These eco-friendly (and super affordable) homemade concoctions include stain removers, all-purpose cleaners and even furniture polish.
By Kate Gertner
Updated April 8, 2016
Lindsay Coulter (also known as the Queen of Green) of the David Suzuki Foundation shares her best green recipes for homemade cleaning products. Bonus: you'll likely have most of these ingredients in your home already.
All-purpose spray:
for counters and floors
1 gallon hot water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup liquid Castile soap
1 tbsp borax
10 drops essential oil (optional)
Combine all ingredients, then pour into a spray bottle.
All-purpose scrub:
a non-abrasive cleanser
1 2/3cups baking soda
1/2 cup liquid Castile soap
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp white vinegar
Pour into squirt bottle and shake before use.
All-purpose powder
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup white vinegar
Combine dry ingredients. Sprinkle onto surface, scrub, and chase with vinegar.
Glass and mirror cleaner
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
Pour into spray bottle.
Liquid laundry soap
1 cup baking soda
1/3 cup coarse salt
7L hot water
1 cup liquid Castile soap
Dissolve dry ingredients in hot water. Add soap and stir. Use 1/2 cup per load.
Stainless steel cleaner
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
Drip olive oil onto rag. Rub surface to get rid of smudges. Drip white vinegar on the other side of rag. Wipe and let dry.
Furniture polish
2 cups warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white vinegar (or lemon juice)
Pour into spray bottle. Shake well, spray, rub and polish with rag. Note: Since wood finishes vary, it is important to always do a test patch first.
Carpet cleaner
for oil and grease stains
baking soda
stiff brush
vacuum
Cover the stain generously with baking soda. Using the stiff brush, rub the baking soda into the carpet fibers. Let sit for one hour and then vacuum as usual.
Makeup-stain remover
for clothing
vodka
hydrogen peroxide
clean rag
Using the clean rag, blot the stain with vodka. Once completed, use a fresh corner of the rag to blot the stain with the hydrogen peroxide. Wash immediately using homemade green laundry soap.
Grass-stain remover
white vinegar
baking soda
Mix baking soda and vinegar into a paste. Gently work in paste from the back side of the fabric. Let sit for 15 minutes. Wash from the back with cold water; repeat if necessary then wash as usual.
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