Homemade Natural Cleaning Products: The Bathroom

Three years ago a dear friend gushed about the wonders of homemade organic cleaners: "safe, cheap, effective"!! I wasn't so sure until she made me my very own spray bottle of toilet cleaner and an all-purpose spray.

I was a convert. Gone was that nasty chemical smell. It worked and I could make it myself, for less??? I had to research this one.

And so I read Green Clean, The Naturally Clean Home, and Easy Green Living, created my own little recipe book, and convinced my sister-in-law to come over for a day of making natural cleaners.

Now I am the one who gushes! I don't even know I do it, but my husband clues me in with "And if there ever is a national disaster and we're left without water or food, we could live on the stuff." Okay, that's not exactly true...

But I thought while we're on the road I'd post some of my favorite recipes and you could see for yourself.

We found it easiest to stockpile all of the necessary ingredients, essential oils and containers (the spray bottles from the Dollar Store worked great) and do it all in one day. Though you have to put all your money out at once to buy, they last and it has saved us so much.

But maybe you just want to try the original recipe that convinced me:

Amazing Amber's Amazing Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Mix together

• 2 cups water,
  

• 1/4 cup castile soap, (soap made from olive oil rather than animal fat . You can find Dr. Bronner's at Vitamin Shops, some Targets, Health food stores, and, of course, online.)
  

• 1 tablespoon tea tree essential oil (natural antibacterial, even against staphylococcus aureus including MRSA,)

• and 10 drops eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil (natural disinfectants).

Place into spray bottle. Shake before use. Spray on surfaces, wipe clean.

I've also used it on the sink and tile with great results!