spray bottle
vinegar
water
tea tree oil (optional but a great antiseptic)
Fill spray bottle 1/3 of the way full with vinegar (most bottles will have lines to tell you the proportions) and the rest of the way with water. Add 20-25 drops of tea tree oil and gently shake. Use as you would any commercial general cleaning spray.
Scouring Powder
baking soda
Sprinkle on area just as you would a conventional cleaning powder.
Laundry Detergent (with borax)
Powdered
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1 bar soap
Slice soap into strips and run through food processor to make "soap beads".
Combine soap beads, borax, and washing soda. Done!
Use 1-2 tablespoon for small loads, 3-4 tablespoons for large loads.
(more or less depending on your water quality)
* recipe from Diaper Swappers
Liquid4 cups hot tap water
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1 bar soap
See how the ingredient lists are almost identical? There are, however, a few more steps to this detergent.
Grate the soap (by hand or as above) and add to pot with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted (this was my least favorite part - I figured it would dissolve a lot faster!)
Fill a 5 gallon bucket (I store my wheat in these, but they can also sometimes be picked up at the grocery store) half full of hot top water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and Borax. Stir until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.
Stir and fill a used, clean laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of the way with water. Shake (gently) before each use.
Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil
Use 5/8 cup (the size of my standard sized laundry cap) per load for top loaders - about 180 loads
Use 1/4 cup for front loaders - about 640 loads
Dishwasher Detergent (with borax)
1 cup OxiClean Free
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
Mix all ingredients and use approximately 1/4 cup per load (more of less depending on needs).
Dishwasher Rinse-Aid
vinegar
Add to rinse compartment.
Diaper Detergent (with borax)
1 cup OxiClean Free
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
Mix all ingredients and use approximately 1/4 cup per load (more of less depending on needs).
