Has holiday shopping maxed out your bank accounts or perhaps your credit cards as well? You may be ready to consider how to save some money. Not only will you save money, but help preserve the environment as well. I’m anxious to share these recipes for natural cleaning agents with you, and I hope you will then pass the information on to your family and friends.

I’ll begin with the bathroom. You will need to buy a good quart-sized spray bottle for the shower spray, a good squirt bottle (like liquid detergent comes in), a big box of 20-Mule Team Borax, and a big box of Arm & Hammer baking soda. I like to buy these supplies from Paris Farmer’s Union (since I refuse to step inside Wal-Mart). You will also need a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap, a bottle of lavender essential oil, and a bottle of tea tree oil, which I buy from the food co-op at the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland.

You’ll never need to buy toxic and very expensive cleaners again.

SHOWER SPRAY

One fourth cup borax (20 Mule Team)

2 teaspoons dish detergent

4 cups hot water

Shake vigorously

Spray shower walls, shower floor and door after each shower

I double this recipe and then double it again so that it fills up a gallon jug. Then I have that as the supply to pour into spray bottles to keep beside the tub or shower. I have saved many, many dollars by using this spray.

TOILET BOWL CLEANER

One-half cup liquid soap (Dr. Bronner’s peppermint or eucalyptus is good)

2 cups baking soda

Work out any lumps with a fork

Dilute with one-fourth cup water and 2 tablespoons vinegar – let it foam

Add one-half teaspoon tea tree oil (use metal spoon)

Mix and pour the solution into a squeeze bottle. Shake the bottle before each use.

Squirt the cleaner inside the toilet bowl, on and under the rim. Use a high-quality toilet brush for the inside and a sponge for the rim and seats. Rinse with a scented vinegar if you like. (see recipe below).

SIMPLE TOILET BOWL CLEANER

If you have run out of the more elaborate cleaner above, here is a quick and simple recipe.

Fill a pint jar with borax

Drip in about 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil

Drip in a 20-30 drops of tea tree oil

Shake

Pour a handful of this concoction into the inside of the toilet. Use the toilet brush to rub under the rim and to scrub the inside of the bowl. Let it sit for a few minutes.

SCENTED VINEGAR

Fill a spray bottle with one-half white distilled vinegar (important to use only white distilled vinegar), and one-half water. Add 15-20 drops of pure peppermint essential oil. This is what I use to mop all the floors in my house.

In my next article I will write about air cleaners, furniture cleaners, and more.

These recipes and many more I use come from “Clean House, Clean Planet” by Karen Logan.