I've heard a lot about vinegar and baking soda as homemade cleaners but I'm now adding tea tree oil to the list. We've been using it in our laundry when we clean Simeon's diapers and in the dirty diaper bag to neutralize any odour, but apparently that's just the beginning.It can also used as an air freshener, all-purpose antibacterial cleaner, mold and mildew cleaner/repellent as well as all its medicinal uses. The great thing about it is that a few drops go a long way and it can be found almost anywhere; we get ours at Superstore.
Find out more here about tea tree oil and it's uses and this site provides recipes for other homemade, eco-friendly cleaners. So, as you run out of Mr. Clean or Pine-Sol think about making your own alternative.
If you know of any other green solutions, we'd love to hear them!
6 comments:
Ahhh, cleaning! One of my favourite things! (No, really!) Tea tree oil is great dabbed on skin blemishes or cuts; a little bit mixed with water is a great astringent. I also make a surface cleaner for kitchen and bathroom by mixing 2 cups water, 2 tbsp dish detergent, and some tea tree oil (maybe 10 drops or so-ish) in a spray bottle. I drop it in the toilet brush holder, too. And baking soda! Ah, the wonders of baking soda! I've used it a few times in the past little while for a face scrub - lovely! Like really cheap dermabrasion. And I could go on...
Thanks for the recipe - I was just searching for the correct combination the other day. While cleaning isn't my favourite thing it feels great to have the house clean and ready to entertain people - which is my favourite thing :)
I enjoy cleaning, for the most part. Good excersize for one's waistline (mine), and frustrations. We can't all be handy a heavy bag. (Grr.) From what I have read, a good spurt of house-cleaning burns as much calories as a three round wrestling match, or a good run. (Not that I "run" per se. Unless I am being chased...but I digress...)
As for Tea Tree oil, it's also good for "combination" skin.
I usually go for the traditional cleaning agents that my mom and grandma used, but which have been re-formulated to be environmentally friendly. They're easier on the budget. Like Mr. Clean and Pledge. Ahhh...Pledge! Some good ideas, though, which I'll check out next time I can. <><
It's true that a lot of household cleaners have been revamped to have a "natural" scent but Mr. Clean and Pledge aren't actually environmentally friendly. There is a great line of cleaners called Hertel that are biodegradable, non-toxic and without phosphates if making your own cleaner isn't for you. Hertel is also a Canadian company and uses all Canadian materials when possible.
~Ruth.
They aren't environmentally friendly??! So, they lie about it? Boo. Hertel? I'll see if I can find those. Making my own cleaners really isn't for me. Between working and trying to get enough zzzz's, I just manage to squeeze in cleaning my hobbit-hole. (It's shocking just how much sleep I seem to need these days!) Thanks. :)
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Baking soda is also good as a teeth whitener. <><
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