Ingredients

There are a few supplies you’ll need to mix your own natural cleaning solutions. We use them every day in the course of greening our clients homes. We’ll bet you have at least 3 of these already on hand: vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Those you don’t have are easy to find and most are dirt (ha!) cheap.

• Lemon Juice - pH 2.3 / 99 cents per (organic) lemon
  • Lemon Juice is one of the strongest food acids, marked by its sour taste.
  • Great anti-bacterial agent, also smells fresh!
  • Cuts grease like a charm.

• Distilled White Vinegar - pH 3 / 1.7 cents per oz
  • A simple 5% solution can kill 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of viruses.
  • Cuts tough grease.
  • One of the cornerstones of DIY cleaning! It’s varied uses will blow your mind!
  • Don’t like the smell?  Add some essential oils!  And remember, the vinegar smell quickly dissipates and won’t pollute your indoor air quality!!

• Concentrated Citrus Degreaser – pH 5.5 / 50 cents per (concentrated) oz
  • Main ingredient is D-Limonene, orange peel extract. It also contains a natural essential oil blend and biodegradable cleaning agents derived from coconut oil.
  • Caution: a lot of citrus degreasers available contain petroleum distillates. Citra Solv brand does NOT.
  • Can be used diluted as a all-purpose cleaner and undiluted to cut through tough soil.

• Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) – pH 6.2 / 0.05 cents per oz
  • Very close to water’s chemical composition
  • Great disinfectant. If it bubbles, it’s killing germs!
  • Highly effective blood stain remover
  • Whitens through oxidation, i.e. producing oxygen.
  • The main ingredient in “oxygen bleach” is the powder form of H2O2
  • Simple 3% that you may already have is perfect for cleaning.
  • Check out some other uses.

• Water (H2O) – pH 7 or neutral
  • Dilutes pH of anything that will absorb or dissolve in water.

• Essential Oils - pH neutral/ balanced / price varies by oil
  • Should be pH balanced or neutral. Different essential oils have different properties.
  • Add various combination’s to make DIY solutions smell AND work better.

• Salt (with water) – pH 8 / 0.02 cents per oz
  • AKA Sodium Hydroxide
  • For cleaning: use non-iodized salt.
  • Disinfectant and good for abrasive scrubbing. Always do test area of any surface first!
  • Can get rid of rust and mildew.

• Baking Soda - pH 8.2 / 45 cents per lb
  • AKA Sodium Bicobonate
  • Drying agent, which is why it absorbs odors so well!
  • The other cornerstone of DIY cleaning. Like vinegar, you won’t believe all its uses.
  • Good for gentle scrubbing.

• Borax - pH ~9.5 / 6 cents per oz
  • AKA Sodium Borate, same family as baking soda.
  • Cleans and bleaches by releasing hydrogen peroxide when added to water.  HOT water is best.
  • Works best in combination with other cleaning agent because it keeps other cleaner dispersed. That’s why it’s a great laundry soap BOOSTER!
  • Do NOT use in areas where food is prepared or consumed.
  • It IS safe for our water supply! The same chemical reaction that helps it bleach, means it’s safe for our water.
  • Check out some other uses.

• Castille Soap – pH 9.5 / 38 cents per oz
  • Soap is made with only natural minerals and fats.  Castille soap is made with ONLY vegetable fats.
  • Not to be confused with liquid detergent, which a synthetically produced.
  • Can buy Dr Bronner’s soap in bulk at most Whole Foods stores.

• Bon Ami pH ~10 / ~$2 per can
  • Mineral-based scrub and disinfectant
  • Contains feldspar and  limestone – gentle abrasives + corn, coconut, and palm oils – sustainable cleaning agents + baking soda – absorbs odors.
  • Used alone will not scratch most surfaces.

• Washing Soda – pH 11 / 0.03 cents per oz
  • AKA Sodium Carbonate, AKA Soda Ash
  • Same family as Baking Soda, but do not confuse the two.
  • It’s harmful if swallowed and can irritate the skin. Wear gloves when handling.
  • It IS safe for the environment, just like Borax.
  • Softens water, i.e. can help detergents work better.
  • Very effective de-greaser.