Going Green: How to Make Your Own Cleaning Products (and Why You'd Want To)

Over the past year or so I've become more aware of the need to do my part and "go green." An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore's hour and and half PowerPoint presentation, I think, was what finally made me decide to take action... albeit it's only been baby steps so far.

I started with the "easy" things such as switching to energy efficient light bulbs, using canvas recyclable bags for my shopping (although I forget to bring them with me to the store sometimes; I have to get better about that!), shopping for locally grown produce at my local farmer's market, and using a water filtration jug for drinking water in the house instead of buying bottled water.

I've been thinking about making my own household cleaning products as the next thing I can, and should, do. For one, buying cleaning products at the store is expensive. You see, I can be messy and I'm always squirting 409 on my counter tops so it adds up. And what's in that stuff, anyway? Most household cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can't be good for the environment, right? And lastly, cleaning products are mostly water-based, and why spend the money and use fuel to transport a product across the country to my local supermarket that is mostly water when I have plenty of water at home?

So, in my quest to start making my own cleaning products, I've found a few recipes on the Internet. While I've not actually tried these yet, others seem to think they work well, so I'm sharing them with you here. Let me know how they work for you or share your homemade, eco-friendly cleaning product recipes with me.

Sandra Bullock's (yes, that Sandra Bullock) Streak-Free Window Cleaner

3 Tbsp. vinegar
1/3 tsp. pure liquid vegetable soap (like castile soap)
2 cups water

Pour each ingredient into a recycled spray bottle, shake well, and your windows will be green and streak-free

All-Purpose Spray Cleaner (suitable for ceramic tile, marble, wood, acrylic, and granite)

2 cups water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar 1 teaspoon pure castile soap (peppermint is a favorite)
3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
20 drops tea tree oil
20 drops of lavender or lemongrass essential oil

Fill a recycled spray bottle with the water. Add the vinegar, castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and lavender or lemongrass essential oil and shake well. The lavender or lemongrass oils make this all-purpose cleaner's scent light and airy.

Non-Toxic Furniture Polish
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice

Pour the ingredients into a recycled spray bottle and shake well. You're furniture will be clean and shiny in no time with this non-toxic furniture polish.