Go Green! Cleaning Recipes

Michael and I recently got ourselves a little baby bird and strong cleaning fumes are extremely harmful for their poor little respiratory systems. I could only imagine what it does to them! But what could it do to us? Because of this, we have decided to transition into a more green and sustainable lifestyle, starting with our cleaning products. Below are recipes for an all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, and a bar that will suck the stink from your trash!

Above is the Deodorizing Trash Bar. (Inspired by one of my favorite bloggers!)
Put these in smelly places, like the trash can, a diaper can, or behind the toilet. I just put this in my trashcan yesterday so I have yet to see if this works! Comment below if this worked for you! (:

What you need:

• baking soda
• boiled water then cool (or distilled water)
• essential oil (I used lavender and jasmine)
• silicone mold

What to do:

1. Start with half a cup of water and drop in 2-3 drops of your oil and stir. (Do not make my mistake and add 5, it smells too strong!)
2. In a bowl, put in half a cup of baking soda. Gradually add some of your water and mix. 
3. It will make a thick paste. Keep adding baking soda if it is too wet OR add water if too dry.
4. Make until desired amount. If you run out of water with essential oil, just add more water (don't add more oil or it will smell strong - unless you like that, go for it!)
5. Pour into silicone molds (a muffin pan could also work. It helps that the mold to be flexible so i is easy to pop out).
6. Let sit for 24-48 hours.  And voila! Put it in your trash. Change every 2-3 months.

 All Purpose Cleaner
This does what it says. I used it on my counter tops in both my kitchen and bathroom and it works!

• 2 Tablespoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon blue Dawn dish soap
• 4 Tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 1/2 Cups warm water

Put all ingredients in a squirt bottle and shake. Shake before use.

Glass Cleaner
I was surprised how well this cleaner worked. I have a glass dining table and it cleaned all the fingerprints and food plus it didn't leave any streaks! I am definitely keeping this one in my cleaning cupboard.

• 1/4 Cup rubbing alcohol
• 1/4 Cup white vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 Cups warm water

Put all ingredients in a squirt bottle and shake. Shake before use as well.

We hope you find these cleaners useful into helping save our beautiful Earth. There are many green cleaners out there! Check them out. Vinegar, dish soap, and cornstarch are definitely essential things to have for green cleaning.

What homemade green cleaners have you used? What do you like about them? Have they worked for you? 

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: 
One Good Thing by Jillee 
All Purpose Cleaner and Glass Cleaner 
Picture above is taken by me