Looking for the best ways to clean your home with baking soda (aka bicarbonate of soda)? If so, this blog is for you!

Below, I share my favorite baking soda cleaning hacks. All 19! From cleaning toilets and the oven to deodorizing the fridge and removing crayon marks, I’ll show you how to use this simple ingredient to clean every room in your home.

Key Takeaways

• All Natural – Baking soda is a natural and safe product used for baking (a leavening agent, which causes baked goods to rise) and cleaning!
• Incredible Cleaning Power – Baking soda easily dissolves dirt and grease, lifts tough stains (even crayon and permanent marker), and freshens smelly fabrics.
• Avoid Toxic Chemicals – With baking soda you’ll avoid harsh chemicals without compromising your standard of clean! 
• Make DIY Cleaners & Body Products – Baking soda can be added to some homemade cleaners to boost cleaning and deodorizing properties, or used on its own. It can also be used as a skincare product to make a face/body scrub or deodorant. 

How to Use Baking Soda For Cleaning Video Guide

5 Reader-Favorite Baking Soda Uses

• Make deodorant
• Make a facial exfoliant
• Clean your toilet bowl
• Clean sinks and tubs
• Clean the bathroom with an all-purpose spray

How to Clean Your Home With Baking Soda (19 Ways!)

1. Clean the Kitchen Sink and Remove Food/Grease Build-Up

• Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the sink.
• Use a scrub brush or sponge to gently scrub the surface with the baking soda in a circular motion. Watch the grease and dirt/food build-up magically disappear.
• Rinse the surface with clean water.
• If you’d like to add a fresh lemon scent, mix a few drops of lemon essential oil with the baking soda, and then follow the steps above.

I’ve done this with ceramic (white) and stainless steel sinks. For an extra dirty sink, add a squirt of dish soap and scrub the soap and baking soda over the surface.

Learn how to clean the sink with baking soda and other natural ingredients. 

2. Clean the Bathroom Tub and Sink

• Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of a bathtub and sink.
• Use a scrub brush, sponge, or damp cloth to gently scrub the surface with the baking soda in a circular motion. As you scrub, build-up will lift away, leaving behind a sparkly tub and sink.
• If you’d like to add a fresh lemon scent, mix a few drops of lemon essential oil with the baking soda.

Or, make a baking soda paste in a small bowl by combining baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and castile soap.  

3. Deodorize and Freshen Carpets and Rugs

Between pets and kids, our carpets and rugs are subjected to all sorts of fun activities. Here’s how to keep I carpets and rugs fresh and odor-free…

• Sprinkle rugs and carpets with baking soda (optional: whisk with a few drops of a favorite essential oil, like lavender essential oil). 
• Wait at least 30 minutes. 
• Vacuum the area. 

4. Deodorize and Freshen Bed Mattresses

• Lightly sprinkle baking soda onto an exposed mattress (no sheets). 
• Wait 30 minutes. 
• Use a hose attachment to vacuum the surface.

7. Deodorize and Freshen Toilets

• Generously sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl. 
• Wait 10 minutes. 
• Use a toilet brush to scrub away stains and odors.
• If you’d like to add a fresh lemon scent, mix a few drops of lemon essential oil with the baking soda, and then follow the steps above.

Alternatively, make a homemade toilet bowl cleaner with castile soap, water, and baking soda. 

8. Deodorize and Freshen Garbage Cans

• Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of a trash bin to keep odors away. 
• Discard and refresh the baking soda every few weeks. 
• If you don’t want to sprinkle baking soda in your trash can, sprinkle the powder in a short cardboard box first, then place the box at the bottom of your trash can.

9. Deodorize and Freshen Sneakers

• Sprinkle baking soda in stinky sneakers.
• Let the baking soda rest all night in the shoes.
• In the morning, shake out the shoes to remove the baking soda.
• The odor-neutralizing powder will naturally get rid of the stinky odor in smelly shoes.

10. Clean and Remove Crayon Marks from Walls

Thankfully, we’re past the scribbling-on-the-wall stage of parenting. In the past, when crayon marks were accidentally added to the wall decor, I used baking soda to remove the unwanted drawings. Here’s how to do that…

• Sprinkle a clean wet cloth (or wet sponge) with baking soda. 
• Gently wipe the wall with the cloth until the crayon marks disappears. 
• Repeat as needed until the crayon disappears from the surface. 

14. Make Your Own Laundry Soap 

Make your own laundry soap powder by combining: 

• 1 5-ounce castile soap bar (shredded)
• 1 cup washing soda
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 30-40 drops essential oil (optional)

Here’s how to make this easy laundry soap recipe. 

15. Bathroom All Purpose Cleaner

Make an all-purpose bathroom cleaner for toilets, sinks and tubs, tile and grout, and all other bathroom surfaces (except glass surfaces-you’ll want to make this glass cleaner instead). Combine…

• 2 cups warm distilled water
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoon liquid castile soap
• 30 drops tea tree essential oil
• 20 drops sweet orange essential oil

Here’s how to make bathroom all-purpose cleaner.

16. Clean Produce

To clean fresh produce, make a vinegar bath or use baking soda. To use baking soda…

• In a large bowl or sink, combine 1 teaspoon baking soda with 2 cups of water (increase amounts depending on how much produce you have). 
• Add fruit to the solution and soak for 10 minutes. 
• Remove the produce and rinse under clean water.

17. Remove Stubborn Stickers and Sticker Residue From Surfaces

• Combine olive oil and baking soda in a small bowl to make a paste.
• Apply the paste to a surface with a stubborn sticker or sticker residue.
• Let the paste rest on the surface, then give the area a good scrub.
• Repeat until the sticker residue disappears. 

Recipe from Natural Cleaning Made Easy. 

18. Remove Armpit Stains and Body Odor

This solution is best used on white clothing to remove yellowing arm pit stains and body odor. For colors, do not use hydrogen peroxide due to the bleaching reaction. In a small bowl, combine…

• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide 
• 1 tablespoon Sal Suds (Liquid castile soap or dish soap will also work) 
• 1 tablespoon kosher or sea salt 
• 15 drops lemon essential oil

Using a spoon, apply the paste to armpit stains on white clothes. Scrub the solution into the stain with a scrub brush or old toothbrush. Let the solution rest for a couple of hours (or more for stubborn armpit stains). Wash the paste away and wash the clothing with soap.

Recipe from Natural Cleaning Made Easy. 

19. Clean Grout Lines

• Make a paste by combining water and baking soda in a bowl.
• Use an old toothbrush or scrub brush to scrub the paste on the grout.
• Let the paste rest for a few minutes, then use a wet sponge or cloth to wash away the paste.
• Repeat as needed. 

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Simple DIY Homemade Candles for Beginners

19 Frugal Natural Cleaning Hacks With Baking Soda

The post 19 Frugal Natural Cleaning Hacks With Baking Soda appeared first on Live Simply.

Tired of spending money on expensive stain removers or using natural options that don’t work? Easily remove tough stains with this DIY homemade stain remover.

In this blog, I’ll show you how to make this easy stain remover recipe and remove stains naturally. 

In this blog, I’m outlining the exact steps you’ll need to successfully remove stains.

Before You Get Started: What You’ll Need

First, gather the ingredients you’ll need. You’ll find these ingredients at most grocery stores or on Amazon.

