50 Green Cleaning Product Recipes

14. Herbal carpet freshener: crush ½ cup of fresh lavender flowers and mix with 1 cup of baking soda. Sprinkle on the carpet and vacuum clean after about 30 minutes.

15. Carpet stains cleaner: let one cup of baking soda dissolve in 4 cups of cold to warm water. Keep it in spray bottles. Spray carpet stains, ideally before going to bed. Cover with thick towel and place several books or a stool over it to absorb the dirt and excess of liquid. Following morning dab the area, rather then rub, to remove remains of the stain.

16. Coffee stain on the carpet: dab fresh stain with wet cloth. If it does not work, pour table salt or baking soda to cover the stain. Leave for ½ hr then vacuum the area. If the stain is deep, pour undiluted vinegar over the stain to saturate it. Dab with wet cloth until the stain is cleaned.

17. Pet urine on the carpet: dab with towel to absorb as much fluid as possible. Wash with washing up liquid and rinse with ½ cup vinegar diluted in 2 pints warm water.

18. Carpet freshener: Measure 4 cups (460 gr) of baking soda into a bowl, add essential oils (ie 35 drops of eucalyptus, 30 drops lavender and 25 drops rosewood or a combination of your own choice) and stir until well mixed. Place in a shaker that can close tight. Sprinkle powder over the carpet 15-20 minutes before vacuuming. Your carpet will have refreshing smell afterwards.

19. Kitchen taps: soak a cloth in vinegar, wrap it around the tap and leave for about ½ hr to allow mineral deposits to dissolve. Rinse as usual.

20. Kitchen bin: to deal with odour, sprinkle the bottom of the bin with baking soda then sprinkle some more as you place the bin liner.

21. Kettle lime-scale: fill the kettle with water and add ½ cup of vinegar and leave overnight. Rinse and dry. Please remember: limescale deposits will increase energy usage, so make sure they are removed regularly.

22. Kitchen sink: wipe it with a cloth dampened in mild vinegar to clean and remove odour.

23. Blocked kitchen drains: try the plunger first to open the clog. Pour 1 cup of baking soda, followed immediately by a cup of vinegar. Allow the combination to dissolve deposits of the dirt and grease by leaving it for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly with hot water.

24. Cooking odours: gently boil 2 cups of vinegar in a pot whilst cooking. It will absorb cooking odours.

25. Work tops and kitchen surfaces: sprinkle some baking soda on a damp cloth. Wipe and rinse.

26. Greasy dirt on kitchen surfaces or hobs: wash with small amount of washing soda in water. Use rubber gloves as washing soda can irritate the skin.

27. To prevent food from sticking onto dishes: sprinkle unwashed dishes with salt.

28. Dishwashing liquid 1: fill a clean 22 oz plastic squirt bottle with diluted Castile soap (dilute as per direction, if using concentrated) and add following essential oils: 10 drops lavender eo, 8 drops rosemary EO and 4 drops eucalyptus EO. Stir well and close tight. Use one tablespoonful per wash.

29. Dishwashing liquid 2: place ¼ cup of soap flakes and 2 cups hot water and stir until the soap is dissolved. Cool until lukewarm, stirring occasionally. Stir in ¼ cup of glycerine and ½ tea-spoon lemon essential oil and stir frequently as it continues cooling down. To use, add a tablespoonful into hot water.

30. All purpose grease cleaner: combine following in a spray bottle: ½ teaspoon washing soda, ½ teaspoon vegetable oil based liquid soap, 3 tablespoons vinegar and 2 cups of hot water. Spray over greasy surface, scrub and rinse well.

31. Microwave cleaner: combine following to make a paste: ¼ cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon vinegar and 5-6 drops of lemon or lemongrass essential oil. Apply to inside of the microwave using soft cloth. Wipe with clean damp cloth and leave the door open to air-dry for about ¼ hr.

32. Oven cleaner: in a spray bottle mix 1 pint of warm water with 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and 1 teaspoon of borax. Spray on inside the oven, allow ½ hr for the dirt to loosen up then wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat if needed.

