Natural Cleaner Question

I used to use Melaleuca and now I am much happier with making my own cleaners.
Get the book "Green Up Your Clean Up". It has great recipes for home made cleaners mostly using vinegar, water, baking soda, borax and essential oils.
I also buy Aura Cacia essential oils as one person suggested. You don't want to buy just plain old scented oils, you definitely want essential oils.
I buy mine at www.vitacost.com

I use grapefruit oil, tea tree oil (sparingly), lemon oil, geranium oil and lavender oil (also sparingly).
I put vinegar and water in a spray bottle, add 5 drops of grapefruit oil and use it to clean my kitchen counters and bathroom fixtures.
For cleaning floors, I use a gallon of hot water, a cup of vinegar and 10 drops of whatever essential oil I feel like using.
I also put baking soda and a few drops of essential oil in the bottom of my kitchen wastebasket.

I put vinegar in the wash and have never had to use dryer sheets or softener again! I also use Charlie's Soap for my laundry and that is amazing all on it's own. If you want your laundry to be lightly scented, you can put a couple drops of essential oil on a damp rag and throw it in with your clothes in the dryer.

Have you heard of grapefruit seed extract? It's amazing stuff. You can use it to disinfect ANYTHING with only a few drops. I wish I had known about it months ago!
Good luck!

6 moms found this helpful

I got recipes that I actually love when I signed up for the free email newsletters from groceryshrink.com. I've tried other recipes, and hated them. These actually work and are wonderful. I get my oils from youngliving.com. Great quality. I use lemon, lavender, tea tree oil, peppermint. Also, for a great fabric softener, I put white vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser in the washer and add a couple of drops of lavender oil. It takes away any stinky towel smells and makes the clothes soft and non-staticky. The clothes do not smell like vinegar or lavender, either. Just fresh and clean. The fabric softener sheets will coat and ruin your dryer, according to the repair man. :)

1 mom found this helpful

I just use straight vinegar in a spray bottle. Also I use straight vinegar instead of fabric softner. I don't use any oils. I'm not sure what kind might cover up the strong vinegar smell. After the vinegar dries the smell does go away.

God bless!

I usually buy my essential oils from Whole Foods Market or Sunflower Market. You can also probably find them for a good price on amazon.com. Aura Cacia is the brand that I usually purchase.

If you're in Arlington Heights, there's a place called Back to Nature (http://www.back2nature.net/) that sells essential oils. Also, Whole Foods sells them.

I wouldn't get them at a craft store unless it said 100% the essential oil. I go to a local organic health food store here in UT and I get the tea tree oil and lavender combo bottle. Tea Tree oil is a natural germ killer and I just like the smell of lavender. You can put as many drops as you want, but you really don't need a whole lot. I normally use 5 drops and that gives a nice smell but can be strong at first but will fade after a few minutes.

I don't make my own cleaners but I do use safe, non-toxic cleaners made by Melaleuca.

The oils you can pick up at a craft store like Michaels crafts... check in the candle making aisle. Just add a couple drops to the vinager and water solution, more if you like it stronger smelling. :)