• 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin: helps to lift stains easily; however, if you don’t have any glycerin you can skip this ingredient.
• 1/4 cup water: Use distilled water if storing this product longer than a few days.
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap: a natural, highly-concentrated soap with many uses. A natural dish detergent or Dawn dish soap may be used instead.
• 1 TB hydrogen peroxide: Regular 3% strength found in the grocery store.
• 40 drops of lemon essential oil: Since fresh lemon juice would spoil quickly, use lemon essential oil. Instead, you may use 1-2 juiced lemons if the spray is used within a couple of days. Learn more about using essential oils.

Equipment You’ll Need

• 1 dark amber spray bottle: Due to the hydrogen peroxide, which can’t be exposed to light when stored, use a dark spray bottle. If you’re making a small batch of this recipe and plan to use it immediately, it’s OK to use a clear spray bottle (or make your own glass spray bottle)

How to Make DIY Stain Remover: Step By Step Guide

You’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, so you can print and save the recipe.

1. Step 1 Combine All Ingredients: In a spray bottle, add all the ingredients: glycerin, water, soap, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon essential oil. Place the lid on the bottle and shake to combine.
2. Step 2 Use Immeadiately or Store For Later: The spray may be used immeadiately. It may also be stored for later use, at room temperature, in a dark location (like a dark cupboard under the sink or in the laundry room).

Step By Step Recipe Video Guide

How to Use This Spray & Remove Stains

• First, blot a liquid stain with paper towels or a cloth.
• Gently shake the DIY laundry stain remover spray. Spray or pour the solution on the stain (preferably a fresh stain).
• Let the stain remover rest for 5 minutes.
• Scrub the soaked stain with a scrub brush, old toothbrush, or cloth until the stain has been lifted. Repeat again, if needed, until the stain lifts.
• Rinse the garment in hot water with soap or in the washing machine using your favorite laundry soap.
• For a stubborn stain, after using the spray, place the garment in the washing machine with ½ cup washing soda and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide, along with whatever laundry soap you normally use in your laundry routine.

What kind of stains can you remove with this spray?

Here are just a few of the stains and surfaces I’ve personally used this easy homemade stain remover on.

• Carpets: Please test this spray first in a small area to ensure the hydrogen peroxide doesn’t discolor your carpet.
• Couches: Dustin once spilled red wine on my prized white couch. This stain remover was my first defense, then I used my homemade bleach alternative to finish the job.
• Clothes: Remove any food, pen marks, blood stains, or grass stains with this solution.
• Pet Stains: Remove Fido’s waste from the surface, spray with the solution, allow time to rest, then wipe the area with fresh water and a cloth.
• Pen and Marker Stains: If you have kids, you know what I’m talking about!
• Food Stains: Chocolate stains, coffee stains, red wine stains, ketchup stains, mustard stains–this solution lifts and dissolves them all.
• Baby Stains
• Fresh Grease Stains: I also like using this grease removal method.

What to Avoid Doing

• Only apply the stain remover to special garments or fabrics after testing first. Anytime you use a cleaning product, always spot-test in an inconspicuous area.
• Don’t store the spray in a clear bottle, which exposes the formula to direct sunlight due to the fragility of the hydrogen peroxide.

FAQs

• Can you use this stain remover on colored fabrics? From my experience, this solution is safe on colors. Always test a small area before applying the solution to a larger fabric surface.
•  Can you use dish soap instead of castile soap? Yes, you can! You can use any dish detergent, including Dawn Dish Soap or a natural dish soap.
•  Can I use a plastic spray bottle instead of glass? Yes, you can. Make sure the bottle doesn’t let light through (such as a clear bottle) due to the hydrogen peroxide.

Print

Natural Homemade Stain Remover Recipe

Easily remove tough stains with this DIY homemade stain remover. Save money and avoid harsh chemicals. No more stressing about stubborn stains, this homemade spray is a miracle worker.

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword DIY stain remover, homemade stain remover, Stain Remover Spray

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $3 per bottle

Equipment

• 1 16-ounce dark spray bottle or 8-ounce spray bottle

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin a natural solvent that lifts stains
• 1/4 cup distilled water or tap water if using within a couple of days
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap unscented or any variety
• 1 TB hydrogen peroxide 3% strength
• 40 drops lemon essential oil or fresh lemon juice (from 1-2 lemons) if using within 1-2 days

Instructions

• In a dark spray bottle (due to the hydrogen peroxide which can't be exposed to light during storage), add all the ingredients.
• Place the lid on the bottle. Gently shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Shake before each use.
• How to Use (Lift and Remove Stains):
• First, blot a liquid stain with paper towels or a cloth.
• Gently shake the bottle. Spray or pour the solution on the stain (preferably a fresh stain).
• Let the stain remover rest for 5 minutes.
• Scrub the soaked stain with a scrub brush, old toothbrush, or cloth until the stain has been lifted. Repeat again, if needed, until the stain lifts.
• Rinse the garment in hot water with soap or in the washing machine using your favorite laundry soap.
• For a stubborn stain, after using the spray, place the garment in the washing machine with ½ cup washing soda and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide, along with whatever laundry soap you normally use in your laundry routine.

Video

Notes

Colored Garments and Surfaces: From my experience, this solution is safe on colors. Always test a small area before applying this solution to a larger fabric surface.

For stains on tub and sink surfaces, including rust stains, make and use this homemade scrub cleaner with baking soda, liquid castile soap, and hydrogen peroxide.

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Simple DIY Homemade Candles for Beginners

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The post DIY Homemade Stain Remover Recipe For Clothes appeared first on Live Simply.

15 Best Cleaning Recipes For Your House

Stock your cleaning caddy with a 32-ounce bottle of liquid castile soap to make these 15 DIY household cleaning products. Unscented soap is the best option, as you can make a variety of products and use essential oils to add your own scent (optional).

Nearly all the recipes listed here use liquid soap with the exception of the laundry soap powder which uses soap in bar form.

1. DIY All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

This all-purpose spray makes cleaning up a breeze! I just don’t use this as a window cleaner as it can sometimes streak, but it’s great on counters, appliances, tables, and more.

If you have hard water you might see white deposits left over on the surface. There are two ways to avoid this: use distilled water instead of tap water to make this cleaner or wipe up the spray with a damp cloth after cleaning.

DIY All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

Add 2 tablespoons of castile soap to 2 cups of distilled water in a spray bottle and go! You can also add essential oils to your cleaner. I like peppermint or orange essential oil, or use about 15 drops of your favorite essential oil.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

2. Reusable Cleaning Wipes

I love the reusable cleaning wipes recipe from Lisa Bronner’s blog. Mix together 1 1/2 cups distilled water and 1 tablespoon of castile soap and 20 drops tea tree oil. Add a cut up shirt (for DIY rags) or small cleaning towels to a jar, add the castile soap solution, and add a lid. Pull a wipe at a time from the jar and wipe counters, floors, and other surfaces.

3. Toilet Bowl Cleaner 

No one really likes scrubbing toilets, but it has to be done. To really get at tough stains, make your own toilet bowl cleaner with baking soda and castile soap. Baking soda deodorizes and removes tough stains while the castile soap removes dirt and bacteria from the surface of the toilet bowl.

DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe

Equal parts baking soda and castile soap are diluted in a cup of water and a bit of essential oils. Use this toilet bowl cleaner to lift stains, deodorize, and remove bacteria and dirt.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

4. Hand Soap

I love making my own liquid hand soap. It’s super easy to make: equal parts water (distilled is best) and castile soap. Add to a soap dispenser bottle and it’s ready to use: add soap to wet hands and create suds as you rub your hands together. Use a foaming soap bottle for the best lather.

Castile soap is highly concentrated and intended to be diluted, making it the best natural hand soap that’s budget-friendly, too.

DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe

Make your own foaming hand soap with just two ingredients: equal parts concentrated castile soap and water.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

5. Tub and Sink Cleaner (Scouring Scrub)

This is my favorite way to use castile soap for cleaning!

This scrubbing cleaner is great in the bathroom and also in the kitchen sink. Think of this as a homemade soft scrub natural alternative. You can even use this cleaner on dirty kitchen or bathroom grout: dip an old toothbrush in the mixture, then scrub and watch the brightening and cleaning magic!

Homemade Scouring Scrub Recipe

1 cup of baking soda is mixed with ¼ cup of castile soap to make a thick paste that brightens, deodorizes, and lifts dirt, grease, and bacteria from surfaces. Simply take out a little scoop and scrub it into your sink, tub, or tile grout, then rinse with water.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

6. Floor Cleaner

If you aren’t a fan of vinegar for cleaning hard floors, castile soap to the rescue! This floor cleaner takes seconds to make: just hot water and castile soap. The soap helps lift dirt and bacteria from hard floor surfaces. Dip your mop in the solution and watch your floors sparkle without toxins.

Floor Cleaner Recipe

You only need 2 tablespoons of castile soap in a 2 gallon bucket of warm water. I like to add pine essential oil for nostalgia purposes, or use a few drops of essential oil of choice.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

7. Dusting Spray

One of the best ways to avoid toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients is to make your own dusting spray. I like to spray this on a dusting cloth and not directly on surfaces to ensure I’m not using too much. A little goes a long way.

Dusting Spray Recipe

Just a touch of castile soap (2 teaspoons), 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 cup of water is all you need to make this DIY recipe. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil, if desired.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

8. Stain Remover

My kids aren’t the only ones who get food and grass stains on their clothes…oops! I’ve tried so called “natural stain removers” from the store and none of them have truly wowed me. So I created a stain remover spray that truly removes stains and costs just pennies to make.

Homemade Stain Remover Recipe

Castile soap does the hard work of loosening stains and then hydrogen peroxide comes in and brightens fabric back up. A great way to pre-treat stains before washing. Simply spray on a stain, scrub, let rest, then wash.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

9. Bathroom Cleaner

You can certainly use the all-purpose spray mentioned above, but I like to add a little bit more to my bathroom spray for an extra boost of cleaning power. To do this, combine baking soda, water, and castile soap for a deodorizing, germ-fighting blend.

All-In-One Bathroom Cleaner Recipe

Add 2 tablespoons of castile soap to 2 cups of distilled water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. I also increase the essential oils here as tea tree oil can have antibacterial properties that are perfect in this room.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

10. Clean Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are the workhorses of the kitchen. I use a quick squirt of castile soap to help scrub away any visible stains and lift bacteria on my cutting boards. And castile soap is really safe to use on eating and food preparation surfaces.

11. Dishes

There are a lot of blogs and articles out there that mention using castile soap as a dish soap. It’s perfectly fine if you want to use it, and it will work to get dishes clean. To do this, fill the sink with water and add a few squirts of castile soap.

However, in my own experience, I just don’t find that it cuts grease well. I prefer to reach for Sal’s Suds (castile soap’s big brother) when I make my own dish soap. It’s safe and non-toxic, but the chemical makeup means it is a detergent rather than a soap, which is why it works to cut grease on dishes.

12. Liquid Laundry Soap Detergent

Combine borax, washing soda, and liquid castile soap with water to make a money-saving laundry detergent replacement. Add to a load of dirty laundry and watch the soap lift dirt, stains, and stinky odors.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Detergent Recipe

Brightens, lifts dirt and fresh stains, and deodorizes. Combine castile soap, washing soda, borax, and water to make this liquid laundry soap. Use between 2 tablespoons and 1/4 cup of soap per load of laundry.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

13. Laundry Soap Powder

If you prefer a powder laundry soap, shred two bars of castile soap (using a cheese grater or food processor) and combine with washing soda to make an effective laundry detergent that’s best used in warm water. If you don’t want to use borax, make a borax-free laundry soap powder with castile soap and salt.

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap Recipe

Made in just five minutes! Shred two bars of castile soap in a food processor or with a cheese grater, then add borax and washing soda.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

14. Produce Wash

Use castile soap to clean vegetables!  Add 1 tablespoon castile soap to 1 gallon of cold water. Add the veggies and fruit, then swish them around in the mixture. Allow to rest for a few minutes in the soapy mixture, then rinse with fresh water and dry.

15. Makeup Brush Cleaner

Breaking out lately? It could be due to dirty makeup brushes that spread dirt and oils on the face. Give your makeup brushes a natural clean with a homemade makeup brush cleaner.

DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner Tutorial

Add a couple drops of soap to a bowl, along with water and witch hazel. Place makeup brushes in the solution and soak for a few minutes. Rinse with water and dry.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

When cleaning with castile soap it’s important to avoid mistakes that are commonly promoted online and on Pinterest.

1. Never Mix Castile Soap and Acidic Ingredients: Things like vinegar and lemon juice (acidic ingredients) don’t mix with castile soap (a base ingredient). I shared the science behind this in 4 Cleaning Ingredients to Avoid Combining. This is such a popular combination online that leaves behind an oily mess!

2. Castile Soap and Hard Water Warning: If you use a mixture of castile soap and hard water, it will leave behind a white residue on surfaces. This residue can easily be rinsed off with water or a vinegar spray. The easiest way to avoid this is to use distilled water (found in the water section of the store) in castile soap cleaning recipes.

Need more ideas? Learn how to use this soap beyond cleaning with 24 Brilliant Castile Soap Uses for Home and Body. A few of my favorite uses: makeup remover wipes, plant spray, shaving cream, and honey face wash.

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The post Cleaning With Castile Soap (15 How to Use Recipes & Tips) appeared first on Live Simply.

Before we start, I created the Natural Cleaning Challenge to help you easily ditch toxic cleaners and start using natural cleaning products in just 5 days. This challenge is completely free and packed full of helpful information. Over 5 days, via email, I’ll walk you through what to avoid in cleaning products (even the “natural” and “green” ones can have icky ingredients so I’ll give you the tools to see through the marketing gimmicks), how to stock a natural cleaning caddy, and a few essential DIY cleaning recipes.

11 Natural Cleaning Product Swaps Anyone Can Make Today

The 11 swaps on today’s list are designed to serve as a guide for everyone making the switch to natural cleaning products, whether you’re just starting out or have already made some swaps. Why focus on making these natural product swaps? Most of the products on this list are products that many people use the home on a regular basis. Since they’re a “regular” product, this means they’re being sprayed, poured, and burned (like candles) on a daily or weekly basis.

Swap 1: Air Fresheners

Add essential oils to homemade cleaning products, add an essential oil or blend of different essential oils to an essential oil diffuser (this is my favorite), create a simmer pot on the stove-top using rosemary, cinnamon sticks, orange peels and water then simmer the mixture on a low simmer (do not leave unattended). If you’re new to essential oils, check out this podcast episode on essential oils 101.

Swap 2: Scented Candles

Make beeswax or soy candles (use this slow-cooker method, make candles on the stove-top, or make super easy taper candles) or buy 100% beeswax or soy candles that are unscented or use essential oils for a scent.

Swap 3: Fragranced Laundry Detergents

Use fragrance-free laundry soap, choose a brand that uses essential oils for scent and fully discloses ingredients (my favorite non-toxic laundry soap brands), or make your own laundry soap (try this liquid laundry soap recipe or this powder soap recipe).

