Household Cleaning Recipes

Candy's Kitchen | home

Webster's Dictionary defines `recipe' as "a set of instructions for making something from various ingredients". This includes things not for consumption as well as food.

This week I'd like to stray a bit from edible recipes to recipes for things you need around the house. Throughout my adult years people have given me recipes for various things to help around the house. From homemade window cleaner to, more recently, homemade baby wipes.

In today's society we are bombarded with messages to help save our planet and become more "green" or earth friendly. One way to help on an individual level is to make cleaners from ordinary, ingredients that are environmentally friendly. Most of the time this is much more cost effective than commercial cleaners and far less toxic..to us and to the environment.

Here are a few homemade cleaners and such to get you started on becoming earth friendly and save you a few bucks.

TRIPLE-ACTION MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER

1/4 C. baking soda

1 C. ammonia

1/2 C. white vinegar

1 gal. warm water

Mix thoroughly. Store in a bottle.

BABY WIPES

2 C. warm water

2 T. baby shampoo

2 T. baby oil

Mix these ingredients. Soak heavy, white paper towels in this solution and tuck into used baby wipes containers or plastic bags to use in the nursery.

BOTTLE/VASE CLEANER

The vinegar cleans while the rice loosens dirt without scratching.

1/4 C. white vinegar

2 T. uncooked rice

Pour vinegar into the bottle or vase, then add rice. Cover with one hand and shake vigorously.

CLOGGED DRAIN REMEDY

1 C. salt

1 C. baking soda

1 C. vinegar

Mix, then pour down the drain. Follow with 2 quarts boiling water.

FRESH FLOWER PRESERVATIVE

2 T. white vinegar

1 qt. water

2 T. cane sugar

Mix well. Use this solution instead of water for fresh flowers. The vinegar inhibits the growth of organisms and the sugar serves as food.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL CLEANER

1 C. chopped lemon, orange or grapefruit, including rind

1 C. baking soda

1 1/2 C. water

Mix ingredients, then pour into an ice cube tray. Freeze until solid. Remove cubes from tray, then place in a plastic bag if you are not going to use them immediately. Label the bag, and make sure the children don't get into them. When ready to clean the disposal, turn it on, drop in 6 to 10 cubes, and let the machine grind them up. Rinse disposal with cold water.

SHOWER CURTAIN WASH

1/2 C. detergent

1/2 C. baking soda

Fill the washing machine with warm water and add 2 large bath towels. Add detergent and baking soda. Put the shower curtain into the washing machine. Run through the entire wash cycle; however, add 1-cup vinegar to the rinse water. Do not spin dry or wash vinegar out. This method will not work without the bath towels. Hang the shower curtain immediately. Wrinkles will disappear after the curtain has thoroughly dried.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING PRESERVATIVE

1 white antacid tablet

1 qt. club soda

Dissolve antacid tablet in club soda overnight. Lay newspaper clippings in solution for one hour, then gently pat dry.

So there you have it. Several "green" household recipes to save money and the planet.