Liquid Soap
15g finely grated soap
2 cups water
Essential oils (optional)
1. Dissolve soap into water. Cool completely.
2. Pour into dispenser. Wait 24 hours.
3. Shake well and use.
Multi-Purpose Cleaner
1 1/2 cups hot water
1/4 cup liquid soap
1 ½ teaspoons borax
10 drops essential oil (i.e. eucalyptus, lemon, lavender or orange)
1. Mix into a 500ml spray bottle.
2. Shake well and use.
Glass & Mirror Cleaner #1
White vinegar (in a spray bottle)
Toothpaste (if stained)
Newspaper (or a towel)
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
1. Spray mirror with vinegar. Wait 5 minutes.
2. Wipe mirror with newspaper (wipe glass with towel).
3. Sponge off stains with a little toothpaste if required.
4. Polish mirror with a clean sheet of newspaper (clean glass with a clean towel).
Glass & Mirror Cleaner #2
1/2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 cups water
1 drop blue food colouring
1. Blend into a 500ml spray bottle.
2. Spray onto mirrors and wipe.
Cleaning Upholstery
Clean furniture regularly to reduce dirt build-up. Test out the cleaner on the fabric first before use.
1/4 cup dishwashing detergent
1/4 cup water
Cleaning cloth/rag
1. Blend together using a stick blender.
2. Dip cloth into the mixture; rub onto the stain and rinse.
Other Ideas: Try shampoo + water or a steam cleaner for any remaining stains.
Furniture Polish
1/4 cup vegetable oil
30ml lemon juice
Cleaning cloth/rag
1. Combine oil and lemon juice in a jar. Shake to combine.
2. Dip cloth into the mixture, fold cloth over itself and then wipe down furniture.
Window and Door Screens
Bicarbonate of soda
Wire brush
Hose
Water in a spray bottle
Vinegar in a spray bottle
Cleaning cloth/rag
Sponge
1. Dampen wire brush and dip into the bicarbonate of soda.
2. Scrub the screens to remove excess dirt.
3. Hose clean (if the screen has been removed from the frame) or wipe with a damp cloth.
4. Spritz the screen with water and vinegar (equal amounts).
5. Wipe screen with the cleaning cloth.
6. Combine bicarb in a little water and apply with the sponge to the frames. Rinse clean.
Carpets
Water in a spray bottle
Bicarbonate of soda in a shaker
Vacuum cleaner
1. Stains: spritz area with water and sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda. Dry. Vacuum.
2. Refresh: sprinkle bicarbonate of soda onto the carpet 30 minutes before vacuuming to remove odours.
Floor Cleaner
2 cups vinegar
2 cups warm water
1. Combine vinegar and water into a bucket.
2. Mop floors.
3. Rinse mop and then mop floors using water.
Citrus Vinegar
Citrus peels i.e. lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit
White vinegar
1. Submerge citrus peels (no flesh/juice) in vinegar until colour change (allow a few weeks ideally).
2. Strain and use in any vinegar cleaning recipe to add a lovely scent to your green cleaning!
Air Freshener
Onion
Water
Essential oils (optional) i.e. lavender, lemon, lime or orange
Favourite herbs and/or spices i.e. cinnamon, cloves
1. Remove bad smells by cutting the onion in half and leaving in the room to absorb odours overnight.
2. Add a few drops of essential oil into a spray bottle of water. Spray around home as required.
3. Boil your favourite herbs/spices in a pot of water to freshen the kitchen and surrounding rooms.
Grout Cleaner
1 cup bicarbonate of soda
1/3 cup warm water
Toothbrush
Sponge
Water in a spray bottle (hose/bucket if possible)