Swap 4: Bleach

Use a homemade bleach alternative for whitening garments, for surfaces use an all purpose cleaner spray (I love this vinegar all purpose cleaner or this no-vinegar all purpose cleaner), and for the toilet use this homemade toilet bowl cleaner.

Swap 5: Store-Bought All Purpose Cleaner

Make your own all purpose cleaner with either castile soap or vinegar. It’s one of the easiest DIY swaps you can make to clean a variety of surfaces.

For an all purpose vinegar cleaner, combine 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup white vinegar or homemade orange vinegar, 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired). Add all the ingredients to a glass spray bottle. For an all purpose cleaner without vinegar, add 2 cups distilled water to a glass spray bottle, followed by 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap or 1 teaspoon Sal Suds and 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired). If you prefer the store-bought route, check out this post for my top non-toxic all purpose cleaner suggestions.

Swap 6: Windex

Use a spray made with rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and distilled water to clean windows, mirrors, and even stainless surfaces. Make a glass and mirror cleaner by combining 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup white vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle, then top off the bottle with distilled water. If you’d prefer to not use rubbing alcohol, skip it and use 1/2 cup of vinegar instead. Spray on a glass surface and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

Swap 7: Easy Off Oven Cleaner

Use a combo of castile soap and baking soda. Mix the ingredients together until they form a paste, then use a sponge to apply the mixture to the interior surface of the oven. Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes or a few hours, then use a wet cloth to rinse the surface and follow up by spraying the surface with vinegar and wiping clean until all residue has been removed.

Swap 8: Pledge or PineSol Floor Cleaner

Fill a bucket with water and castile soap or vinegar to wash hard floors. Here’s my favorite hard floor cleaner with vinegar and my favorite hard floor cleaner with castile soap.

Swap 9: Dawn Dish Soap

Make a Sal Suds dish soap or castile soap dish soap or use a non-toxic brand (such as Seventh Generation–> here’s a list of my favorite non-toxic dish soap and dishwasher options).

Swap 10: Cascade Dishwasher Detergent

Use a non-toxic brand (such as Ecover or Better Life–> here’s a list of my favorite non-toxic options) or make your own (I share a recipe in DIY Natural Cleaning).

Swap 11: Dryer Sheets

Use fragrance-free dryer sheets (Seventh Generation is a good option) or wool dryer balls (make dryer balls or buy dryer balls). If you have an issue with static, which is common with polyester clothing, add a safety pin to a wool dryer ball to reduce this static.

I know a lot of people also use fabric softener. Choose a fabric softener that’s fragrance free or go the homemade route by making laundry softener salts or use vinegar.

7 Cleaning Ingredients to Avoid

In the US, cleaning companies are not required to disclose all of their ingredients (only active ingredients or “ingredients of known concern”). And the US Government doesn’t test cleaning products and doesn’t mandate that companies test them either. This all leads to a lot of confusion about cleaning products. I’ve compiled a list of 7 main cleaning ingredients to avoid to help you make informed choices about cleaning products. Check out that post here: 7 Cleaning Product Ingredients to Avoid.

The post 11 Natural Cleaning Product Swaps Anyone Can Make appeared first on Live Simply.

The Best Natural Ingredient For Cleaning Tubs and Sinks

Baking soda is the BEST natural ingredient to use for cleaning tub and sink surfaces as it not only degreases surfaces but it will also freshen and brighten.

Sprinkling baking soda on the surface of a tub or sink and then wiping the area with a wet cloth or brush can work really well for surfaces with mild build up. But for surfaces that need some extra scrubbing power, I like to combine baking soda with castile soap or Sal Suds and hydrogen peroxide to create a powerful cleaning paste. This combo adds an extra “punch” to the baking soda, lifting dirt, oils, and other build up that can occur.

(Check out 13 natural cleaning hacks using baking soda for more ways to use this underrated ingredient.)

Ingredients Needed to Make a Homemade Tub and Sink Cleaner

To make a homemade tub and sink cleaner, you’ll need 3 ingredients (with an extra optional ingredient)…

1 cup Baking Soda

Baking soda freshens, deodorizes, and removes dirt and grease from the surface of a tub or sink. I like to buy a bulk size bag of baking soda for cleaning–this option can be found at Target, Walmart, and on Amazon.

1/4 cup Castile Soap or Sal Suds

Liquid castile soap is a plant based concentrated soap used to make multiple cleaning products from all purpose cleaner to stain remover. Sal Suds is the heavy duty big brother to castile soap and is fantastic at cutting grease and tackling super dirty surfaces. Both do a great job at lifting dirt, but if you’re tackling a super dirty or greasy sink or tub, Sal Suds may be the best option. Sal Suds may also be used to make a variety of cleaners, from all purpose cleaner to dish soap.

1 Tablespoon Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is known for its antiviral and antibacterial properties, making it the perfect cleaning ingredient for a tub or sink. Hydrogen peroxide takes a bit of time to work so it’s best to let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Hydrogen peroxide needs to be stored in a dark bottle, where light can’t reach the hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide also shouldn’t be exposed to the air for prolonged periods. If you plan to make this scrub in advance, skip this ingredient or use a dark container or anything where light can’t seep through.

Optional: Essential Oil

Product marketers have done a fantastic job at convincing us that clean is associated with a particular scent. If our homes smell a certain way, they must be clean. This simply isn’t true! Most of the scents used in cleaning products are simply there to trigger a “good feeling” and sell a product. Those scents don’t add anything to a home except a bunch of undisclosed ingredients (and some ingredients may cause health issues). If you want to add a scent to this homemade cleaner, because you love a particular scent in your home, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Personally, I love grapefruit, lemon, or lemongrass. But know that this scent is completely optional; it’s not required for cleaning purposes.

How to Make Homemade Tub and Sink Cleaner

Making this homemade cleaner takes less than 5 minutes. Here’s how to make it…

• Add the baking soda to a bowl or directly to your storage container, followed by the castile soap or Sal Suds and hydrogen peroxide.
• Whisk the ingredients until they form a thick paste.
• If you want to add a “clean scent” to the paste, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and stir. Lemongrass, lemon, or grapefruit are lovely for the kitchen or bathroom.
• The cleaner is ready to use immeadiately after combining the ingredients or you can place a lid on the jar and seal until you’re ready to use. If you’re using hydrogen peroxide, use an amber jar or something that won’t allow light to seep through the jar.

How to Clean a Tub and Sink

To clean a tub and/or sink, scoop some of the paste from the jar and apply to the surface area. Use a cleaning cloth or scrub brush to evenly distribute the paste across the surface. Let the paste rest on the tub or sink surface for a few minutes, then use a damp cloth or scrub brush to scrub the surface. After scrubbing the surface, remove the paste with fresh clean water. This cleaner should be safe for all surfaces; however, it’s always best to spot test in a small area before using any cleaning product.

Print

Homemade Tub and Sink Cleaner

An easy-to-make homemade tub and sink cleaner, made with 3 ingredients: baking soda, castile soap (or Sal Suds), and hydrogen peroxide. A homemade knock off alternative for Soft Scrub or Scrubbing Bubbles.

Course DIY

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword homemade sink cleaner, homemade tub cleaner

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 10 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Equipment

• storage jar
• mixing spoon

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap or Sal Suds for extra tough jobs--lots of dirt or grease build up
• 1 TB hydrogen peroxide 3% strength--this is what you'll find in drug stores, grocery stores, etc.
• essential oil of choice optional, if you'd like a "clean scent" such as: grapefruit, lemon, eucalyptus, or lemongrass

Instructions

• In a medium-size bowl, add the baking soda, castile soap or Sal Suds, and hydrogen peroxide. Stir until the ingredients resemble a thick paste. If you want a thinner paste, add more soap or water (distilled water if storing the cleaner, tap water is fine if this is a one-time, immediate use product).
• Use the paste immeadiately after combining or store for later.

