick TCS search to make sure there wasn't already a recent, active discussion about this, so here we go.
I started making my own household products for the health and safety of me and my three children...ahem...cats.
The more research I did, the more I learned how toxic commercial stuff can be, even if only subtle. Another huge plus...I am saving SO much money. I buy the ingredients in bulk from a wholesale distributor like BJs or Costco. The cost savings allows me to put the money elsewhere for my cats, such as good food, vet visits, and proper in-home care. I've made significant changes in my life, now also no longer using commercial shampoo, conditioner, or body/face soap. I'm still try to figure out how to make a natural, safe laundry detergent that actually works and doesn't use tallow.
There is much debate over which ingredients are safe for cats and which are not. Based on my research, I just felt more comfortable avoiding bleach and borax for indoor surface cleaning, although you'll find many people still use these. There are so many variations of these recipes online, but I tried several combinations and found these to work the best for me. Feel free to post your safe recipes and ideas, too!
HOMEMADE FLOOR/ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
Adapted from http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/04/19/homemade-floor-all-purpose-cleaner/. I do not use the essentials oils as the original recipe states. When using this for floors, it will temporarily make the room have a strong vinegar smell, but it DOES go away shortly after drying.
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup rubbing alcohol (acts as a disinfectant and helps surfaces to dry quickly)
2-3 drops Dawn or natural liquid Castile soap
Fine mist spray bottle (24 oz.)
Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake well to combine. For floors: Sweep/vacuum floor to remove loose dust and hair. Mist floor lightly with cleaner. Wipe with a clean cloth. I use a Swiffer Sweeper with a bar mop cloth affixed to it. Allow the floor to dry completely before allowing pets to walk across it. Please do a spot test on your floors first to make sure you're going to be happy with the result! For countertops, stovetops, sinks, etc.: Simply spray and wipe.
HOMEMADE GLASS CLEANER
Straight white vinegar works great, or you can use the following recipe.
1/2 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol (helps glass to dry quickly and reduce streaking)
Fine mist spray bottle (16 oz.)
Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray glass and wipe with a clean cloth.
HOMEMADE CARPET CLEANER
For light to medium pet stains and messes. So far, this cleaner has worked for 90% of the messes my cats have made on the carpet, including vomit, hairballs, and poo streaks (you know what I'm talking about). A very dark vomit stain may require a stronger cleaner. Unfortunately, this cleaner does NOT work for cat urine. You'll need an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle for urine.
2 cups water
2 cups white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon natural liquid Castile soap
Large spray bottle (32 oz.)
Always spot test first! I have light tan carpets, and have not tried this on dark carpets. Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake well to combine. Carefully lift and discard any solids. Thoroughly blot (do not rub) the soiled area with dry paper towels or colorfast cloths/rags. Try to get as much up as possible. Generously spray soiled area with carpet cleaner. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. With a warm, damp colorfast cloth, use fingertips to work the cleaner through the carpet fibers. I scrub pretty hard for a few minutes (sometimes my arm starts hurting). If necessary, repeat spray, sit and scrub. Vacuum when dry.
CARPET DEODORIZER
Sprinkle baking soda directly on dry carpet. If you'd like, you may work the baking soda through the carpet a little with your fingertips. Let sit for as long as desired. (I let it sit for a day or two, and my cats did not bother it.) Vacuum thoroughly.
LITTER BOX DEODORIZER
I'm sure you all know about this! Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on bottom of litter box/pan before adding fresh litter. The baking soda will naturally mix with the litter as your cat uses the box.
LAUNDRY DEODORIZER
Need a little extra deodorizing power in your laundry load? Add clothes to washer, sprinkle about 1/2-1 cup (depending on load size) of baking soda over clothes, add detergent and wash as normally would.
LAUNDRY OOMPH
Need a little boost in cleaning power for your laundry load? Add 1/2-1 cup (depending on load size) of white vinegar to your load. You can use detergent and wash as you normally would. Do not use vinegar and baking soda together! When combined they have a chemical reaction and will begin to foam. It is not harmful, but it may leave an unwanted white film on your laundry.
ANT DETERRENT
I had a bit of an ant problem this summer, but found out they were attracted to wet cat food and could smell it all the way from outside! They were coming in through my sliding glass door where my patio is. I now promptly pick up the wet cat food as soon as the cats are done, wipe the floor with the Homemade Floor Cleaner (see above), and use the following ant deterrents. No more ants!
Herbal peppermint tea bags (100% dried peppermint is best) - place in corners or places where ants come in; I found cheap tea bags at a dollar store. My cats, however, actually liked the tea bags and wouldn't leave them alone! So, I ended up using the next thing:
Dried bay leaves - place whole dried bay leaves in tracks of windows, doors, corners of rooms, etc. I also found these down the spice isle at a discount store for only $1.
