Today's adventure was to make my own environmentally-friendly household cleaner. Over the Winter I attended the annual Fix-It Fair in my neighborhood hosted by the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, which is this AWESOME event with booths and classes all day long all about creating a healthy home.One class I attended was on household cleansers. They taught us about all the hazardous ingredients, and some safer, more sustainable options. For example, oven cleaners. Why would you clean your oven with something that instructs you to open the windows to avoid breathing dangerous vapors? So you can bake it into your food next time you use the oven? In fact, why would you clean any area you use to prepare food with something that you couldn't safely ingest? I picked up a handbook with safe alternatives and this weekend decided to make my own cleanser. It worked great! Honestly, even better than commercial cleaners. Here's the recipe I used to mop the floors:
All-Purpose Cleanser:
1/4 cup vegetable soap*
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
2 gallons water
* I got Dr. Bronner's with Tea Tree oil at New Season's for $5, next time I can refill the bottle from the bulk section and reduce waste from packaging. I've seen Dr. Bronner's at Trader Joe's too.
If you're interested in learning more about green cleaners, click here: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=24199
If you're interested in finding a Fix-It Fair near you, click here: http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=41892
This is awesome! I have wanted to make my own cleaner for years, but never found a good, easy recipe or a source for the ingredients. Thanks very much.
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