Storage:

• If storing the cleaner for future cleaning needs, spoon the paste into a jar (such as a wide-mouth mason jar or Weck jar) and seal the jar. This cleaner will harden when exposed to air for a prolonged period of time. Use an amber jar or something that won't allow light to seep through if using hydrogen peroxide in the paste and storing for later use. It's also important to leave room at the top of the jar for expansion. The cleaner will expand within the first 24 hours. Store for up to 1 month.

To Use:

• To clean a tub or sink, scoop some of the paste from the jar and apply to the surface area. Use a cloth or scrub brush to evenly distribute the paste across the surface. Let the paste rest on the surface for a few minutes, then use a damp cloth or scrub brush to scrub the surface. After scrubbing the surface, remove the paste with water. This cleaner should be safe for all surfaces; however, it's always best to spot test in a small area before using any cleaning product.

This recipe was originally shared on Live Simply in 2015. It’s become a very popular reader favorite. Check out more reviews for this recipe, here: DIY Homemade Scrub Cleaner: Like Soft Scrub.

The post Easy Homemade Sink and Tub Cleaner appeared first on Live Simply.

How to Find Non-Toxic, More Natural Laundry Products

According to the Environmental Working Group, “The label on a typical cleaning product is a mix of marketing hype and instructions for use. What’s missing is a list of what’s inside. Cleaning products, unlike foods, beverages, cosmetics and other personal care products, are not required by federal law to carry a list of ingredients. This means that manufacturers have no reason to avoid risky chemicals that happen to clean well – even if they can trigger asthma attacks or skin rashes or are linked to cancer. Without full disclosure, consumers lack key information they need to select cleaning products made with safer ingredients.”

Because of this, it’s hard to know which cleaning products are made with safe ingredients and which products are potentially harmful. Here are 3 tips to help you find non-toxic, more natural laundry products…

• Search for a laundry products rating on either the Environmental Working Group’s website or the Think Dirty App. Both resources are provided by consumer watchdog groups, and neither are perfect but I do believe they’re a great place to start. Both databases will provide you with a score for how the product ranks on their toxicity scale.
• Check out a company’s transparency and disclosure of ingredients. The ingredients should be clearly listed, in full, on the laundry product. Is this company proud of their ingredients? Or, are they trying to distract you from what’s actually inside the bottle by using eye-catching marketing words or describing everything you won’t find in the product. Full disclosure of ingredients is key! It’s the only way we can make an informed choice about our laundry products.
• If you’re unsure about an ingredient, use Google or the EWG’s database to research the ingredient. Chemicals aren’t bad. After all, baking soda, air, and water are chemicals. The goal isn’t to eliminate chemicals. The goal is to use chemicals that are proven to be safe time after time. Too many of the chemicals used in our body and cleaning products can disrupt hormones, cause allergic reactions, etc. (Check out the 7 ingredients I avoid here.)

When you have the tools to educate yourself about ingredients and products, you have the power to make informed choices about what you consume (food), as well as what you use on your body and how you clean your home.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with a number of non-toxic, more natural laundry solutions, from laundry detergent to natural fabric softeners and dryer sheet alternatives. Today, I’m sharing my favorites with you from each of these laundry product categories. If you’re looking to go more natural in the laundry room, these swaps are a great place to start (and may encompass everything you need).

Swap 1: Non-Toxic Laundry Soap or Detergent

This is the hardest area to change, because people (including myself) feel very attached to various brands and scents. I’ve experimented with a ton of laundry soaps over the years, and I’ve landed on a few favorites–ranging from do it yourself soap to safer store-bought detergents.

Here are my current favorites: Branch Basics (a multi-purpose concentrate that can be used for more than just laundry), Molly’s Suds, Better Life, Seventh Generation, Biokleen, and homemade laundry soap. I share about each one, in detail, over here.

As we talked about above in the laundry swap tip, one of the best places to start when making the switch to non-toxic, more natural laundry soap or detergent is to start by avoiding fragranced products. If you choose to use fragranced laundry soap or detergent, check the ingredient list to make sure they’re using essential oils, not mysterious “fragrance.” A natural fragrance won’t linger like you’re used to with Tide or Gain. This is a tell tale sign that the fragrance in your laundry product is made with less-than-desirable ingredients. An essential oil based scent will be subtle and dissipate after washing.

Swap 2: Use Vinegar or Salt For a Fabric Softener

When it comes to a natural fabric softener, there are two great options: vinegar or salt. Both options only require a simple kitchen ingredient.

Option 1: Vinegar

I get it, no ones wants their clothes to smell like salad dressing. Yuck! With the right amount of vinegar, you can achieve naturally soft clothes and towels without the salad dressing scent. To make this option, all you need is vinegar. Just add 1/2 cup of vinegar to each load of laundry. Check out this post for the details.

Option 2: Salt

The inspiration for this option came from reading the back of a Mrs. Meyer’s package. The homemade recipe is made with coarse salt and an optional essential oil, if you want a subtle scent. To make this option, you need: coarse sea salt and (optional) an essential oil for a subtle scent. Combine the ingredients in a jar. To use, add 1/2-1 cup per load of laundry. Check out this post for the details.

Swap 3: Use Dryer Sheet Alternatives

Option 1: Wool Dryer Balls

A few years ago, I started using wool dryer balls as an alternative to dryer sheets. They cut drying time (around 10-25%), keep static down (attach a safety pin to each ball if you have static issues), and reduce wrinkles in clothing. If you want to add a natural scent (to mimic a dryer sheet), add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to each ball. I love lemongrass. You’ll need to repeat this every few loads to maintain the scent.

If you’re a crafty kind of person, you can easily make dryer balls. If not, there are a number of ready-made options on the market. Look for 100% wool balls that are free of any fragrance. I purchased my dryer balls from Amazon.

Option 2: Reusable Dryer Sheets

This option uses vinegar as a fabric softener. This option won’t help with static, but if you want more of a dryer sheet and less of a ball, this is for you. Plus, this option is 100% reusable, just like the dryer balls.

To make your own dryer sheets, you need: 2 cups vinegar, 50 drops cleaning essential oil, 10 8-inch square cloths (such as: baby washcloths, small towels, cut-up old shirts, etc.). Combine the vinegar and essential oil in a storage jar. Add the cloths to the jar, submerging the cloths in the liquid. Add 1-2 cloths to the dryer. The cloths won’t reduce static cling, but will soften laundry and add a fresh scent. Return the cloths to the jar after use. This recipe comes from my cleaning book.

Option 3: Store-Bought Dryer Sheets

If you want to use an actual dryer sheet, from the store, I think the best option out there is from Seventh Generation. Both the scented and unscented versions rate as a B with the Environmental Working Group, and the ingredient list is very transparent. You can find Seventh Generation at most stores, from Target to Whole Foods and Amazon.

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The post How to Go Natural With Every Product in Your Laundry Room appeared first on Live Simply.

Since our family made the transition from processed food to real food, I’ve had to learn my way around a formerly abandoned area of our home: the kitchen.

Over the past few years, I’ve learned how to pick up, wash, roast, and even de-bone a whole chicken without even wincing. (Just for background, I ate a vegan diet for a couple of years, and before that our life consisted of frozen “food” and drive-thru windows.) I’ve also discovered how to combine a few simple ingredients to create homemade salad dressings. And I’ve even embraced quinoa and kale.

