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The Basics
Baking Soda – Gentle, scouring abrasive; dissolves dirt and grease in water for easy removal
Essential Oils – Anti-bacterial and fragrant without aggravating chemical sensitivity
Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Lemon Oil, Orange Oil
Castille Soap – Gentle cleanser
Dr. Bonners Sal Suds for floors, cars, delicate fabrics, etc.
Vinegar – antibacterial cleaner, disinfectant, deodorizer; cuts through grease
Club Soda – excellent streak-free cleaner for windows/glass surfaces
Distilled Water – helps decrease the potential for bacteria to flourish
Hand Dishwashing Liquid – good, safe cleaner for most household tasks
Lemon Juice – antibacterial; acidity helps it pull up and dissolve stains
Borax – naturally occurring mineral containing sodium, boron, oxygen, and water; kills mold and bacterial; natural deodorizer, disinfectant, tub and tile cleaner
Useful Herbs in Spring Cleaning
Disinfectant Herbs: basil, chamomile, clary sage, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, rose geranium, thyme
Fungicides: chamomile, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, savory, tea tree, thyme
Bactericides: bay, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, oregano, patchouli, rosemary, savory, tea tree, thyme
Antiseptics: all bactericide herbs above, plus basil, clary sage, clove, lemon balm, peppermint, rose geranium, sage, spearmint
Insect Repellants: basil, bay, chamomile, coriander, tansy, thyme, rosemary, peppermint, lavender
How to use these? In place of the distilled water in the recipes below, add teas of the herbs (2 teaspoon of each herb in 8 oz of boiling water; let steep for 15 minutes). This adds extra cleaning power!
A great book with awesome recipes, examples, and extra information is Clean House Clean Planet
. Enjoy having fun with this!
