Natural, Non-Toxic Cleaners for Frugal Moms
Commercial cleaners are not only expensive, but many of them contain chemicals that – at the least – irritate sensitive skin and at worst can poison children and pets. Here are some solutions for making your own frugal, non-toxic cleaning products.
Be sure to label your homemade products clearly. While most of these products are completely safe, it’s still a good idea to keep them out of the reach of children and away from pets.
NOTE: These cleaners can be covered tightly and stored unless otherwise noted.
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 c. vinegar
1/4 c. baking soda
water
Combine vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle. Fill bottle with water. Shake to mix well.
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All Natural Air Freshener
1 T. cinnamon
2 c. water
Combine cinnamon and water in small saucepan. Simmer on stovetop to remove odors and add a lovely fragrance to your home. Can add other spices as desired.
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Carpet Freshener
3/4 c. baking soda
2 T. corn starch
1/4 c. baby powder
Combine ingredients and mix well. Sprinkle on dry carpet. Let stand 10 minutes. Vacuum.
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Carpet Stain Remover
1 c. vinegar
1 c. water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to mix well. Spray directly on stain and Let stand for several minutes. Clean with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.
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Drain Cleaner
1/2 c. baking soda
1/2 c. vinegar
hot water
Pour baking soda in drain followed by the vinegar. Let stand 15 minutes. Flush with very hot water. Repeat if needed.
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Furniture Polish
1/2 t. olive oil
1/4 c. vinegar
Combine ingredients in a small container. Mix well. Use on a soft cloth to clean and polish wood surfaces.
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Mold Remover
1 c. hydrogen peroxide
2 c. water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to mix well. Spray mold completely and Let stand for at least one hour.
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Non-abrasive Scrubbing Cleanser
1/2 c. baking soda
1 – 2 c. liquid laundry detergent
Combine ingredients in a small container. Mix well to the consistency of thin cake frosting.
NOTE: Make only as much as you can use at one time as this will harden.
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Oven Cleaner
3/4 c. baking soda
1/4 c. salt
1/4 c. water
Moisten oven with damp sponge or spray bottle filled with water. Combine baking soda, salt and water in a small container. Mix well to form a thick paste. Spread over oven interior. Let stand overnight. Remove residue and clean with damp cloth. Use fine steel wool on hard-to-clean spots.
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Pet Urine Deodorizer
dishwashing liquid
1/2 c. vinegar
2 1/2 c. warm water, separated
Combine dishwashing liquid and 1/2 c. water until sudsy. Clean spot with mixture and a soft brush or cleaning rag. Combine vinegar and remaining water and rinse spot well. Cover with towel and let stand about 5 hours. Blot dry and remove towel. Allow to dry completely.
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Rust Remover
1 T. salt
1 T. lime juice
Sprinkle salt on the rust. Cover with lime juice. Let stand for at least two hours. Scrub clean.
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Sticky Residue Remover
Apply full strength vinegar directly to any glue residue left from price tags or other stickers. May have to set a few minutes, but can then be removed easily.
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Window Cleaner
1/2 t. liquid laundry detergent
3 T. vinegar
water
Combine liquid laundry detergent and vinegar in a spray bottle. Fill bottle with water. Shake to mix well.
How Clutter Chases Money Away
Have you ever heard that having a cluttered home can cause money to run away from you?
I know, I know…it sounds like airy-fairy mumbo jumbo, but think about it for a moment…
Has your desk ever been so cluttered that you forgot to pay a bill and incurred a late fee?
Has your cluttered purse caused you to forget to enter in a debit card purchase and you then overdrew your account?
Have you ever injured yourself in your own home when you tripped over “stuff” cluttering up walkways?
Have you ever bought something that you already owned, simply because you couldn’t find the item in question? Have you ever found overdue late library books or movie rentals under your messy car seats?
Are you getting my point here?
To save yourself time AND money, implement some of these tips:
*Every evening when you turn off the computer, spend just 2 minutes clearing off your desk or workspace. When it becomes a habit you will do it without thinking and it then takes seconds.
*Once a week (or more often depending on your habits!) take a minute to clear out your purse. Pick a day to do this and do it every week.
*Enter your purchases in your checkbook immediately before the receipt has a chance to disappear!
*Open your mail standing over a trash can. That way you can immediately toss the junk mail instead of laying it aside.
*Once a day (before bed is a great time) take just 2 minutes to walk through the house with a trash bag in your hand, and throw away paper trash, magazines, junky plastic toys that seem to multiply overnight, etc.
*Before you log off your computer at the end of a workday, take a moment to delete any favorite places or organize them into folders. Do the same with email. (Better yet, set up your email program to automatically file certain emails into folders as they download.) This will save you time when you need to find things later on.
*The day before you go grocery shopping, clean out your fridge. It’s emptier now so this is easy to do, and you can grab all the leftover bits to make “Refrigerator Stew” instead of letting those items go to waste.
And my personal favorite:
*Never own more than one laundry basket. The more you own, the more you fill up with clean,unfolded laundry!
And just for fun, here’s the airy-fairy stuff:
Having a cluttered home or office can make you feel tired and overwhelmed, because you have an emotional attachment to everything you own. It’s as if a tiny string is connecting every possession to your subconscious mind.
Do you have kids?
Have you ever noticed how your child behaves when s/he has too many choices? How about when they’ve been given a ton of gifts? Do they not get irritable and frenzied? They can’t decide “what to do” with so much stuff around that they pitch it all and play with the box…it’s simple!
I organized my kid’s room the other day (I go on a tear and do this periodically), putting all the toys into categories, organizing them into containers, throwing a lot away,puttting some things away for later, and lo and behold! They NEVER played in there before,and now they’re in their room all the time playing peacefully.
It’s the same with us!
A cluttered home means you will have less energy for your business or other work.
I hope these ideas help you save time and money.
Carrie Lauth publishes a free “no fluff” newsletter for the Mom new to internet business. Get your free subscriber goodies at http://www.business-moms-expo.com/newsletter.html
