Self Sufficient Living

Re: Natural Cleaners

gb0949 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:33:48 GMT

Do you mind me asking where you are able to get the Dr. Bonners castille soap in a GALLON size? I can only get it as large as a 32 oz size, but use it all the time to make all types of hand cleaners, dish soaps, general cleaner and adding it to my laundry from time to time etc. I sometimes get the ones that have a scent to them and like to use them in the bathroom for hand soap etc. But, would love to know where to get it in a Gallon size. Did you by chance order it online and if so where do you order it from? I would appreciate your help in finding it in that size?

Re: Natural Cleaners

wvtrailseeker — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:54:11 GMT

I use Diatomaceous Earth to keep the creepy crawlies away too. I use it because I am a Beekeeper and you don't use anything Toxic when you have bees for it will kill them. Even just a little bit will kill them They go everywhere and they get into everything. The last warm spell we had (the first part of Jan.) we had those little babies all over the porch, just walking around, just like they were taking in their daily exercises. So I only use Diatomaceous Earth for that reason.

We have a wood stove and where we stack our wood really gets infested with bugs, roaches, ants, mealy bugs, all the things we hate to have inside too. I just sprinkle some of the D.E. around on the wood and haven't seen any bugs around it lately. I know it can also kill the Bees, but they have to crawl thru it to get it on them, and for some reason, they don't seem to prone to crawling on the wood pile. Thank God for that. We have enough stuff killing our bees off without me getting into the action by using poisons of anykind that you spray or put on the soil.

I didn't know that Boraxo would help deter ants. I knew about Boric Acid but not Boraxo. I will have to give it a try too. I also keep in for my homemade soaps that I make.

Re: Natural Cleaners

Deborahmichelle — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:55:18 GMT

Just a note about dichometous particles (don't know the spelling). It's many-faceted crushed shells, & when a roach or other pest eats it, their stomachs are broken up & they die. Yours in Him, Deb

Re: Natural Cleaners

kgalea — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:49:45 GMT

Just a note about Boric Acid.

We used it in Florida to keep the roaches away - and it totally works! We squirt the power by openings (like the garage, doors, under the sink, corner, screen door, etc). At first, you will find dead roaches around. Then, you will find none. I had a cat in the house and he was fine with the Boric Acid. I don't know about children, though.

I bought it at Home Depot, but then later found it at a Dollar Store.

Re: Natural Cleaners

gaylejackson — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:55:00 GMT

I use white vinegar & baking soda to clean much of my house (love how clean my toilets look). I use borax with powdered sugar to keep ants out of my house & garden, I also use borax when I make my own laundry soap.

=) Gayle

Re: Natural Cleaners

babs — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:33:10 GMT

Chamomile, Yeah I think that I paid around $27 for the gallon but it was worth every penny. Babs

Re: Natural Cleaners

chamomile — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:11:18 GMT

Babs, Had to pinch myself when I found that bargain, the regular price was over $10. They had a half dozen bottles left. I only bought two, as it lasts so long and none of my friends or family would have had any interest in it or had any idea what a steal it was.

Re: Natural Cleaners

Miserly — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:57:51 GMT

I got a list of natural cleaning recipes, a grocery tote, window film, a low flow shower head and a couple of CFC bulbs free a couple of years ago from an college extension service. I love the cleaning recipes but the one they gave me called for ammonia, baking soda, and vinegar.

I also use vinegar in my dishwasher instead of Jet Dry, works great and I only use 1/4 of the detergent that people usually use in their dishwasher. I have tried the enviro friendly dishwasher detergent and it does'nt clean the dishes at all.

Re: Natural Cleaners

babs — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:27:50 GMT

Wow, 99 cents for Dr Bonner is a wonderful price. I had to order online. Our food co op kept it for years but stopped. One more use, summer the DD gets the chlorine in the hair from the pool. Dr Bonners takes it right out. Babs

Re: Natural Cleaners

chamomile — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:33:04 GMT

Dr. Bronner's is another of the things that Stop and Shop is discontinuing . I got two quart bottles for 99 cents each! I use for shampoo, to wash the dogs, and a drop or two in the toilet brush holder.

I use borax in an all purpose cleaner recipe from Utne reader ; 1 teaspoon borax, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1 teaspoon dishwashing detergent, 1 quart warm water. ...mix in a spray bottle , safe for any surface.

I find that borax by itself doesn't seem to do a great job on the tub...for non toxic tub cleanser, I like Bon Ami.

Re: Natural Cleaners

babs — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:50:03 GMT

I use Dr Bonners for many, many things. It is expensive to buy but it last forever. Good to wash down your kitchen to get rid of fruit flies. I clean the toilet, shampoo hair. shampoo the cat for fleas. DH loves it for washing hands after working on the car.I bought a gallon two years ago and still have about half of it. Babs

Re: Natural Cleaners

Gingerbread — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:24:28 GMT

Windows - Mix a gallon of warm water and 2 T. cornstarch. Apply with the sponge side of a squeege and remove with the squeege. A "whoda' thought" mixture, but it really works well. A hint from professional window washers.

