Toronto Renovation Stories & Expert Advice

Thursday, April 10, 2008

homemade all-purpose cleaners

I know a couple who decided to get rid of all those harsh chemical cleansers we’ve grown up with because they were just about to have their first child. They switched to the microfiber cloths that are available for almost every surface. The cloths are safe, relatively effective, and best of all, avoid putting more harsh chemicals into our water system. Only, here’s the problem: After using the microfiber cloth system for a month or so, one of the things the couple realized that they missed, was the smell of clean. When they walked into their house, there was no difference in smell and yet they’d worked hard cleaning the place. They needed something to show for it. Most of us would agree that a fresh scent in the air in a newly cleaned house is part of the pay off for cleaning it, regardless of whether we do it ourselves or pay someone else to do it.

My friend and counterpart in Boston, Melanie Zoltan, has her own recipe for a non-chemical all-purpose cleaner because she and one of her kids have a sensitivity to chemicals. Her homemade all purpose cleaner solves two problems: the first is that it cleans without chemicals, and the second is that if you use lavender oil, it leaves a really nice fresh scent behind.

Melanie’s Homemade All Purpose Cleaner:
12 oz. COLD water (warm water will make the soap foam too much)
2-3 oz. white vinegar
10-12 drops of Tea Tree oil or Lavender oil
1 tbsp. Murphy's Oil Soap
Combine in a spray bottle, shake, and use! Lavender smells MUCH better than tea tree oil, but tea tree oil has antibacterial AND antifungal properties, so if mould-fighting is a concern, tea tree oil is better.

Looking for a cleaning service? Check out Homestars to find one. Many of them let you provide your cleaning supplies, it costs less that way too, and some even use "green" cleaning supplies.

Labels: house cleaning