Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

Here is a great recipe for an easy and economical tub and tile cleaner. It is a workhorse cleaner, that can scrub sinks, tub, tiles, and can deodorize garbage cans and diaper pails. I probably use this cleaner of all my homemade concoctions and have really benefited from the savings.

Tub and Tile Cleaner

• One old Parmesan cheese container
• Baking Soda
• Lemon Essential Oil (or another scent you like)

Fill the container about a third of the way with baking soda. Add twenty to thirty drops of your essential oil. Shake and get ready to scrub.

Germ Warfare

Following is an easy homemade recipe for disinfecting spray. It is simple to make and smells wonderful. The recipe calls for castile soap and tea tree oil, both of which, are easily found at health food stores. Castile soap is a wonderful, all-natural, vegetable-based soap that really has a hundred and one uses. It is definitely worth picking some up.

Disinfecting Spray

• 16 ounces of water
• 3 Tablespoons of castile soap
• 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil

Mix all ingredients and add to a spray bottle.

Static and Chemicals Be Gone

I have struggled for a while to find a chemical free alternative to dryer sheets. I had long ago switched to the free and clear dryer sheets when the little ones entered the picture, and was amazed to find that after only a short while I couldn't stand to have anything in the house that was dried with scented dryer sheets. When I recieved back some maternity clothes I had lent out it took me three washed to remove the scent from the clothing. I found that pretty disturbing and decided I wanted to stop using dryer sheets all together. After deciding against using any drying aides that contained plastic I stumbled upon directions to make wool dryer balls. They are easy and inexpensive to make and work pretty darn good. I do find that in the dryer parts of the year or if I am drying something that creates a lot of static they are not one hundred percent effective, but they work great the majority of the time.

Really good directions can be found at the following link:

http://howtomakedo.net/154/make-your-own-wool-dryer-balls

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Whenever I would clean my glass I found the fumes were horrible and my hands would hurt for the rest of the day. I researched many homemade cleaning alternatives, but was disappointed that almost all used ammonia which wouldn't help me with my problems. Then I stumbled upon this simple recipe for glass cleaner. This is by far my favorite greener alternative to date. It is so simple, cost effective, and works far better than commercial products. In fact I could see a film on the glass that was leftover from the commercial products when I started using this. So, what is the recipe for this great cleaner?

• Buy one bottle of club soda



• Pour into a squirt bottle (does not have to stay fizzy, works great flat)



• Spray on glass

So, for sixty-nine cents I got twice the glass cleaner, that worked much better, and didn't contain harmful chemicals. You can't ask for more than that!