Heidi's Cleaning Recipes

I've been striving for several years to find healthy, cost effective cleaners that work. The following recipes are the results. I still buy a couple of commercial products because I haven't found a satisfactory alternative. The set up costs will vary...investing in spray bottles, etc. My estimations for yearly spending on cleaning products, including laundry, are $20 - $30.

NOTE: Find my laundry recipes here.

I use this all purpose cleaner in the kitchen, bathrooms, and anywhere else that needs it.
All Purpose Cleaner
2 cups hot water
1/4 tsp Dawn blue dish soap
1 tsp bottled lemon juice
1/2 tsp baking soda OR washing soda
Combine in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. I label the bottle, and put the recipe on it with a Sharpie marker so I can quickly replenish the bottle when needed.

I use these window cleaners interchangeably...depending on what I have close by when I'm refilling the bottles.
Window Cleaner 1
hydrogen peroxide
coffee filter
Keep straight hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Clean with a coffee filter. The filter can be re-used several times. This is the best window cleaner I've tried.

Window Cleaner 2
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
2 drops Dawn dishwashing liquid
coffee filter
Place all in a spray bottle and shake well. Any dishwashing liquid would probably work. It cuts the grease from fingerprints, etc. Clean with a coffee filter.

Degreasers

Greased Lightning...buy this in the cleaning aisle at the grocery store, or hardware store. If your store doesn't carry it, ask them to get it. I buy it in the gallon size. It's good for pretreating grease stains on clothes, cleaning the grimy mess on the tops of cabinets, in the garage, on the stove...anywhere you have nasty greasy messes that other cleaners won't clean.

Dawn dishwashing soap...I still use this for hand washing my dishes. I also use it for greasy messes. I used to buy the cheaper kind but this one is still worth the money. I buy it in bulk at Costco or Sam's Club.It works on fresh grease stains on clothing too. Greased Lightning works better if the grease stain has already been laundered. 

Garbage Disposal Cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 lemon
1/2 cup salt(optional)(Use cheap table salt...not sea salt)
Pour the baking soda into the disposal then add the vinegar. Let it sit about 5 minutes. Next, cut up a lemon into chunks and run through the disposer with the cold water on. You can add salt when putting in the lemon if the disposal is extra disgusting. The salt will act as an abrasive scrubber.

Soft Scrub
baking soda and/or cheap table salt
Dawn dishwashing soap
Make a paste using these ingredients. Scrub. Rinse. If stains persist, try lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe off. You may need to wipe once or twice with a plain water wet rag to get all the residue.

Mold/Mildew Remover
white vinegar.....spray on. Let sit about 30 minutes. Make a soft scrub paste and clean the area well.

Hard Water Deposit Remover
white vinegar
Wet a rag with vinegar. Wrap around faucet, or lay on area with hard water. Let sit 30 minutes. Wipe off. Repeat until all deposits are gone. I learned this from a plumber. I was amazed! It works wonderfully.

Lysol Disinfectant Alternative
Use hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray on and let dry. Don't wipe off.
Isopropyl Alcohol with 70% or more alcohol content kills germs. Spray on and let dry. Don't wipe off.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
I still us a commercial product for this. Lysol TBC with the black label is the best for my hard water with rust.