Witchy Green Cleaning - All Purpose Cleaner

This is a re-post of the third post in my Witchy Green Cleaning Series. This is the last of the re-post. The next two posts in this series are new! I can't say enough good things about these cleaners. I have been using them in my home for the past year with great results. They are easy to make and once you have the ingredients you have all that you need to make a LOT of cleaners. In the past year the only ingredient that I have had to buy is additional vinegar. I still have plenty of all the other ingredients for these cleaners.

Originally published on January 14, 2013.

This is the third post in my Witchy Green Cleaning series; click here for information on a simple bathroom cleaner and here for information on two simple window and glass cleaners. I am testing all of these products in my own home before I post about them here.

Today I am writing about an all purpose cleaner. This recipe is a little more involved but worth the extra effort.

For a 1 gallon container you’ll need the following:

3 teaspoons of liquid Castile Soap (I found this at Target in the bath soap aisle)

2 tablespoons Borax

2 tablespoons Washing Soda

2 Cups white vinegar

12 cups of hot water

Gallon jug - I bought a gallon of drinking water at Walmart so I would have a clean gallon jug to store this in.

Directions:

Mix the Castile soap, Borax, washing soda and vinegar in a large bowl. Slowly add the water and stir Allow the mixture to cool. Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a gallon jug.

You can add essential oil to this mixture as well. I chose to only add it to the mix once I poured a portion into a spray bottle for use. This allows me to change up the scent and purpose multiple times without having to make lots of mix.  This all purpose cleaner is also disinfects so you can use it just like you would Formula 409 or similar products.

Cost Breakdown:

3 tsp Liquid Castile Soap = .33

2 Tablespoons Borax = .05

2 Tablespoons Washing Soda = .06

3 Cups White Vinegar = .48

12 Cups Hot Water = .17 (from my purchased gallon jug)

Total 1.09

Cost per ounce = .008 – yes that is less than a penny per ounce!

Comparison

Formula 409 is roughly .18 per ounce. That is a huge savings and the homemade product is environmentally friendly, easy to make and safe to use.

My total initial cost for all of the ingredients that I am using for ALL of the cleaning products I am making was less that $40. It you are just starting out I recommend White Vinegar and Dawn Dishwashing Liquid! Those two will give you plenty of cleaning power for the money! The two most expensive items initially are the liquid Castile Soap and the Vegetable Glycerin which is used as a preservative in the scouring powder I’ll be talking about in my next Witchy Green Cleaning post. While their initial cost is higher than the other ingredients, the amount you use is so minute they will last you a very long time!

Witchy Add-Ins:

With an all purpose cleaner you have so many ways to use it that the essential oils you can use are pretty endless.

Once the weather warms up and the chance for freezing is past I plan on making a small batch to clean the interior of my car and just keep it in there. I’ll be putting in Oregano Essential oil for its protection, happiness and tranquility properties – there are some days when I am driving home in rush hour traffic that some tranquility would be welcome! As you experiment with adding essential oils to your cleaning products always make sure they are safe for skin contact and long term use.

Some other essential oil ideas:

For All-Purpose

Oregano – Happiness, protection and tranquility

Rosemary – Purification, protection and alertness

Peppermint - Rid areas of negativity, create change

Bedroom:

Lavender– lavender is great for love, protection, happiness and peace

Peppermint – this is also great for sleep, love and healing

Patchouli – this one is great when you want to spice it up - properties: sexuality, power and passion

Bathroom:

Grapefruit – to increase energy, this is especially nice to use to clean the shower during the long winter months!

Lavender - peace and emotional tranquility

Car:

Oregano – protection, happiness & tranquility

As you can see from the list above, it is worth making a large batch and putting it into smaller spray bottles so you can personalize the scent or you can just use the base recipe as a fantastic cleaning product!

Next up: A Green Soft Scouring Powder Alternative

*Note* I found this recipe on Cajun Joie de Vivre: http://amybayliss.com/.