This is what my cleaning bucket used to look like:
There is a household product for everything nowadays! And 9 times out of 10, they all work the same. They also cost so MUCH MONEY. I had all purpose cleaner with bleach, windex, comet, another all purpose cleaner without bleach, furniture polish, oven cleaner, countertop spray...just to name a few! I'm not saying that these cleaners don't work, but they are laden with chemicals and are hard on your hands, your nose, and your home. As a business owner, I wanted to give my personal cleaning bucket a makeover and put "all natural" cleaners to the test. These cleaners are comprised of only two or three ingredients each and I'm happy to report THEY WORK.
Here are my cleaning supplies now:
Here are my cleaning supplies now:
From left to right - Baking Soda, White Vinegar, Ammonia, Lemon Juice and Rubbing Alcohol.
I already had a couple of other things on hand to make up my new cleaning solutions like Original Dawn Dish Soap and Olive Oil. And now I have three bottles of cleaning supplies to clean my entire house. You will need to buy the clear plastic bottles but you only have to buy these once! I purchased these supplies at Walmart and they totaled right around $8. I'm going to get at 2-3 months use out of them! Needless to say, you'll be seeing these cleaning supplies in a ProClean bucket soon too. I can't wait to show you all the power of common household items and a clean home!
These are my cleaning products now!
So simple!
I already had a couple of other things on hand to make up my new cleaning solutions like Original Dawn Dish Soap and Olive Oil. And now I have three bottles of cleaning supplies to clean my entire house. You will need to buy the clear plastic bottles but you only have to buy these once! I purchased these supplies at Walmart and they totaled right around $8. I'm going to get at 2-3 months use out of them! Needless to say, you'll be seeing these cleaning supplies in a ProClean bucket soon too. I can't wait to show you all the power of common household items and a clean home!
These are my cleaning products now!
So simple!
Here are the recipes you'll need to make over your cleaning buckets too!
Strong All Purpose Cleaner
This all purpose cleaner can fight grease, soap scum and hard water. It's great to clean your showers and as a toilet bowl cleaner.
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
To use as a toilet bowl cleaner, spray down the bowl very liberally and wait a few minutes. Clean with a brush. Use a pumice stone and undiluted white vinegar for hard water stains.
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
- 1 T clear, non-sudsing ammonia
- 1 T clear laundry detergent or original Dawn (I used Dawn)
- 2 cups water
To use as a toilet bowl cleaner, spray down the bowl very liberally and wait a few minutes. Clean with a brush. Use a pumice stone and undiluted white vinegar for hard water stains.
Glass Cleaner
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
- 1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Counter Top Spray
Great for cleaning your kitchen and bath countertops (also works as an all purpose)
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.
For shower walls with tough hard water stains, take the sprayer off and heat up the solution until barely hot. Spray down the shower wall generously and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Scrub and rinse.
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.
For shower walls with tough hard water stains, take the sprayer off and heat up the solution until barely hot. Spray down the shower wall generously and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Scrub and rinse.
More tricks and tips:
Undiluted vinegar can be used for many things (and don't worry, the vinegar smell goes away after it dries. I promise! Use a cup of vinegar with your rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. It softens clothes and removes excess detergent and hard water. Soak your showerheads and grimy bathroom sink drains in a solution of undiluted vinegar and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda for a couple of hours and get all the hard water deposits and stains off. Your showerhead will look brand new again!
Speaking of baking soda....
Baking Soda is a girl's best friend for use as an abrasive. Sprinkle a little on a damp sponge to clean grimy drains or faucets. Rinse with hot water. For tougher stuff, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply and let sit to the area for 10-20 minutes. Dirt, soap scrum and grime are easier to remove this way. For a free flowing drain, dump about 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and add a few drops of water. Let sit for about 15-20 minutes. Add a 1/2 cup - 1 cup of vinegar. It will foam up (which is fun to watch!). Let this solution sit for a few minutes and then run extremely hot water in the drain for a few minutes. Do this once a month for preventative maintenance! (This does not work on blocked drains)
Lemon Juice acts as a dirt remover AND has a mild bleaching effect. Our bathtub can get dirty and black. I spray straight lemon juice on it, sprinkle with baking soda and let it sit for a few minutes. Then with a sponge, I scrub it down and rinse. You'll be surprised how well it works!!
Mix olive oil and lemon juice together -
and use it as furniture polish! Or, add it to your salad. Either way...I bet you never thought you could EAT your furniture polish!
I hope you find these little tips super useful, money saving and convenient. I know I have! Let me know how your cleaning bucket makeovers go for you! Out with the chemicals and in with easy, cheap and clean household products!
Wishing you a sparkly day,
Courtney
Speaking of baking soda....
Baking Soda is a girl's best friend for use as an abrasive. Sprinkle a little on a damp sponge to clean grimy drains or faucets. Rinse with hot water. For tougher stuff, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply and let sit to the area for 10-20 minutes. Dirt, soap scrum and grime are easier to remove this way. For a free flowing drain, dump about 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and add a few drops of water. Let sit for about 15-20 minutes. Add a 1/2 cup - 1 cup of vinegar. It will foam up (which is fun to watch!). Let this solution sit for a few minutes and then run extremely hot water in the drain for a few minutes. Do this once a month for preventative maintenance! (This does not work on blocked drains)
Lemon Juice acts as a dirt remover AND has a mild bleaching effect. Our bathtub can get dirty and black. I spray straight lemon juice on it, sprinkle with baking soda and let it sit for a few minutes. Then with a sponge, I scrub it down and rinse. You'll be surprised how well it works!!
Mix olive oil and lemon juice together -
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
and use it as furniture polish! Or, add it to your salad. Either way...I bet you never thought you could EAT your furniture polish!
I hope you find these little tips super useful, money saving and convenient. I know I have! Let me know how your cleaning bucket makeovers go for you! Out with the chemicals and in with easy, cheap and clean household products!
Wishing you a sparkly day,
Courtney
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