By Sarah Bankoff~

Everyone likes to have a clean house, but no one particularly likes to use caustic chemicals to get it clean! Commercial cleaning products can contain all sorts of chemicals that, besides being unpronounceable, can be harmful to your pets, kids and to our oceans.  So, next time you’re spring cleaning, instead of reaching for the under-the-sink chemicals, reach for the fridge! All you really need to clean an amazing variety of household surfaces and items are some lemons, hot water, baking soda, white vinegar and some dish soap, preferably castile-based vegetable soap.  (An added perk: you can scent your cleansers any way you like with a few drops of your favorite essential oil.)

To clean the bathtub: put about ½ cup of baking soda into a bowl or jar, add enough dish soap to make a creamy, frosting-like texture. This scrub is wonderful, it cleans and polishes and it’s soft enough not to scratch the surface.

To clean windows and glass: ½ tsp of dish soap, 3 tbsp of vinegar, 2 cups water, 3-4 drops of essential oil. Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle, and use anywhere you’d use commercial window cleaners.

To kill mold: 2 tsp. tea tree oil, 2 cups water. Mix together in a spray bottle, spray on mold, let sit, than wipe off. Repeat as needed.

To polish furniture and wood:  2 tsp olive oil, jojoba oil or almond oil, ¼ cup of lemon juice, ¼ hot water. Mix together and apply with a soft rag to wood surfaces, wipe dry.

To clean toilets: ½ cup lemon juice or vinegar, and enough baking soda to make a thick paste.  Apply paste to inside of toilet bowl, allow to sit for 1-2 hours. Scrub off, and rinse. No more stains!

To clean floors:  for wood, use ¼  cup of white vinegar and 2 gallons of hot water, for linoleum or tile use 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 gallons of hot water. Mix in your mop bucket, and watch your floors sparkle

To clean stainless steel: use a paste made from baking soda and water, use white vinegar to remove spots.

To unclog drains: pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, follow with 1 cup of hot vinegar (you can just heat it up in the microwave). Let it sit for 5 minutes, than flush with ½ gallon of boiling water. Repeat if necessary.  This can also be used to clean garbage disposals.

The kitchen is not the only place in your house where you can reduce unnecessary chemicals and eliminate wasteful packaging. One place that often gets overlooked is the bathroom. There are all sorts of organic bath products available now that don’t test on animals, don’t use harmful chemicals, and use recycled packaging.  However, the best way to be sure of what is in your toiletries while using the least amount of packaging material, is to simply make them yourself! You’ll find they are surprisingly easy to make, and very simple to customize to your specific needs. (They also make wonderful gifts!)

To make your own all-natural shampoo you need: 4-6 oz of liquid castile soap, which can be found at any health food store. Castile soap is a cleansing agent made from olive oil, which is gentle, all natural, contains no animal ingredients, and is inexpensive. Next, choose 2-4 different types of herbs to add to the shampoo.  Both dry and fresh herbs are fine, but if you use fresh herbs you need to use about three times as much. Lastly, choose an essential oil to add. Some good starting combinations of herbs and oils are:  chamomile and tea tree oil for dandruff prone hair, lavender oil and sage for oily hair, Aloe Vera (fresh or gel form) and almond oil for dry hair. So, to put it all together: boil 2 cups of distilled water. Then add about a ¼ cup of each herb chosen to the hot water, let it sit for 30-40 minutes, strain, and mix with the castile soap and ½ teaspoon of your essential oil. Pour it into a clean, recycled bottle or jar with a top. You now have your own, chemical-free, all natural customizable shampoo! Since there are no preservatives, it should be used within 30 days.