I recently hosted a HouseParty Underwriters Laboratories “It’s Green to Me Party”. UL gave all sorts of great info and tips on how to be green. One of the things they gave me was a list of recipes to make cleaners with stuff you probably have on hand around the house! At the party we made the furniture oil and the counter cleaner and they worked extremely well!

Here you can kinda tell the shiny area is the part that was polished, the dull, obviously not.

UL and HouseParty sent me goodies to pass out to the guests. Tote bags, spray bottles, sponges and funnels. I added some small growing kits like basil and tomatoes and cotton rags. All the guests got to take this great bag home for FREE! (That’s the best part about these parties, NO selling!)

Here are the recipes for all sorts of cleaners!

With just a few things that are probably already in your cupboards, you can make simple green cleaning supplies for your home.

Supplies:
• Tote
• Funnel
• Sponge
• Spray bottle
• Cloth
• Distilled white vinegar
• Vegetable oil-based liquid soap
• Borax
• Olive oil
• Newspaper
• Cotton rags
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Recipes:
Clear As Day Glass Cleaner
To make glass cleaner, mix two teaspoons white vinegar and one quart warm water in a bowl. Stir. Use crumpled newspaper to wipe a window or mirror clean. Hint: To avoid streaks, don’t clean windows if the sun is on them or if they’re warm.

Mean, Green Furniture Clean
To make furniture polish, mix one cup olive oil and 1/4 cup white vinegar and pour into a spray bottle using the provided funnel. Spray the mixture onto a soft cotton cloth and polish the furniture, rubbing with the grain of the wood. (Please be sure to test
a small, unnoticeable area first for surface safety).

Counter Intelligence Cleaner
To make all-purpose spray cleaner, combine one teaspoon borax (a common household cleaner), two tablespoons white vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap in a non-aerosol spray bottle using the funnel provided. Add two cups hot water and shake gently until the ingredients are dissolved. Spray onto surface and wipe with a damp sponge or cloth.

Drain Cleaner
The “greenest” way to clear the drain is to take your drain off, and simply remove the hair or clog. You can also use a coat hanger as a simple snake. If that doesn’t work, pour approximately 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain to be cleaned, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution! Use this method only if you have metal pipes since large amounts of boiling water can melt plastic pipes. Also, skip it if you’ve just tried commercial drain opener. Vinegar and drain opener combined can create dangerous fumes.

Toilet Cleaner
Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and one cup vinegar. Pour the mixture into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a brush and rinse. You can also try a mixture of two parts borax and one part lemon juice.

Surface Cleaner
Mix two teaspoons borax, four tablespoons vinegar and three cups hot water in a bowl. Use the funnel to put it into a non-aerosol spray bottle or apply with a dampened cloth.

Grout Cleaner
Sprinkle baking soda on damp grout and scrub with a stiff toothbrush. Let it sit for about five minutes. Boil a pot of water and, if you’re cleaning an area with a drain, pour it over the baking soda to rinse it away. Otherwise, dip a rag in hot water and wipe it clean. Tip: wear gloves to keep from burning your hands.

Oven Cleaner
Sprinkle a generous amount of water on the floor of the oven. Cover with baking soda until the surface is virtually white. Sprinkle more water on top and let the mixture sit overnight. Wipe away most of the grease, then use a little liquid soap on a sponge to wash away the remaining residue.

Mold and Mildew Cleaner
Simply apply white vinegar or lemon juice at full strength with a sponge.

Oil and Grease Cleaner
For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with a wet brush.