Big changes have happened in this tiny kitchen of mine, and all for the better. Our family is healthier, happier, and our life is simpler. All thanks to one decision to change our eating habits.

With all of these amazing food changes, I’ve discovered one big downfall to home-cooking: grease stains! Can you just hear my moaning and groaning as I utter those words: grease stains! The horror!

I can’t think of anything more frustrating when it comes to working in the kitchen than joyfully making a homemade dressing, or breathing in the amazing aroma of bacon cooking, only to find a giant grease stain from the oil or fat splattered all over my favorite capsule wardrobe shirt. Where did THIS come from?

In my defense, I wouldn’t necessarily call myself clumsy, but somehow grease stains always, always find their way onto my favorite shirts. Just like homemade spaghetti sauce always finds its way onto my favorite white shirt. I should probably just stop wearing white in the kitchen, especially on spaghetti night. Anyway, back to grease stains. We already conquered spaghetti stains a few months ago when I shared my homemade stain remover spray. It’s a mom’s best friend!

So, what’s a real food gal to do?

The answer: Test every “more natural” grease-fighting solution ever recommended on the internet and in homemaking books. And invest in a good apron ;).

Over the last couple of years, I’ve tested many different grease-fighting solutions, from vinegar to baking soda (of course, not combined), to homemade pastes and fancy spray cleaners. Nothing has been able to completely remove grease stains. As it turns out, the answer was far simpler, and could be found in my natural cleaning toolkit.

The answer?

Sal Suds!

Sal Suds has been the best “more natural” solution I’ve used to remove grease stains, and the process of using Sal Suds to remove grease stains on my shirts and shorts couldn’t be any easier. First, let’s take a look at Sal Suds before I share how to remove grease stains and save your favorite shirt!

Sal Suds is Dr. Bronner’s tougher version of soap, although its chemical makeup makes it a detergent, not a soap, which is why I believe it works so well to remove tough grease stains. Sal Suds is formulated to conquer tough cleaning projects: unforgiving grease and stubborn dirt.  Sal Suds is a hot topic in the natural community, so it remains a product that some use and others stay away from. What’s all the fuss about? Sal Suds receives an A on the Environmental Working Group’s website. You can read more about the big SLS debate and Sal Suds on Lisa Bronner’s blog.

While I love castile soap, there are times when I need a “more natural” option that packs extra oomph, and that’s when I turn to Sal Suds. I use Sal Suds to make dish soap, clean a dirty tub, and remove grease stains from my clothes. If you don’t have any Sal Suds on hand, and you need to remove a grease stain right now, I recommend trying liquid castile soap. While I haven’t had as much success with castile soap, it’s better than feeling hopeless about that grease stain on your blouse.

Let’s conquer and remove some grease…

Print

Laundry Hack: How to Remove Grease Stains

Sal Suds has been the best “more natural” solution I’ve used to remove grease stains, and the process of using Sal Suds to remove grease stains on my shirts and shorts couldn’t be any easier.

Course How To

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword How to Remove Grease Stains

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 application

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• Sal Suds or liquid castile soap–see note below

Instructions

• Rub a small amount of Sal Suds on a fresh grease stain, using a towel or your hand to thoroughly rub the grease area with the soap. It’s important that the soap saturates and completely covers the grease stain.
• Let the Sal Suds rest for at least 30 minutes-12 hours (I usually let the soap sit on the grease stain for the full 12 hours, which causes the soap to fully dry.), then wash the garment in hot water in the washing machine with laundry soap.
• Before drying your garment, check the grease stain to make sure it’s completely gone. If not, apply the Sal Suds again and allow for more resting time. Repeat the washing cycle again until the grease stain is completely gone. The key to fighting a grease stain is to never dry a garment in the dryer until the grease stain has been removed. Drying a garment sets the grease stain, which is trickier to fully remove. That said, I’ve successfully removed grease stains using Sal Suds and a 12 hour rest time even after drying a garment.

Ingredient Notes

You can find Sal Suds (or castile soap) at most health food stores, online, and some conventional stores.

While I love castile soap, there are times when I need a “more natural” option that packs extra oomph, and that’s when I turn to Sal Suds. I use Sal Suds to make dish soap, clean a dirty tub, and remove grease stains from my clothes. If you don’t have any Sal Suds on hand, and you need to remove a grease stain right now, I recommend trying castile soap. While I haven’t had as much success with castile soap, it’s better than feeling hopeless about that grease stain on your blouse.

This post isn’t sponsored by Dr. Bronner’s, the maker of Sal Suds. It’s truly the only “more natural” option I’ve found to work when I need to remove grease stains from garments.

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The post Laundry Hack: How to Remove Grease Stains appeared first on Live Simply.

My kitchen sink is by far the hardest working “thing” (anyone have a better word?) in our home. Well, except for our air conditioning system, #Floridian. Our sink is the dumping ground for plates, pots and pans, silverware, the coffee pot, leftover scraps on plates and pans, and so much more. Our sink is one happening spot.

Last summer, we remodeled our entire kitchen. Before we even started designing the kitchen and thinking about cabinets and appliances, my focus was on the sink. I’ve spent way too much time on Pinterest over the last couple of years dreaming about the loveliness of a farm-style, apron sink.  Before the walls even came down, we went to IKEA and purchased the farm sink of my dreams, which turned out to be very affordable. With our kitchen remodel complete, and my dream sink now installed, caring for our sink has been a major priority.

Since our kitchen sink is the hangout spot for our dirty dishes, it’s easy for our sink to quickly transform from clean to dirty and greasy. I love knowing that I have four different natural, homemade recipe options to help keep our sink clean and sparkly. Think of these four natural recipes like the cleaning section of the grocery store: there are multiple options to get the job done.

Before I share each recipe, it’s important to note that these recipes may be used to clean any sink in a home, not just the kitchen sink. If your sinks are delicate, like a marble sink, I recommend asking a specialist about specific care instructions.

How to Naturally Clean Your Sink

Sink Scouring Powder

This powder is a combination of baking soda, borax, coarse salt, and a few drops of essential oil. The simple ingredients create a powerful powder that I sprinkle in our sinks when they need a deep cleaning. After sprinkling the powder in the sink, I let it rest for at least five minutes, and then use a scrub brush to scrub away the dirt. Finally, I rinse the sink with warm water.

This is my go-to powder when my kitchen sink needs a deep cleaning (during my bi-monthly cleaning), and the cleaner I use in our bathroom sinks (another bi-monthly cleaning task). I also use this powder to clean our toilets. Since this powder has a very long shelf-life, a mason jar of Sink Scouring Powder is always ready to go in my cleaning caddy.

What You’ll Need

• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup borax
• ½ cup kosher or sea salt
• 15 drops grapefruit essential oil (or your favorite cleaning essential oil, like lemon or tea tree)
• 1 lid with holes, such as: a mason jar drink top, or a Parmesan cheese topper. Only use this lid when the powder is needed. The top used to store the powder shouldn’t expose the powder to the air.

Find the full recipe instructions, here.

Simple Lemon Surface Scrub

This scrub lives up to its simple name since it’s made with only two kitchen ingredients: a lemon and coarse salt. That’s it! I use this scrub when I need to quickly clean our kitchen sink, but don’t want to get out an actual cleaning product. We always have lemons in our kitchen, so I cut one in half, sprinkle salt over the lemon flesh, and then scrub our sink with the lemon and salt (gently squeezing the lemon as I scrub). I apply more salt to the lemon as needed. The lemon and salt combo loosens dirt and grease, and eliminates odors.

