Some Reviews...

A few months ago I was looking around the web for some recipes to make my own cleaning supplies. I came across Not A Cool Mom aka Elizabeth's Kind Cafe Blog, you can watch her videos on how to make all of this. She has some really good cleaning recipes. I have tried some of them and I thought I tell you what I think about them, after trying them for a while. I have tried the Dishwasher soap, the soap for hand washing dishes, Bathroom cleaner and the Al lpurpose cleaner.
So, here is the dish soap...

DISH SOAP RECIPE

2 cups liquid castille soap (I like Dr. Bronner’s)
1/2 cup water                                                                         
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
5 drops Essential oil (Lemon, Pine or Lavender work well)
1/2 cup white vinegar


Put all of the ingredients in an empty squirt bottle and shake. Done!

I used all of the dish soap that I made. I was not that pleased with it. It always seems to feel a little greasy and the lavender smell was at first almost not noticeable. However it seemed to become a little stronger over time. While it cleaned the dishes, I didn't really like the feel of it and I had use quite a bit of it. My personal conclusion is that I would buy dish soap again but keep the recipe for emergencies, for example when I - again - forget to buy the commercial one :)


I also made the Shower Cleaner. I use for everything not only the bathroom. It is more like liquid scrubbing powder, so be careful where you use it, I imagine it would scratch up your granite countertops. Here is the recipe......



Shower Cleaner
1 Cup Baking Soda
1/3 Cup Borax
½ Cup Liquid Soap (Dr. Bronners)
2 Tbls Distilled Vinegar
1 Cup Warm Water
4 Drops Lavender, Pine or Lemon Oil
1 Squeeze Bottle, 32 oz – She is using a spray bottle in the video, but that doesn't really work because the liquid is way to thick.

I have heated the water in a pot on the stove and added the baking soda and borax into it and stirred until it was dissolved. I was hoping that it would then come out the spray bottle, but it didn't. So I don't know if you really have to heat the water in order dissolve everything. It may be enough to just use hot tap water. You add all ingredients together and shake. It will bubble up quite a bit, so you may want to do that over your sink ;-)

Shake before each use!!! This is obviously not a 32 oz. bottle but I didn't have one at hand and so had to divide the liquid.

My experience with it? Great! It cleanse very well, though you have to add a little bit of vigor to it. I like that I can add any smell I like. Right now I am using Lavender oil for everything, I really like it. I will continue to use this and not buy any commercial cleaner. It get the tub, the sink and toilet clean. Though I still use commercial stuff for the inside of the toilet.


My next exeriment was making All Purpose Cleaner. I had to buy a large spray bottle and wrote the instruction on it. Even though I used  a permanent marker, it did not stay on but that's okay. So here it is....

All Purpose Cleaner
1 Teaspoon Washing Soda
1 teaspoon Borax
½ Teaspoon Castile Soap
2 Cups Hot Water
10 Drops Essential Oil(Lemon, Lavender and Pine work well for this one).

Shake well before use! This is a great cleaning product! It cleans even better than store bought all purpose cleaner. I cleaned my kitchen with it and it worked wonderful. I really like it and will continue to use it. Making it takes only a few minutes and since you use all the same ingredients for all of this stuff, you have everything you need :-)


This is what Elizabeth wrote on her website and I would like to pass it on, because it is noteworthy.....

A few things to keep in mind when working with homemade cleaning products…….
1)  Residue – The first few times you use home cleaning products (especially window cleaner) you may notice some residue. There are two reasons for this. First, there is build-up from your previous cleaner that becomes visible. Second, homemade cleaners require a little extra elbow grease. You will have to work that sponge or rag (hopefully not paper towel) a little more, but it’s worth it.
2) Essential Oils – Although they are natural, they can be quite potent, so make sure to wear gloves when working with Lavender and Tea Tree Oil.


The last thing I would like to share with you is the powder for the dishwasher. I don't think I have that from Elizabeth's site, but I also don't remember where I got the recipe from.

Dishwashing Detergent

1/2 cup washing Soda

1/2 cup Borax                                    
1/4 Salt
Vinegar
1 Jar



Put the Soda, Borax and Salt in the jar. Close the lid tight and shake until it is all mixed well. In your dishwasher is a little compartment where the the blue rinsing agent usually goes, FILL THAT WITH VINEGAR! If you don't use the vinegar, you will not get pleasing results. I just added the vinegar to whatever I had left in that little compartment. Use 1 tablespoon. Note: When I used 2 tablespoons the dishes had a film on them and I had to rinse twice. You may have to play with the amount according to how hard or soft your water is and your dishwasher.
My experience: This is a keeper!!! I really, really like this. I have used this for the last two or three months and I don't want to go back to the commercial stuff. Especially if you read the label and see that they actually put toxins in there, which may not rinse off completely. This works really well, gets the dishes clean, is fast to make and cheap. Just don't forget the vinegar !


These are my the green cleaning supplies I have tried. I am going to try out more, but for now, why don't you give it a try. It is fun and cheap and once you have borax, washing soda and castile soap, you have everything you need and make all of this. Oh yes, I forgot the essential oil. Give it a try and let me know what you think :D