Living the Feng Shui Way
Cleaning That Comes Naturally - How To Make Your Own Natural Cleaners
By: Kathryn Weber
Publisher, The Red Lotus Letter
The reward of cleaning is that fresh, sweet smell of a home that has been thoroughly cleaned. And while that clean smell is appealing to some people, it is a turn off to others because it may make their eyes water or their skin itch or make them come down with a sneezing fit. Most likely due to the harsh chemicals in most cleaning products, the desired effect of relaxation from your clean house, can turn into an auto-immune nightmare.
If this describes you, if you have children whose health you are concerned about, maybe you have someone in your home with an illness, or you just want to use natural products in your home, try cleaning naturally.
There are a number of recipes for cleaning agents that will help get your house clean and without the worry, smell, or concern of strong chemical cleaning compounds. Instead, brew up a batch of your own homemade cleaners and you will find that your home is just as clean, doesn’t have that awful chemical smell, and saves you money, too. When you make own house cleaners, you will find that you use a lot less money. That’s because the ingredients that you buy are usually diluted and last a long, long time!
So, next time you want to clean, head to the store first and pick up some supplies to brew your own cleaners. Then, you’ll find that the best clean is the clean that comes naturally!
Supplies needed for making your own cleaners
• Plain sudsy ammonia
• White vinegar
• Essential oil in your favorite scent: orange oil, lemon oil, or lavender
• Borax
• Ivory dish soap or soap flakes
• Good quality spray bottles
• Rubbing alcohol (large bottle)
• Indelible markers (for marking the bottles)
• Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda or found on the laundry aisle
• Distilled water (optional). You don’t have to use distilled water, but if you have hard water, you can be depositing minerals on your surfaces every time you use a cleaner.
RECIPES
Lavender Dishwashing Soap
2 Cups soap flakes
1 gallon water
25 drops of lavender essential oil (you can change this to lemon or orange or other scent)
Place soap flakes and water into a pan. Heat over medium heat stirring occasionally until it boils and until soap dissolves. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes to thoroughly combine the ingredients. Remove from heat and let liquid partially cool, add the essential oil and stir. Pour into a clean plastic squeeze bottle or re-used dish soap bottle.
All-Purpose Spray Cleaner
1 tablespoon Borax
1/2 cup liquid soap (can use the soap in the dishwashing soap recipe or Ivory or other type of dish soap)
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 gallon hot distilled water
20 drops essential oil*
Combine all ingredients. Use as you would any other cleaning spray.
Glass Cleaner I
1/2 cup sudsy ammonia
2 cups rubbing alcohol
1 gallon distilled water
Mix together and pour into spray bottle.
Glass Cleaner II
2 cups sudsy ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
1 gallon distilled water
Mix together and pour into spray bottle.
Scouring Powder
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup washing soda (such as Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)
Use like regular
Written by Kathryn Weber,the publisher of The Red Lotus Letter a FREE, weekly feng shui E-Zine with tips and secrets that push the feng shui envelope. Log on to www.redlotusletter.com to subscribe.
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