Spring cleaning is upon us and with young children and pets cleaning your home with All Natural ingredients is something worth looking into... Below are some ideas on changing up what you use to do household cleaning.... I have tried some of these and they are great ! Let us know what you think!
[](http://www.keeperofthehome.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Homemade-All-Natural-Cleaning-Recipes-Keeper-of-the-Home-PIN1.jpg) ### HOMEMADE NON-TOXIC LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT - ½ cup Borax
- ½ cup [washing soda](https://www.amazon.com/Church-03020-Arm-Hammer-Washing/dp/B0029XNTEU/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1478666721&sr=1-1&keywords=Arm+%26+Hammer+Super+Washing+Soda+Laundry+Booster&_encoding=UTF8&tag=keeofthehom-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=3e45ae8d92259eb4126272a72eac78b6&camp=1789&creative=9325) (i.e. Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda Laundry Booster)
- ½ cup of [Dawn dish soap](https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Ultra-Dishwashing-Liquid-Original/dp/B010OUTFO2/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1478666804&sr=1-5&keywords=Dawn+dish+soap&_encoding=UTF8&tag=keeofthehom-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=18eec1a7fa4dfdffb144e43a71495829&camp=1789&creative=9325) (every mother of baseball-playing, grass-stain gettin’ boys knows this!)
- 4 cups hot water
- Clean, empty gallon [plastic jug](https://www.amazon.com/HDPE-Bottle-gal-jug-style/dp/B001D7E70I/ref=pd_sim_328_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EWCFBAY0SQ22Z2515861&_encoding=UTF8&tag=keeofthehom-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=bbfe9fdf52dd5c9676e566b3891b4bc5&camp=1789&creative=9325) (i.e. recycled juice/milk jug) Combine the first three ingredients in the container (you may need a funnel to get it in there) and then pour in the water to dissolve the ingredients. Fill the container to the top with cold water. Shake before each use. For a standard-sized load of laundry, ¼ cup should work. Use a little more for a more heavily-soiled load. (Note: This has worked in HE washers with great results!) ### HOMEMADE STAIN REMOVER There are a few ways I like to tackle stains in the laundry room. First, let me just say that a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution is a super stain remover! I’ve used it on lots of stains where I spray it on, let it soak, and then launder as normal. (Note to moms of girls just getting their first periods: there is nothing better to deal with the “Aunt Flow” stains in the underwear or on the sheets!) There’s also the mixture of washing soda and white vinegar. You simply sprinkle the washing soda onto the stain, spray with white vinegar that has been diluted in a 1:1 ratio with water. Scrub the paste into the stain and let it stand for about 20 minutes. Launder as normal. For really tough stains, like grass stains, the magic of Dawn dish soap comes in handy. This one calls for a bit of a recipe: - 2/3 cup Dawn dish detergent
- 2/3 cup [ammonia](https://www.amazon.com/Ammonia-6312679-00051-Clear-64oz/dp/B002M8NEDS/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1478667042&sr=1-1&keywords=ammonia&_encoding=UTF8&tag=keeofthehom-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=0670b75300abda70b143331124e55bdc&camp=1789&creative=9325)
- 6 Tbsp baking soda
- 2 cups warm water Mix together all ingredients, and then pour into a spray bottle. Spray onto the stain, let it rest a bit, then launder as normal. Because of the ammonia, you should NOT want this in chlorine bleach! ### HOMEMADE FABRIC SOFTENER - 5 ½ cups water
- 15 oz bottle of your favorite hair conditioner
- 2.5 cups white vinegar
- 20 drops of essential oil for fragrance (optional, especially if your conditioner has a nice scent) Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour into empty storage container (such as empty fabric soft container). Use approximately ¼ cup per normal washload prior to the rinse cycle. ### HOMEMADE DRYER SHEETS This is super easy to do! Find a bunch of hubby’s old t-shirts (not his beloved old t-shirts, but the others!) and cut them into washcloth sized squares. Next, you will take some of the homemade fabric softener from the recipe above, and fill about ½ of an airtight, lidded storage container with this. Place the t-shirts in the container, and press them down to soak up the fabric softener. Squeeze out excess before tossing a square into the dryer with your clothes. These are obviously recyclable, and don’t have to be laundered between uses!
