Cost-effective mainstays for green cleaning DIY cleaners include essential ingredients such as baking soda, white vinegar, and liquid castile soap. Use separately to apply or combine in a spray bottle, depending on the task at hand. Castile soap is versatile and biodegradable. It is listed on the David Suzuki Foundation site as made of plant oils and is free of artificial foaming agents and harsh cleansers.
Homemade Green Cleaning Recipes
Effective and safe general cleaning recipes for your home and office use simple and not toxic ingredients suggested and employed by Green Clean Toronto.
Green cleaning items for your recipes :
Baking soda
White vinegar
Liquid castile soap (a mild soap made of olive oil and sodium hydroxide)
Scouring pad
A cotton washcloth or a sponge
Cotton rag without much lint
16 oz. spray bottle
Tub and sink cleaner :
Baking soda
Liquid castile soap
Sprinkle baking soda on the porcelain fixtures and rub with a wet rag. Add a little of the liquid castile soap to the rag for more cleaning power. Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film.
Window and mirror cleaner :
White vinegar
Newspaper, crumpled
Fill a spray bottle with 1/4 cup of white vinegar, then fill to the top with water. Shake bottle to combine. Spray on the surface. Rub with a lint-free rag or a torn and wadded-up newspaper page. For outdoor windows, use a sponge and wash with warm water with a few drops of liquid castile soap in it. Rinse well and squeegee dry.
Linoleum floor cleaner :
White vinegar
Water
Mop with a mixture of 1/2 cup vinegar in a bucket (pail) of warm water. The vinegar odor will go away shortly after the floor dries.
Toilet bowl cleaner :
Baking soda
Liquid castile soap
Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl as you would any scouring powder. Add a couple of drops of soap in also. Scrub with a toilet bowl brush and finish outside surfaces with a damp cloth or paper towel sprinkled with baking soda.
All-purpose cleaner :
Liquid castile soap
For spots on woodwork, tile and linoleum, add a few drops of liquid soap to a wet washcloth and rub the surface briskly. Rinse and wipe thoroughly to remove any leftover streaks.
Oven cleaner :
Baking soda
Water
Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply to oven surfaces and let stand for about 15 minutes. Use a scouring pad for scrubbing most surfaces. A spatula or a bread knife is practical to get under large food deposits. This recipe will require more scrubbing effort, but it is not toxic to you or your child. Commercial oven cleaners can cause severe irritation or respiratory conditions. Do not use this cleaner recipe on self-cleaning ovens.
Color code microfiber cleaning cloths :
Baking soda
White vinegar
Boiling water
This recipe will free minor clogs and helps to prevent future clogs. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain first, then 1/2 cup vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes. Then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. Repeat if needed. If the clog is stubborn, use a plunger. If very determined, use a mechanical snake.
Drain cleaner :
Baking soda
Liquid castile soap
Sprinkle baking soda on the porcelain fixtures and rub with a wet rag. Add a little of the liquid castile soap to the rag for more cleaning power. Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film.
Cat urine cleaning cloths :
Vinegar
Baking soda
Works like a charm, and will get rid of the smell, too!