1. Combine bicarbonate of soda with water into a smooth paste.
2. Scrub paste into the grout using the toothbrush. Wait 5 minutes.
3. Use a dampened sponge to remove (rinse with water if required).
Bath Cleaner
1 cup bicarbonate of soda
1/2 cup fine salt
1/2 cup borax
500ml jar + lid
Water (or vinegar) in a spray bottle
Scrubbing brush
Water
1. Combine bicarbonate of soda, salt and borax in a bowl. Mix well and transfer to jar for storage.
2. Spritz bath with water (vinegar for dirty bath) and sprinkle bath with mixture. Wait 5 minutes.
3. Scrub bath and rinse clean.
Toilet Cleaner
Bicarbonate of soda in a shaker
Vinegar in a spray bottle
1. Sprinkle the toilet bowl with bicarbonate of soda.
2. Spritz with vinegar.
3. Scrub with the toilet brush and flush.
Toilet Stain Remover
Borax
Lemon juice
3. Scrub and flush.
Refrigerator Odour Eater
Bicarbonate of soda
Saucer (or small jar)
Vanilla or vinegar (optional)
1. Place bicarbonate of soda into a small jar or saucer and store in the refrigerator (no lid) to absorb smells.
2. Wipe down refrigerator shelving with vanilla or vinegar if desired.
Cleaning Glassware
White vinegar
Water
1. Combine vinegar and water in the sink and soak glasses. Rinse and dry.
Kettle De-Scaling #1
Lemon slices
Water
Cleaning cloth/rag
1. Half fill kettle with water. Add lemon slices.
2. Boil. Repeat if required.
3. Rinse kettle with water. Dry with cloth.
Kettle De-Scaling #2
2 cups white vinegar
2 cups water
Cleaning cloth/rag
1. Add vinegar and water to kettle.
2. Soak for 30-60mins.
3. Rinse with water and dry.
Fine salt
Ground cinnamon
Bicarbonate of soda in a shaker
White vinegar in a spray bottle
Cleaning cloth
1. Spills: sprinkle with salt to absorb and then wipe clean. The salt helps to clean the surface too.
2. Burnt spills: sprinkle with salt and cinnamon to remove burning smell when using the stovetop again.
3. De-grease: sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda, spritz with vinegar and wait 5 minutes before rinsing.
4. Everyday clean: sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda, wipe with a cleaning cloth dampened with vinegar.
Benchtops
Bicarbonate of soda in a shaker
Water
Cleaning cloth
Multi-purpose cleaner
1. Sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda, scrub clean using cloth.
2. Stains: mix bicarbonate of soda with water to make a paste, spread onto stain and wait 5 minutes before wiping clean.
3. Spray counter with multi-purpose cleaner and wipe clean.
Microwave
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 drop lemon essential oil (optional)
1 toothpick
Microwave safe bowl (or coffee cup)
Cleaning cloth (or sponge)
1. Combine ingredients (including toothpick) in the bowl.
2. Microwave for 3-5 minutes on 800 watts (adjust power level if required). Wait 5 minutes before opening if the microwave is really dirty.
3. Open the microwave, remove bowl and wipe microwave clean.
Oven
Bicarbonate of soda
Water in a spray bottle
Bristle brush (for big jobs!)
Newspaper
1. Spray interior of oven all over with water.
2. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda all over. Wait 2-3 hours (oven stays off).
3. Scrub (if required) then wipe with newspaper to remove paste and grime. Repeat if required.
Coffee Cups & Tea Pots
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Scrubbing brush
1. Combine vinegar and bicarbonate of soda in the cup. Scrub with brush.
2. Rinse with water and dry.
Dishwashing
Not recommended for DIY, look for a green washing powder instead.
Rubbish Bin
1/4 cup bicarbonate of soda
1/4 cup fine salt
1/4 cup multi-purpose cleaner
Boiling water
Stiff bristled broom (i.e. outdoor broom)
1. Empty bins and rinse.
2. Add bicarbonate of soda, salt, cleaner and boiling water. Scrub bin.
3. Rinse and dry.
Fabric Softener
1 cup white vinegar
1. Add vinegar to rinse cycle for soft linen.
Washing Clothes
Not recommended for DIY, look for a green washing powder or use soapnuts instead.