Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

This past Spring, one of the "crafts" we did in my MOPS group was make this homemade all-purpose cleaner.  There is a big movement right now to "green your clean".  It is always a good idea to look and see what kind of chemicals are in your normal everyday household cleaners.  If something is cheaper, works well, and has less toxic chemicals, why not use it?  I happen to love this cleaner!  It is easy and cheap to make, so that is a bonus!  It also works like a charm. 

Here is what you will need:  A Spray Bottle, Borax, White Vinegar, Castile Soap, and Hot Water.  That is it!

You can find Borax about anywhere.  I got mine at Target, and it was just a little over $2 for a 4 pound box!  Since you only need a teaspoon every time you make it, it will last a LONG time.  (I am told there are also other great uses/cleaners/detergent you can make with Borax, so I will look into that soon...) Also needed is Castile Soap.  Now my local grocery store had this big bottle for only $8.09, but have seen it elsewhere for a little more, and you can always buy it online.  I like the peppermint scent, but have fun, and use any variety of scents you prefer.  It is the most pricey ingredient, but at only a 1/4 cup for each bottle, it still is cheaper than buying a cleaner off the shelf.  Vinegar and water are the other two ingredients, and they are super cheap as well. :)

To make it, it is helpful to have a small funnel to pour the ingredients into the bottle, start with the borax, then the vinegar, then the castile soap.  Lastly pour in 3 cups of very hot water.  Screw the spray top on, and shake well until the Borax dissolves.  You might want watch it carefully, as it can bubble up really quickly when you first shake it.

 

Now you can be all fancy-schmancy and create a nice label for your bottle.  Or if you are like me, I simply wrote on the bottle, with a permanent pen, the title and recipe so I will always have it handy when I make more. (Insert joke about my oh so great handwriting as well...) :)

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

3 Tbs. White Vinegar
1 tsp. Borax
1/4 Cup Castile Soap
3 Cups Very Hot Water

~Shake until Borax dissolves.