multi-purpose cleaner or countertop cleaner/disinfector

[glenolam]

I love love love the Windex multiuse cleaner spray and use it for everything, but it's starting to look really expensive now that I'm making my own laundry detergent and all

I tried diluting bleach into a squirt bottle but that just doesn't leave the countertops as nice looking as I like...not to mention the smell on my hands gets annoying.

What can I make out of household stuff like bleach, vinegar or something else I have that I don't think about that will clean my stuff? I use it for the countertops, stove, chairs, tables, some furniture, etc...

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

2 cups warm water
1 Tbsp borax
1 tsp baking soda
to tsp tea trea oil (WalMart sells a 2 ounce bottle for $8!)
to tsp liquid soap

This is the one we are using, and it works incredibly well. Even cuts grease.

 

[glenolam]

Is the warm water just to dissolve the borax and baking soda? or do I need to heat up the solution every time I want to use it?

'Cause I use the other stuff on a daily basis...

 

[Marianne]

Is the warm water just to dissolve the borax and baking soda? or do I need to heat up the solution every time I want to use it?

'Cause I use the other stuff on a daily basis...

You won't need to heat it up to use it. It's just to help dissolve the borax and soda.

I gotta get me some tea tree oil. Never have used the stuff. I have to admit that I just bought a jug of Simple Green concentrate. You can use that for all kinds of stuff. Most of the time I aim for vinegar, baking soda, bleach water, etc, though.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

You can also just use washing soda in place of the baking soda and borax.

Marianne, Tea tree oil is the best stuff. We use for a variety of things.

 

[Marianne]

Sounds like it! I remember you (and others) posting about using it for tons of stuff!

 

[abifae]

This is next on my list to make Still a ways to go before I run out of laundry soap and get to make my own...

 

[miss_thenorth]

My favourite all purpose cleaner is vinegar and water mixed equally-- I use it on windows, my glass tables, bathrooms every where. If i need extra scrubbing power, i sprinkle some bking soda to scour with (for bathtubs etc.)

 

[patandchickens]

I'm with miss_thenorth. For routine cleaning and/or if you don't have really hard water, just soap and warm water works very well; for crusties and/or if you have water so hard it leaves a bit of a film on things, add some vinegar.

For some particular cleaning purposes, rubbing alcohol is also helpful.

Pat

 

[glenolam]

Does vinegar leave that vinegar smell? I hate that...

I have found that warm water and soap leave a film at my house, so I stopped using it a while back when I found the windex stuff.