33. Appliance cleaner: In a plastic spray bottle combine following: 2 cups of water, ¼ cup oil-based soap and 10 drops of lemon, lemongrass or bergamot essential oil. Spray over appliance surface and wipe with damp cloth. Dry with towel if preferred.

34. Non abrasive scrubber: in a bowl mix ¼ cup borax with enough vegetable based liquid soap to form a paste. Add ½ teaspoon lemon or lavender essential oil, stirring well to homogenize. Add small amount onto a sponge, wash the surface and wipe off.

Helps in separating dirt away from the fabrics.

Adds appealing scent to cleaning products.

Spares you from harsh side effects of a standard bleach, such as allergies, skin drying and flaking effect etc.

Crispy, clean white - restored naturally

35. Liquid Laundry Detergent:
Ingredients: 1/3 bar Fels Naptha laundry soap - grated, 1/2 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate or soda crystals; buy it in a supermarket)
1/2 cup borax, 15 drops essential oil, if preferred (ie lavender, tea tree, lemon)
Preparation method: put Fels Naptha soap into a pan and add about 6 cups water. Heat up on a low heat, stirring constantly, until soap is melted. Stir in washing soda and borax. Continue stirring until all is homogenized. Fill up 2 gallon bucket with hot tap water, leaving enough space for the soap mixture to be added. Add the soap mixture and stir well to combine. As it is cooling down, stir it at least once every hour. It will turn into a gel. Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry.

36. Laundry Powder:
Ingredients: 4 cups grated pure soap (i.e.Castille soap), 2 cups Borax (from local hardware stores or large supermarkets), 2 cups washing soda.
Preparation method: mix all ingredients together and store in a plastic container with a lid. Use 2 tablespoons per wash. It won't lather, but you don't need it to. Borax is stain remover, so the detergent will work fine.

37. Fabric softener 1: in a recycled gallon sized vinegar Jug add 2 cups baking soda and 2 cups distilled white vinegar. When mixture finishes foaming add 4 cups of hot water, stir and let it cool down. Add essential oils to desired strength (15 drops of lavender and 15 drops of lemon create pleasant smell). Shake before use and add around 1/2 cup per wash.

38. Fabric softener 2: mix following: 2 cups of baking soda, 2 cups white vinegar and 4 cups of water into a smooth liquid. Shake before use. Add ¼ cup per wash.

39. Truly effective fabric softener: ½ cup of white vinegar added to the rinse cycle of your washing machine. As the vinegar removes all the detergent from your clothing, the clothing will be left feeling soft. And not only that - the vinegar balances pH of your fabrics, extending its life span.
Tip: For extra fluffy towels try putting a couple tennis balls into the dryer while they dry. This will help the air circulation, causing them to dry quicker, and they will come out fluffy.

40. Preventing mould: while making laundry detergent, add 15 drops of tea tree oil to it, instead of other suggested essential oils. Tea tree protects towels and other pieces of fabrics prone to getting mouldy.

41. Dryer sheets 1: mix 15 drops of spearmint essential oil with 12 drops of lavender. Put the mixture on a clean cloth. Fold the cloth several times. Wrap another cloth around and use in the dryer.

42. Dryer sheets 2: take approximately 15 4-inch square cotton cloths, add 3-4 drops of your chosen essential oil (Geranium is my top choice) on each cloth. Place in an airtight container and close tightly to keep the fragrance intact. Use one piece per wash.

43. Lavender water for linens: pour 3 cups of distilled water and 3oz ethyl alcohol into the container. Add 20-30 drops of pure lavender essential oil and stir. Use this water when pressing your linens. Calming and rest-inducing scent of lavender will enhance quality of sleep.

44. Smoky clothes: fill 1/3 of your bath with hot water. Pour in 2 cups of vinegar and close the door. Hang your smoky clothing alongside your shower curtain rail. Mist filled with vinegar will remove the smell from your clothing. Remove after approximately ½ hr and let it dry on the open air so that smell of the vinegar evaporates fully.

45. Keep colour of your cottons bright: adding a cup of vinager to the wash, together with your natural soap or detergent is sufficient.

