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Catch All

Welcome to another edition of

Catch All


Thé Ides of March have passed. We enter Spring Cleaning season. The E abode has nary a commercially made cleaning product. There are way to many less expensive ways to clean using basic, readily available household products. This evening provides you with a variety of homemade inexpensive cleaning options. 



Vinegar being one of those readily available excellent natural cleaners. Vinegar has been shown to have antibacterial properties due to its acetic acid content. Vinegar is VERY affordable. 


DIY Vinegar Cleaner 


INGREDIENTS

1 Spray Bottle 

2 Cups White Vinegar

1 Cup Distilled Water

Optional 15-20 drops (1/4-1/2 teaspoon essential oil)


I use different oil fragrances depending on the room; 

Apple cinnamon for kitchen

Wisteria for bathroom

Gardenia or Jasmine for living room-dining room


INSTRUCTIONS

  • Add the vinegar, water, and essential oil (if using) to the spray bottle. 
  • Place the spray nozzle on the bottle and gently shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. You'll want to do this each time you use the cleaner. 

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  • Spray a cloth or the surface directly



Baking Soda is another very inexpensive cleaning product. Rather then typing all the varieties of baking soda cleaning, the following link has multiple simple directions for this product.


https://www.thespruce.com/baking-soda-homemade-cleaner-1387916



Bleach Cleaner is, again, inexpensive. There are a multitude of DIY directions for making this cleaner. Mine tends to be a tad stronger. The one caveat for bleach cleaners is bleach can loses its potency with a few months. You may be better advised to mix it as you need it. 


Ingredients

1/4 cup bleach 

3 cups water


Directions

Mix in a spray bottle



Alternative Bleach Cleaner lacks the harsh smell and other issues. 


Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide 3% solution
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice or 10 drops lemon essential oil


Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a quart-sized jar or container.
  • Use 1 cup of this solution as needed for laundry.
  • For tougher cleaning stains, add another 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the mixture.


There are some household things that cannot be cleaned using vinegar due to acidic content. These include concrete counter tops, granite and marble surfaces. Fear not, you still do not have to pay for those harsh commercial products. 


Ingredients

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Instructions


  • Add liquid castile soap and essential oils to spray bottle.
  • Fill with water and shake well.
  • Use as needed.

Alcohol cleaning. No..put down that bottle of booze. We are talking rubbing alcohol. It has been my experience that alcohol will do as well as a bleach cleaner without the strong odor. Most people use one part to two parts. My tendency is to just pour a bottle of 71% or higher alcohol in a spray bottle without diluting it. 


There is one commercial cleaning product in my abode. Being a thrifty sort, I purchase mine at the Dollar Tree. It is the non name brand of the Mr. Clean Eraser cleaning sponge. I cannot recommend this product highly enough!


The next addition will be wood polish. Keep an eye out for it. 


Now, go out to Dollar Tree, saving beaucoup money, and obtain your spring cleaning spray bottles and ingredients to go in those bottles.