I'm looking for some ideas on good ways to use inexpensive ingredients like vinegar, ammonia, baking soda and bleach to clean my home/clothing.  I'm especially interested in a good system for cleaning my sliding glass doors.  I have 3 sets of them and it drives me a little bonkers to see them streaked!  Any help?

Pat 

 Here's something you might find interesting : http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000327c.cfm

although I don't think I'd mix vinegar with ammonia as it seems the two would cancel each other. Vinegar is an acid and ammonia is alkaline.

If your windows streak, it could be that they have a coating left over from previous washes. If that's the case, a strong vinegar solution will work better than anything, as it neutralizes most other cleaners. Wash the windows using liberal amounts of the liquid and dry with newspaper or a squeegee for the best results.

First those oils we are discussing in the soap thread are fantastic in cleaners if you want to have fragrance. I have mixed and scented my own for years. The EOs are better than FOs as they tend to be easier on the respiratory system.

A paste of baking soda and dish liquid works great for soap scum in the tub.

A mix of four parts water to one part vinegar makes a light floor cleaner and a good cleaner for wiping down other surfaces. I like to use this as a daily cleaner in the kitchen and bath as it's so easy on the respiratory system. I do deeper cleaning with stronger stuff regularly.

Unlike Pat, I don't care for vinegar for a glass cleaner. I did find that wetting a flour sack cloth and splashing some rubbing alcohol on then cleaning glass works very well. If that streaks still, try the rubbing alcohol straight.

The best thing I have ever found for microwave cleaning is to mix lemon juice and water (equal parts) in a bowl and heat it in the microwave. When it's cool enough to work with, I use a towel to wipe the inside with that solution. If you have food cooked in or whatever, use less water.

The inside of a fridge or freezer can be easily cleaned by cutting a lemon in half and then sprinkling baking soda on it. Use the lemon to scrub the insides of those appliances. I am experimenting with whether using a rinse wipe after is good or not.

 

 

 

 

for my windows i use  in a spray bottle a mixture of..

1/4 cup of vinegar

1 teaspoon of dish liquid( but i use a tes. of tea tree oil shampoo,for the anti bactrica and anti fungal props)

and fill with water. i clean all my windows mirrows and glass in my sun porch with this but the shinner is to use NEWSPAPER!!, yes newspaper, make sure the paper is at least 3 days old, i have no streaks or spots, i got the tip from "how clean is your house?" it really works

 i clean my hard wood floors with the same mixture, just a little stronger and cleans them great! them i polish it with lemon oil or cocconut oil.

baking soda for my tub, them i wipe it down  with a rag damped with water and white vinegar, i also use the "window" cleaner on my sinks and toliets

white vinegar is the best thing i have ever used the scent is strong but fades away when it is dried.

And of course you all know to

never,

ever,

under any circumstances,

to mix bleach and ammonia

I think the result is chlorine gas, not 100% certain on that but it is nasty.

Making our own cleaning supplies is great, but just make sure you know what your doing. 

Good advice, Jim, thanks.

Remember, too, that vinegar is acid based and will neutralize bleach, but shouldn't be used in large quantities for that purpose because of that same chlorine gas.  I asked a chemist about that because I'd been asked about it so much, and he said that in small quantities, like neutralizing a bleach splash on clothing or hands, it isn't dangerous, but not to use much more than that at one time.

    I know it sounds kind of bizarre, but if you can find soft coconut oil soap, you can use it to clean glass. Just rub on a small amount to cover the glass, then buff it off with clean white cotton rags or old tee shirts. You'll have to work at it, but it cleans everything off the glass, and makes them fog-less, too.

   My personal favorite window cleaner, though, is a squeegie and plain, warm water. If you dry the squeegie between swipes, it'll prevent streaking, and your windows will dry faster, which will eliminate spotting, too. You can add vinegar to the water if you want, but you don't have to.

   OH! And baking soda, mixed with just enough bleach to make a paste, is THE solution for mildew in the shower, lol! Leave the paste on until it dries, then rinse it off. You might have to repeat a few spots, but it works great-and helps prevent it from coming back because it kills mold and mildew spores that other cleaners might miss.

Hope this helps!

Marika

I love all tips, but I'm especially glad to see the recipe from "how clean is your house".  I just borrowed their book from the library, but I returned it before I wrote down any recipes!!  I have never tried the newspaper, but I've heard about it before.  Upon this recommendation, I'm going to give it a go and see how it works.  Thanks !

Pat 

"My personal favorite window cleaner, though, is a squeegie and plain, warm water. If you dry the squeegie between swipes, it'll prevent streaking, and your windows will dry faster, which will eliminate spotting, too. You can add vinegar to the water if you want, but you don't have to"

That's all I usually use, plain water. I use rags to wash and dry, though. Most dirt comes off windows with plain water.

 Yep, we think we have to use something, but sometimes we don't need any product at all. That reminds me of when my son was a baby and had very dry skin. The doctor told me to bathe him in plain water without soap of any kind at least half the time.