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DIY Household Cleaners

While I am home sick in bed...I thought I should be productive in some type of way. So here are a number of different household cleaners made with essential oils. I thought this would be fun for my DIYers and fellow essential oil fans. Since everything causes cancer now-a-days I'm trying to get far away from all the chemicals that I can. So... let's get to it!


Kitchen Cleaners

Lemon Disposal Cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh or in a jar)

Mix the baking soda and lemon juice together to make a pasty liquid. The liquid will start fizzing - quickly pour down the disposal. Let is sit for at least 5 minutes. Run cold water and turn on the disposal. Run for up to a minute. 

Lemon & Clove Nightly Sink Scrub
2 cups baking soda
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops clove essential oil
dish soap (don't add to jar)
container with a shaker top

Put the baking soda and essential oils in the jar and mix well with a knife. Sprinkle in a damp sink, add a squirt of dish soap. Scrub with a sink safe scrubber and rise thoroughly. 

Lemon Microwave Cleaner
lemon
water

Put a bowl of water with a squeezed lemon or lemon juice in the microwave and run it until the water boils (3 - 5 minutes). Let the steam do its job by letting it sit for a few minutes and then wipe clean.

Peppermint Glass & Mirror Cleaner
2 cups water
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
5 drops peppermint essential oil

Combine and mix ingredients in spray bottle. Spray and wipe with a soft cloth. 

Stainless Steel Cleaner
white vinegar

Pour or spray a little vinegar directly on a microfiber cleaning cloth - not directly on your stainless steal. Apply to your appliances going with the gain of the stainless steel from top to bottom. Buff as needed. 

Granite Cleaner
3 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon dish soap

Combine ingredients, close spray bottle, shake and clean. It's important to clean granite (or marble) in small sections (a four foot square area is good) to minimize the time that any liquid sits on the surface. Wipe with a clean, dry microfiber or dish cloth.

Coffeepot Cleaner
water
white vinegar

Fill coffee pot with equal parts cold water and vinegar. Pour solution in the water dispenser and run coffee maker as usual. Empty solution in sink. Run with water 2-3 times or until vinegar smell is gone.

Oven Cleaner
water
1/4 - 1/2 cup baking soda - enough to make a paste
1 tablespoon dish soap 

Mix up paste, using a sponge, spread the paste all over your oven to coat. Let the mixture sit for 15 - 30 minutes. Using a clean sponge, wipe clean and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Repeat until the over is completely clean and residue free.

Bathroom Cleaners

Disinfecting Cleaner
1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
1/2 cup vodka (excellent germ-killing properties)
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
1 1/2 cups water (distilled or boiled and cooled)

Mix all ingredients in a sprays bottle and shake to combine. Spray surfaces to be cleanred and allow to sit 10 minutes to disinfect before wiping. 

Daily Shower Cleaner
1/2 cup vodka
1 cup water
10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Mix and store in a spray bottle. Spray shower or tub daily after showering has occurred. No rinse needed. 

Rust Remover
white vinegar

Saturate paper towels or rags with white vinegar and drape over fixtures. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rub with the cloth to eliminate the rust. Rinse, and repeat if necessary.

Mildew Remover
1 cup water
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
Mix and store in a dark container. Spray liberally on mold/mildew, let sit for 1 - 2 hours, rinse. Repeat if necessary.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup vinegar
10 drops tea tree essential oil

Combine ingredients directly in toilet. There will be a little fizzing. Let ingredients sit for 5 - 15 minutes. Scrub with toilet brush and flush.

Soap Scum Remover
1/4 - 1/2 cup Borax
2 cups of hot water

Mix Borax and hot water in a spray bottle. Shake and spray surfaces thoroughly. Let it sit for up to 15 minutes and use a Magic Eraser sponge to clean. Rinse and wipe dry.

Grout Cleaner
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
lemon juice

Combine cream of tartar and lemon juice to make a think paste. Apply to grout and scrub with a small cleaning brush. Rinse and wipe dry. 


Floor Cleaners

Hardwood Floor Cleaner
1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
1 gallon warm water
2 - 3 drops of lemon and clove essential oils

Mix ingredients in a large bucket or container. Mop with a barely damp mop and bucket or by hand with microfiber towels. Rinse often and change the solution as needed. Make sure your hardwood floors are sealed and make sure that you never let water sit on the floors. Test in an inconspicuous spot first.

Carpet Freshener
2 cups baking soda
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops orange or grapefruit essential oil

Add baking soda to a glass jar or container and scent with essential oils. Stir to combine. To use, sprinkle on carpet or rug. Let sit for 10 minutes and then vacuum thoroughly. Store remaining freshener in a cool, dark pace and use as needed.

Laminate Floor Cleaner
5 ounces white vinegar
5 ounces rubbing alcohol
5 ounces water

Add several drops of peppermint essential oil for a invigorating and fresh scent. Mix the three ingredients with 3 - 5 drops of essential oil to fill average size spray bottle or into a refillable mop. 

Tile Floor Cleaner
1/4 cup Borax
1 gallon hot water
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drop orange essential oil

Mix all ingredients in mop bucket until fully dissolved. Mop floors as usual. No rinsing required!

Carpet Stain Remover
4 cups warm water, divided
1/2 teaspoon clear dish soap

Mix a solution of 2 cups warm water and 1/2 teaspoon clear dish soap. Keep a container with 2 cups of warm water for rinsing handy. Soak a clean rag or paper towel in the mixture, wring and gently blot the stain. Use a clean rag to soak in warm water to remove the residue. Alternate the soap solution with fresh water until the stain is gone.

Baseboard and Door Cleaner
1/2 cup Borax
1 gallon warm water

Dissolve Borax in warm water, stirring to combine. Dip a microfiber cloth or sponge in solution. Wring out excess water and wipe baseboards or doors to clean. No rinsing is required. 

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