What are your favorite solutions for homemade cleaners?

Soap works for practically everything: Liquid dish soap is good for general dirt removal, dishwasher detergent is great for soaking dishes (e.g., to remove coffee stains), and bath soap ends work in a pinch.

Vinegar is my go-to sanitizer - just leave it on the area for at least 10 minutes. (I base that on hearsay. :)) I dilute it with either one or two parts water.

Baking soda is my favorite "overkill" device since it's abrasive and scrubs odors away with it.

For the most part, I don't use solutions, just the plain ingredients and scrubbing brush.

For almost any surface or basin or drain: baking soda scrub followed by vinegar, then a clean water rinse

For shower spray a mix of water, borax and tea tree oil.

 For a fresh smelling sink, scrub with salt, baking soda, washing soda, or borax, using citrus rinds (left from cooking or canning) as the "scrubby"

If something bad happens in the bathroom (e.g. teenager with ringworm), I do resort to bleach but I don't like to do that.

These are my solutions that use Borax:

My bathroom cleaning solution: 1 tsp. Borax, 1/2 tsp. dish liquid, 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 cups hot water

My kitchen cleaning solution: 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons borax, 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, 2 cups hot water

All purpose cleaner 1:

Uses: daily cleaning of counter tops, outside of appliances, some walls and stove hoods.

Ingredients:

• 1 part vinegar
• 1 part water
• Several drops of tea tree, lemon or pine oil

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle and shake. Spray onto surface and wipe clean with wet cleaning rag.

All purpose cleaner 2

Uses: cleaning plastics, toys and other objects and surfaces in the home.

Ingredients:

• Warm water
• 1/2 tablespoon of liquid soap
• Several drops of tea tree, lemon or pine oil

Fill spray bottle with water leaving enough room to add soap and oils then shake. Spray onto surface and wipe clean.

I found the old post about cleaners, I am copying my post in it:

Please note that I use the words, "several drops" for measurements on the essential oils. One can use less or more depending on how strong you prefer it. I go by scent when adding oils as I like the additional benefit of a fresh or pleasant scent in a room or in the laundry.

Another note is that essential oils may seem expensive. They go a long way however and will last quite awhile. I buy two bottles of tea tree oil a year on average but a bottle of lavendar lasts me a couple of years.

Some believe that certain brands are superior to cheaper ones. I have seen no difference in the tea tree oil I buy at Wal-mart from a more expensive brand except that I pay less for the one at Wal-mart.

These are the items I use consistently for my cleaners and other solutions that include essential oils:

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Soap
• Borax
• Tea tree oil
• Lemon oil
• Lavender oil

Pine oil is another good choice but I have not purchased any lately.

My favorite solutions using these items:

Anti-bacterial All Purpose Cleaner:

• 1 tsp. Borax
• 1/2 tsp. dish liquid
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 2 cups hot water
• Several drops of tea tree or pine oil

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle and shake. Spray onto surface and wipe clean with wet cleaning rag.

Good for bathroom and kitchen counters, bathtub or toilet.

All Purpose Cleaners: Cleaner 1:

• 1 part vinegar
• 1 part water
• Several drops of tea tree, lemon or pine oil

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle and shake. Spray onto surface and wipe clean with wet cleaning rag. Good for daily wiping of counters, outside of appliances, some walls and stove hoods.

Cleaner 2

• Warm water
• 1/2 tablespoon of liquid soap
• Several drops of tea tree, lemon, lavendar or pine oil

Fill spray bottle with water leaving enough room to add soap and oils then shake. Spray onto surface and wipe clean. Good for cleaning plastics and other objects and surfaces in the home.

Floor Cleaners:

Vinyl Floor Cleaner

• 1 gallon water
• 1/4 cup of vinegar
• A couple of drops of lemon, tea tree or pine oil

Mop floor with solution

Vinyl and some Stone Floor Cleaner

• 1 gallon water
• 1/2 tablespoon of liquid soap
• A couple of drops of lemon, tea tree or pine oil

Mop floor with solution then mop again with clear water to rinse off soap.

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.

I have got to get all these cleaners back into one file..

Cleaning windows and glass..one cup water, one cup vinegar, 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol

Here is another solution mix for windows