How to make your own eco-friendly cleaning products

27 September 2015 - 02:00 By Staff Reporter
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There’s nothing quite like a good spring clean. But most commercial cleaning products are made up of toxic substances that can be harmful to the environment.

So to ensure that you do your bit for the earth, why not consider making your own cleaning products? Here is a list of ingredients, that are probably in your pantry, and are both economical and good for your health.

Basic ingredients for a green DIY clean

Lemon juice

While smelling wonderfully fresh, lemon juice has the ability to kill mold, cut through grease, and leave a beautiful shine on glassware.

Olive oil

Polish your wood furniture with a mix of olive oil and lemon juice, and it glistens with an amazing shine – with the added bonus of a fresh lemon scent.

White vinegar

This is the grease buster. Vinegar has a naturally acidic nature, which dissolves grease, making it a great kitchen and bathroom surface cleaner. Mix one cup of vinegar with water in a spray bottle and use it to give mirrors and windows a glossy shine.

Baking soda

The abrasive quality of baking soda removes stains in the kitchen and bathroom, cleans the inside of an oven, and has the benefit of deodorising at the same time. Add some salt and you have a powerful scrubbing solution.

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Ingredients

Eco Diva, which makes home and bath body products from organic plant-based ingredients, shares this recipe for an all-purpose household cleaner.

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Half cup white vinegar

Juice of 1 lemon

2 cups warm water

25 to 30 drops of essential oil (tea tree, grapefruit or eucalyptus)

Method

Mix the vinegar and lemon juice in a large bowl or measuring cup.

Slowly add the water and stir.

Allow the mixture to cool, and then add the essential oil.

Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a recycled spray bottle.

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