Whatever you use, you'll need to change them out from time to time, as they'll lose their potency.
MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER
For really tough scuffs, grease and grime, this thing works. I don't know how, but it does. Had to mention it.
Okay, that's all I have for now! Enjoy!
I started making my own household products for the health and safety of me and my three children...ahem...cats.
There is much debate over which ingredients are safe for cats and which are not. Based on my research, I just felt more comfortable avoiding bleach and borax for indoor surface cleaning, although you'll find many people still use these. There are so many variations of these recipes online, but I tried several combinations and found these to work the best for me. Feel free to post your safe recipes and ideas, too!
HOMEMADE FLOOR/ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
Adapted from http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/04/19/homemade-floor-all-purpose-cleaner/. I do not use the essentials oils as the original recipe states. When using this for floors, it will temporarily make the room have a strong vinegar smell, but it DOES go away shortly after drying.
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup rubbing alcohol (acts as a disinfectant and helps surfaces to dry quickly)
2-3 drops Dawn or natural liquid Castile soap
Fine mist spray bottle (24 oz.)
Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake well to combine. For floors: Sweep/vacuum floor to remove loose dust and hair. Mist floor lightly with cleaner. Wipe with a clean cloth. I use a Swiffer Sweeper with a bar mop cloth affixed to it. Allow the floor to dry completely before allowing pets to walk across it. Please do a spot test on your floors first to make sure you're going to be happy with the result! For countertops, stovetops, sinks, etc.: Simply spray and wipe.
HOMEMADE GLASS CLEANER
Straight white vinegar works great, or you can use the following recipe.
1/2 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol (helps glass to dry quickly and reduce streaking)
Fine mist spray bottle (16 oz.)
Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray glass and wipe with a clean cloth.
HOMEMADE CARPET CLEANER
For light to medium pet stains and messes. So far, this cleaner has worked for 90% of the messes my cats have made on the carpet, including vomit, hairballs, and poo streaks (you know what I'm talking about). A very dark vomit stain may require a stronger cleaner. Unfortunately, this cleaner does NOT work for cat urine. You'll need an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle for urine.
2 cups water
2 cups white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon natural liquid Castile soap
Large spray bottle (32 oz.)
Always spot test first! I have light tan carpets, and have not tried this on dark carpets. Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake well to combine. Carefully lift and discard any solids. Thoroughly blot (do not rub) the soiled area with dry paper towels or colorfast cloths/rags. Try to get as much up as possible. Generously spray soiled area with carpet cleaner. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. With a warm, damp colorfast cloth, use fingertips to work the cleaner through the carpet fibers. I scrub pretty hard for a few minutes (sometimes my arm starts hurting). If necessary, repeat spray, sit and scrub. Vacuum when dry.
CARPET DEODORIZER
Sprinkle baking soda directly on dry carpet. If you'd like, you may work the baking soda through the carpet a little with your fingertips. Let sit for as long as desired. (I let it sit for a day or two, and my cats did not bother it.) Vacuum thoroughly.
LITTER BOX DEODORIZER
I'm sure you all know about this! Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on bottom of litter box/pan before adding fresh litter. The baking soda will naturally mix with the litter as your cat uses the box.
LAUNDRY DEODORIZER
Need a little extra deodorizing power in your laundry load? Add clothes to washer, sprinkle about 1/2-1 cup (depending on load size) of baking soda over clothes, add detergent and wash as normally would.
LAUNDRY OOMPH
Need a little boost in cleaning power for your laundry load? Add 1/2-1 cup (depending on load size) of white vinegar to your load. You can use detergent and wash as you normally would. Do not use vinegar and baking soda together! When combined they have a chemical reaction and will begin to foam. It is not harmful, but it may leave an unwanted white film on your laundry.
ANT DETERRENT
I had a bit of an ant problem this summer, but found out they were attracted to wet cat food and could smell it all the way from outside! They were coming in through my sliding glass door where my patio is. I now promptly pick up the wet cat food as soon as the cats are done, wipe the floor with the Homemade Floor Cleaner (see above), and use the following ant deterrents. No more ants!
Herbal peppermint tea bags (100% dried peppermint is best) - place in corners or places where ants come in; I found cheap tea bags at a dollar store. My cats, however, actually liked the tea bags and wouldn't leave them alone! So, I ended up using the next thing:
Dried bay leaves - place whole dried bay leaves in tracks of windows, doors, corners of rooms, etc. I also found these down the spice isle at a discount store for only $1.
Whatever you use, you'll need to change them out from time to time, as they'll lose their potency.
MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER
For really tough scuffs, grease and grime, this thing works. I don't know how, but it does. Had to mention it.
Okay, that's all I have for now! Enjoy!
Just about everything in our house gets steamed, including the litter box.