What You’ll Need

• 1/3 cup kosher or sea salt
• 1 lemon, halved

If you have my book, DIY Natural Cleaning Challenge, you’ll find this recipe on page 94.

Scrub Cleaner

My mom’s favorite cleaner, when I was a child, was Soft Scrub. She used Soft Scrub to clean everything from the bathroom tiles and tub to her kitchen sink. This scrub cleaner is my homemade alternative for Soft Scrub.

I personally don’t use this scrub very often for cleaning our sinks, because my sinks don’t get dirty enough to need this powerful cleaner. If you need something with not only cleaning power but also whitening power, this is your cleaner! This scrub is also a great product to use in a dirty bathtub or shower.

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup baking soda
• ¼ cup liquid castile soap or Sal Suds
• 1 TB hydrogen peroxide
• 1 large jar with a lid

Find the full recipe instructions, here.

All-Purpose Spray

Finally, if my sinks just need a quick wipe down, with more than just water and a dish towel, I’ll reach for a bottle of all-purpose spray. There are two options when it comes to making an all-purpose spray: vinegar or castile soap. The spray I reach for and use depends on what’s currently sitting in my cleaning caddy (a water-based cleaner has a short shelf-life). Both are incredibly effective at quickly cleaning a sink.

What You’ll Need

• 2 cups water
• 2 TB – ¼ cup liquid castile soap
• 15 drops cleaning essential oil
• 1 spray bottle

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• ½ lemon, juiced (optional)
• 15 drops cleaning essential oil
• 1 spray bottle

Find the full recipe instructions, here.

Do you have a favorite natural method/recipe for cleaning your sinks?

The post How to Naturally Clean Your Sink: 4 Homemade Recipes appeared first on Live Simply.

One of the first changes I made in our home, in order to create a more natural lifestyle, was in the laundry room. First, my love for Tide was replaced with a homemade soap that was simple and effective. Next, my dryer sheets were replaced with wool balls. Slowly, over time, I discovered natural (and super easy!) solutions for nearly every laundry product I needed.

With just a few basic ingredients, natural laundry products can be made at home. Since you can use the same “ingredients” to make multiple products, homemade laundry solutions can even save money.

Now, I get it. The whole process of making the switch to homemade products can be a bit overwhelming. The process doesn’t need to be complicated or exhausting. Simply start with the products you most often use in your laundry room and start making one small change. Small, practical changes are the building blocks to a doable long-term natural lifestyle. Let’s take our lesson from the tortoise…slow and steady always wins the race.

6 Laundry Products to Stop Buying and Start Making

Laundry Soap: The task of making your own laundry soap sounds daunting, but it couldn’t be easier. Simply mix a few ingredients together. That’s it.

Homemade Stain Remover: Ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and an early morning beet juice; talk about a recipe for disaster. This homemade stain remover is made with just a few basic ingredients and boasts a major stain-busting punch. POW!

Homemade Oxi-Clean Like Powder: When clothes need a little extra boost, Homemade Oxi-Clean Like Powder is the perfect natural solution. This powder is made with just two ingredients: hydrogen peroxide and washing soda.

Homemade Bleach Alternative: When clothes get a little dingy it’s time to call upon the power of lemons, washing soda, and hydrogen peroxide!

Salt Fabric Softener and Scent Booster: Salt is the secret ingredient to fresh smelling clothes with extra softness in my laundry room. To make a homemade fabric softener and scent booster, simply combine 5 cups of sea salt or kosher salt (I purchase $2 large boxes from Costco) and add 1-2 teaspoons of a cleaning essential oil (lemon or lavender are my favorite). As the washing machine fills up, add 1/3 cup of the salts. The salt softens hard water and naturally adds cleaning power needed for a fresh scent.

Homemade Wool Dry Balls: If you’d like to add something to the dryer to soften laundry, ditch the dryer sheets and purchase or make dryer balls. You can also purchase these handy dryer balls on Amazon or some stores (HomeGoods, etc).

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The post 6 Laundry Products to Stop Buying and Start Making appeared first on Live Simply.

Okay, guys! It’s time for some laundry talk.

For the past four weeks I’ve talked a lot about laundry, everything from a stain remover to homemade bleach alternative. I promise, I won’t talk about laundry forever. Just one more week of laundry talk? One more?

Awesome, I knew you would say yes!

I recently snooped around the blog pretending to be a reader. During my pretend session, I clicked on the main menu, categories, and the sidebar. My desire is for Live Simply to be a reader-friendly space– posts are easy to find, pictures are big (well, not too big) and beautiful, and the words written communicate encouragement and love. As I clicked around, one major “issue” jumped out at me: The laundry subcategory has been seriously lacking. At the time the only posts available for reading were my homemade laundry soap and Kelly’s dryer balls (a dryer sheet alternative).

I’m all about simplicity, so one laundry soap and dryer ball post was perfectly fine, but I think most of us know the cold truth about laundry–it’s not a simple job. Oh yes, there’s the washing and folding.  But what about the mysterious black stains that magically appear on my favorite white shorts? Or the new white towels (by the way, I’m a huge advocate for white towels!)  that after only three washes feel like you’ve been using them for ten years. Laundry problems, my friend! Problems that need more than just soap and dry balls.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with various homemade laundry solutions. I’ve experienced countless failures. Through those failures I’ve discovered that while laundry may be complicated, the homemade solutions that fix those problems don’t have to be.

After peeking around Live Simply that day, I decided my tried-and-true laundry solutions needed to be shared, so over the last four weeks we’ve sat down to a cup of coffee, our computer screens, ignored the big pile of laundry calling out in the corner, and spent a few minutes each week talking about homemade laundry solutions!

To wrap up this laundry marathon (There are a few more solutions to share, but I’ll switch back to beauty and home for a few weeks.), let’s talk about oxygen bleach.

Oxygen bleach is a laundry booster that can be used directly in the washing machine to help clean soiled clothing and improve the performance of laundry detergents. For years, I used this product in my home until I finally decided to do a little research into the ingredients. After reading the ingredient list and articles online, I realized the expensive oxygen bleach powder I purchased to provide my laundry with a sweet little boost was nothing more than a special ingredient called Sodium Percarbonate. From my research I learned Sodium Percarbonate is made by bonding two ingredients together: hydrogen peroxide and washing soda. Mind-blown! Talk about simplicity!

It was at this moment in my research that I realized the expensive product I was purchasing from the store shelf each month could easily be made at home. I played around with several variations of a homemade Oxi-Clean like product: mixing equal parts hydrogen peroxide and washing soda, reducing the hydrogen peroxide, etc. Each attempt only led to disaster.

As it turns out, washing soda and hydrogen peroxide form some kind of chemical reaction after sitting for 24 hours in a container. The two ingredients form a crystal-like hard substance. It’s actually pretty fascinating, and that’s as far as I get with the technicality of it all. Hard rock-like crystals are no bueno for a mom in need of a homemade laundry boost.

Finally, I figured out my problem. I was over complicating the whole process.

Since that light-bulb moment, I’ve been happily using a homemade laundry boost. I simply keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a glass jar filled with washing soda near the washing machine. When our laundry is on the dirtier side or I’m washing a load of towels, I simply add equal parts of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide to the machine as the water fills up, swish the ingredients in the water with my hand, pour in the laundry soap, and add the clothes! Viola!

