making your own cleaners

[ethelb]

I recently took an order of bicarbonate of soda soda crystals borax soap flakes and acetic acid.
I also have beeswax and almond oil for furniture polish and candle making materials and essential oils to replace air freshener.

I've had mixed results with some recipes found online. Ie hm laundry powder and descaling spray great. All prpose surface spray so so Enamel scrub crap and went all lumpy.

Does anyone have any tried and tested recipes?

Personally I think life's too short for making your own cleaners. Though Kim and Aggie have a few good tips in their books and I think Aggie did a whole book of cleaning recipes. So you could look into these. Better for the diet than making cakes I suppose.

It is too short. I agree. But the descaler has wiped 20 minutes off my bathroom cleaning! If I can find equally good recipes then perhaps I will make the time back? (clutches at straws...)

you mean as a hobby, not to save money?

No I mean to save money.

I bet Aldi-own brands or Tesco Value will do a better cleaning job and cost less, for less effort.

Your acetic acid will be a good descaler, but I think Citric acid might be better (it is used by plumbers)

Probably a long shot but... do you understand French? There is a booklet available for free on the internet which lists the key (environmentally-friendly) ingredients you should have at home, their uses and provides a few recipes to make your own cleaning products.

Let me know if that is of interest to you, and I can send you the link or a copy of the .pdf file.

That sounds great. I'm sure I can figure out a bit if French.

Great news!

The document is available from Raffa's blog

Here is the direct link to a printable version of the document.

The good stuff starts from page 4 onwards.

I have only made the toilet cleaning product, which is good. I should do more really as I have about 5kg of sodium bicarbonate.

Actually, this version might be easier to read.

I like to use the cheapo bubblebath for cleaning baths and sinks. It removes scum marks much better than any cleaners you can buy and not too many suds too.

I also like to use the cheapest antispectic soap wash mixed with water as a general purpose cleaner for work tops. I do also use vinegar, bicarb etc and vinegar will descale a kettle no problem.

My guilty pleasure though is that Flash with febreeze, I love it for the floors.