This is one of my favorite cleaners! Hands down! It works beautifully and every time I use it the scent makes me smile. Since I make it myself I can change the scent based on my mood, my intent or the room I am using it in.
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 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/. For my witchy readers
please note that her Christian views are very much a part of her blog and could
be quite contradictory to your own views, however, I believe that we are all
entitled to our beliefs and her site is a wonderful resource for anyone looking
for natural cleaning ideas.