46. Stains on reusable nappies: rinse nappies in water mixed with a dessertspoonful of bicarbonate of soda to help remove stubborn stains. Dry the nappies out in the Sun and the stains will fade away even further. The process may need to be repeated.

47. Nappy santisizer: for a natural and gentle approach in nappy sanitizing use tea tree or lavender oil added in water (5-6 drops per bucket of water). Both essential oils have antiseptic properties and will kill the germs during sanitizing process so you do not need to wash the nappies on high temperature. 40 degrees is sufficient.

48. Homemade Organic Liquid Hand Soap:
Ingredients: 1 cup distilled water, 3 tablespoons liquid castile soap, 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin, 5 drops of geranium essential oil (or other oil of your choice that blends well with tea tree oil), 3 drops of tea tree essential oil, as it is antibacterial and antifungal.
Preparation method: Combine all ingredients and mix until homogenized. Or, if you have an old blender, blend it all briefly instead of stirring. Funnel into reusable pump bottle and use.

49. Natural lemongrass soap bar:
Ingredients and materials: 1 lb clear glycerin melt and pour soap base , 6 drops of lemongrass essential oil, 2 tablespoons fresh chopped lemongrass, soap mold (ideally 1 lb in size), large wooden spoon, large measuring cup, spray bottle with rubbing alcohol, sandwich bags, hob
Preparation method: grate the clear glycerin soap into the bowl, place on a low heat and allow to melt gradually, stirring continuously. Once melted (but not hot), add lemongrass essential oil and the fresh lemongrass. Pour the soap mixture into the soap mold. As air bubbles raise, spray them with rubbing alcohol. Leave the mass for 4-5hrs or overnight to harden. Turn the mold over and take the soap out gently. Cut into smaller various shapes, using metal cutter, or into cubes with sharp knife.

50. Nettle and lemongrass body soap:
Ingredients and material: 1 lb. clear glycerin soap base, ¼ tsp avocado oil, ¼ tsp nettle essential oil, ¼ tsp lemongrass essential oil, food grater or knife, heatproof measuring cup, large saucepan, glass stirrer, 1lb soap bar mold
Preparation method: grate or chop the glycerin soap base into small pieces and place the pieces in a heatproof measuring cup. Add the avocado oil and stir to combine.
Place the measuring cup into the saucepan, and pour enough cold water into the saucepan to fill it halfway. Heat the saucepan over low heat until the soap has completely melted. Remove the saucepan from the stove and let it cool down to warm temperature. Add the nettle essential oil and the lemongrass essential oil to still melted soap. Stir the mixture for 30 to 40 seconds with a glass stirrer, ensuring that the mass is homogenized with essential oils.
Transfer the liquid soap to the soap bar mold. Let the soap rest for six to eight hours or until fully solidified. Turn the mold over, push the soap out and cut into smaller pieces.

Each one of these products is high quality replacement for chemically loaded perfumed body washes. It will keep your skin soft and nurtured.

Winter months usually mean less time outdoors and more of the dry, stale indoor air to breathe, which will not work wonders for our health. Staying close to nature springs in mind this simple idea of using plants (including herbs) to purify our air and, therefore, bring additional benefits to our health and wellbeing.

From our high school days we know that plants utilize carbon dioxide and other air borne substances to produce oxygen. This is pure natural air filtration, costing us nothing and yet creating oxygen rich and balanced air for us to benefit from. Spider plant, for example, is renewed for its effectivness as one to two plants are sufficient to purify air in one standards sized room. Having plants feels like bring outdoors indoor as green colour has calming and refreshing effect on the eyes while the close presence of a number of plant varieties balances our natural energies and our mood. In addition to this, herbs and flowering plants bring the benefit of wonderful, calming scents that can work wonders on our feelings. Imagine a simple pot of peppermint - easy to grow yet so versatile and beautiful.

Here is a listing of some common living air purifiers:

* Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
* Boston Fern (Nephrolepis species)
* Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbabensis)
* Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
* Reed Palm (Chamaedorea Seifrizii)
* Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)