Fels Naptha Soap - http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=D1001&Show=ExtInfo

Clean your shower, clean paint brushes, spray for aphids and black-spot fungus on roses, remove Halloween makeup from clothing, clean canvas tennis shoes, etc.

Natural Detergent/All-Purpose Cleaner - Makes 1 gallon and can be used anywhere all-purpose sprays can be used.

1 cup liquid Castile Soap (I use Dr. Bronner's)

1/3 cup salt

1 cup baking soda (NOT washing soda)

1 c. vinegar

40 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract

A few drops of your favorite essential oil (optional)

Mix the salt and baking soda with enough of the water to dissolve the mixture, over low heat. Add the dissolved mixture to approximately 1/2 gallon of water in a 1-gallon container (I recycle a leftover vinegar jug). Add the Castile soap and the vinegar. Fill your gallon jug up the rest of the way, add the Grapefruit Extract and essential oils (if using). Shake before using.

I love this mixture for my bed sheets. According to the original author, use it for cleaning the tub, floors, countertops, etc.

The Grapefruit Seed Extract is supposed to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties.

Borax - The usual & unusual... Borax has a pH or around 9, which is higher than baking soda (which is 8.1; 7 is neutral). It is a good deodorizer and mold inhibitor, as well as a successful way to kill cockroaches, fleas, and other insects (Borax releases boric acid, which is poison to insects. Very high doses would need to be ingested to harm a pet or human).

1. Mold Inhibotor - Mix a thick borax and water paste. Smear it on the moldy area. Let set until dry (overnight or longer). Sweep up the powder and rinse off the rest.

2. Mice Deterrent - Sprinkle borax on the floor along the walls (where mice like to run). They don't like getting the borax on their feet, so they are less likely to return to that area of the house.

3. All-Purpose Cleanser - Put 2 teaspoons of borax in a spray bottle with 2 cups of very hot water. Shake to blend.

4. Floor cleaner - mix 1/3 c. borax with 1 t. dishwashing detergent and 1 gallon of warm water in a large bucket.

5. Scouring compound - 1/4 c. borax, 1/4 c. baking soda.

6. Toilet - 1/4 c. borax in toilet, swish with a toilet brush, let stand for at least 20 minutes (or overnight for stubborn problems), and then flush.

Lavender-Scented Dish Liquid (low suds - 1 T. for dishwashing)

3 T. liquid lavender Castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's)

2 c. warm water

2 t. vegetable glycerin

2 T. white vinegar

10 drops lavender essential oil.

Re: Natural Cleaners

mamasjob — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:58:14 GMT

I have not used Borax. I think I will check it out. I do have 2 small boys so I am concerned about toxins. I had heard to use Borax and sugar for roaches and other pests, though.

Right now, vinegar and baking soda are good for me as cleaners. I use ammonia in my wash for a boost and to get the moldy smell out of things. I use vinegar for my rinse cycle, especially for towels. Got those ideas right here on these boards and it works great--saved my towels! I like vinegar and water mix for my wood floors and windows and baking soda for my toilet. I don't use baking soda for my counters as I have some granite and don't know if it will scratch. I am interested in trying some essential oils as I do like pleasing scents and vinegar just smells clean after it disappears.

Dusting, well.....when I do dust, I use a damp cloth. My mother always used some sort of oil she kept mixed in an old jar and just "dipped" her dust rag into. I will have to ask what it was. It lasted forever and had a good, distincctive smell that I can't identify but would recognize it if I smelled it!

Re: Natural Cleaners

Pat — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:42:15 GMT

Thanks, Gigi. I do have some borax (I used it to make laundry detergent), but have never cleaned with it that I can remember. I think I'll try it with baking soda to scrub the sinks.

Re: Natural Cleaners

Gigi — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 03:56:33 GMT

I think it does. I have not done a comparative study, but I prefer to use the two together, rather than independently. Not only do I use it for scrubbing counters and sinks, but also pots and other cookware when I need to. It is toxic if consumed in large doses, which sounds relatively safe to me. My husband does not think it effective for washing tire rims, and continues to use "the bad stuff." It certainly would be a small risk to buy it. If you did not like it as a scouring powder, you could use it in your laundry. If you lived close by, I would let you try some, but alas, we live a good distance from each other!

A little goes a long way. I mix 1cup each, a put it into a 1 pint Rubbermaid server saver.( I think I have the name right.) It is a small liquid container, and the small hole with a cover works great to sprinkle it dry.

Borax or sodium tetraborate decahydrate, is considered a multi-purpose household cleaner according the box. It is widely and diversely used, such as a mild antiseptic or a cleansing agent. The Dial corporation also posts that it makes the detergent work better, helps make your china sparkle, and eliminates kitchen odors. The good thing is that it is made in the USA.

There is more information here: http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0808327.html

PS. I also use rice for cleaning containers with a small opening. Although I use dish detergent as the cleaning agent, also I put in a small amount of dry rice. I then shake like crazy. It usually comes out clean.