Before I share this simple recipe with you, let’s take a look at the two ingredients:

Hydrogen Peroxide: The primary job of this household ingredient is to remove stains and naturally-brighten clothes. This ingredient is also used in my homemade bleach alternative, which also uses washing soda and the power of lemons to whiten dingy garments.

Washing Soda: This is the cousin of baking soda. In fact, you can actually make washing soda from baking soda–I tell you how to do that in my DIY Natural Cleaning Challenge eBook. When it comes to cleaning clothes, washing soda is preferred over baking soda due to washing soda’s higher PH level (PH 11). Washing soda can help soften hard water. It also works as a degreaser and stain remover.

Print

Homemade Oxi-Clean Like Laundry Booster

Oxygen bleach is a laundry booster that can be used directly in the washing machine to help clean soiled clothing and improve the performance of laundry detergents. 

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Oxi-Clean Like Laundry Booster

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 load

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup washing soda
• 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide 3%, this is the stuff you find in most grocery stores

Instructions

• Turn on the washing machine, allow the water to fill the basin 1/4-1/2 way full. Add each ingredient to the water (preferably hot water), along with the laundry soap, and swish (use your hand or a wooden spoon).
• Continue filling the washer with water until you reach the desired level.
• Once the ingredients are dissolved, add the clothes. Proceed to wash the clothes according to your washing machine's cycle.

Notes

• For soiled or extra stinky clothes (not ones that require extra whitening or stain removal–this recipe isn’t a complete stain remover), soak the clothes in the solution for 30 minutes -1 hour before adding the laundry soap and running the washer.
• This recipe is used in my house as a regular laundry booster (to aid my laundry soap in getting rid of dirt or odors). For clothes that need extra whitening, I use my homemade bleach alternative.
• For clothes with stains, I use my homemade stain remover, then toss the clothing in the washing machine (along with other clothes, if possible) with this formula. The laundry booster helps lift the stain, if the stain remover needs a bit more of a boost.

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DIY Homemade Stain Remover Recipe For Clothes

The post Homemade Oxi-Clean Like Laundry Booster appeared first on Live Simply.

Recipe Update: This recipe has been updated from the original recipe (which used lemon juice with the ingredients), because I discovered a simpler and easier recipe that doesn’t require a blender and works just as awesome! The modified recipe (fully updated below) even removed a 6 hour-old red wine stain from our white IKEA slipcover couch (the slipcover was removed and soaked in the whitening solution).

If you’re interested in the original recipe (which works great, but when a simpler version is available why not use it instead?): 2 gallons of warm/hot water, 2 lemons (quartered), 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1/2 cup washing soda. Blend the hydrogen peroxide and lemons in the blender (yes, hydrogen is safe to use in a blender since it’s a great disinfectant–just wash it out after making the solution). Pour the lemon mixture and washing soda into the warm/hot water and soak your garment for 30 minutes. The garment will probably look yellow from the lemon juice, but I haven’t had any issues with the lemon juice remaining on garments once washed in the washing machine. Wash the garment in the washing machine with warm/hot water and laundry soap. 

How does it feel to wear white again?

AMAZING, right?!

Who knew the secret to spotless whites (and colors) could be found in three ingredients most of us already own, or can easily obtain: glycerin, castile soap, water, and lemon. If you’re totally lost right now, I highly recommend skipping over to last week’s laundry recipe post featuring an effective and simple stain remover spray. Once you’ve grabbed that recipe you’ll want to come back here for today’s easy peasy recipe. Trust me, your clothes will be forever changed.

Since we are all in a good laundry mood around here thanks to last week’s stain remover spray, we might as well just deepen the laundry love. Let’s talk about laundry again, okay?

For the first few years of our marriage (we are coming up on the big 10 next month!), I was a chlorine bleach fanatic. If the bathroom was dirty, I reached for the bottle of bleach. When the ice cream from last night’s outing decided to visit with my favorite white shorts, the bottle of bleach was put to use. When our linoleum floors went well past a cleaning appointment (with me!), bleach came to the rescue. I think you get the picture: I loved bleach. And truthfully, I’m not really sure how that love was developed since my parents rarely used this strong whitening and disinfecting agent in their home. Maybe it was the cheap price or the POW  job it seemed to perform? Whatever it was, my love was a bit extreme.

I see you cringing over there. Trust me, I cringe at the very thought of my intense use and love for bleach. Oh yea, and then the smell? I don’t even want to think about the number of brain cells I probably killed by inhaling so much chlorine bleach. The thought is just depressing, so let’s not go there. The good news is the happy turning point of my bleach saga happens right about now…

From the start of our marriage Dustin was the “healthier” one. When I’d be chowing down on Edy’s ice cream late at night, he would reach for a container of strawberries. While I continued to feed my sugar and coke addiction, Dustin usually reached for water or juice (sure, the juice probably contained just as much sugar). And when it came to bleach, Dustin always made a point to say, “I wish you wouldn’t use that stuff! It hurts my lungs.”

I really hate to admit this next point about myself, but here it goes: I tend to be a pretty stubborn person. Yep, it’s not my most flattering quality, but somewhere deep inside there’s this little voice that wants to do it my way until I’ve been proven wrong about a million times. Like I said, not a great quality, but we’re all about truth around here.

Despite Dustin regularly pointing out the whole “I don’t like bleach” plea, I continued to use it for two reasons: 1/ I was stubborn 2/ I couldn’t find a better alternative. The “bleach alternative” from the store just didn’t cut it.

For the sake of not boring you this morning, let’s just skip ahead to the really good part of this story…

Almost ten years into our marriage, I’m excited to finally share that 2014 was my year for giving up bleach once and for all! Granted, I had cut back on my use of this product many years before, but I still used it on occasion for a tough job and white clothes. As it turns out, a homemade bleach alternative existed right under my nose–a nose that desperately needed a break from bleach!

Three ingredients are used to make my homemade bleach alternative: water, hydrogen peroxide, and washing soda (thanks to a much higher PH level than baking soda). These ingredients are inexpensive and, when combined, create a super effective deodorizing and whitening agent.

Are you ready to tackle some laundry? Awesome!

Let’s do this!

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Homemade Bleach Alternative

Three ingredients are used to make my homemade bleach alternative: water, hydrogen peroxide, and washing soda (thanks to a much higher PH level than baking soda).

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Bleach Alternative

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 Load

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $5

Ingredients

• 2 gallon warm water
• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide 3%
• 1/2 cup washing soda

Instructions

• Add the ingredients to a large bucket or sink.
• Whisk the ingredients into the water to dissolve the washing soda. 
• Soak your garment for 30 minutes in the solution. Wash the garment in the washing machine with warm/hot water and laundry soap. 

A Few Helpful Notes:

• This solution is intended to be a one-time use recipe. I make this bleach alternative as needed. You can use the solution multiple times during the day if you’re doing a quick soak (not hours of soaking) for the garments; just remember that hydrogen peroxide is light sensitive so its effectiveness will fade the longer it’s exposed to light. This recipe can be doubled.
• Need a quick stain remover for a small area? Treat stains with my homemade stain remover. Need to treat a larger stain? Recently Dustin spilled red wine all over our white IKEA slipcover couch and didn’t realize it until several hours later (the glass had been pushed behind a throw pillow before spilling). I mixed together this solution and after a couple of hours, the wine completely was gone!
• “Is this solution color-safe?” I don’t use this solution on delicate clothes. If you want to use this solution on colored fabric, I recommend testing a small area first before soaking the entire garment, especially if it’s a favorite shirt or pair of pants! I soak our black and white chevron print kitchen rug in this solution without any issue.

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