5 Everyday cleaning items that are easy to make (And work great!)

5 Everyday cleaning items that are easy to make (And work great!)

 

1. Make your own gel hand sanitizer!

1 1/2 ounces pure aloe vera (not the green stuff)

3 teaspoons rubbing alcohol

1 teaspoon vitamin e oil

5 drops essential oil – lemon and lavender are my favorites in this recipe

-Dispense ingredients directly in a small container with a lid.  Shake liberally to mix all ingredients thoroughly.  If you want your gel to be slightly thinner in consistency, add a little more rubbing alcohol, up to one teaspoon. And then it’s ready for use! Just remember to shake it before use!

 

2. Peppermint Daily Shower Cleaner Spray

1/2 cup vodka (you can use rubbing alcohol but it seems the vodka works better in this recipe)

1 cup water

10 drops peppermint essential oil

glass spray bottle

-Mix and store in a spray bottle.  Spray shower after use.  No rinsing necessary.  Other good tip: Use a squeegee at the end of your shower to remove excess water and to prevent water spots.

 

3. Foaming Hand Soap

foaming soap dispenser(s) – Easy to find or reuse one!

1-2 tablespoons castile soap (many different scents to choose from!) – I use 2 tablespoons for 8 ounces of water (the amount just depends on how foamy you want your soap to be)

8 ounces of water (or whatever size your foamer is) – use distilled water if you can, but tap water works just as good

funnel

measuring spoons

-Funnel the measured amount of castile soap into the bottle then pour water over it. Shake to mix it up and you’re done. You can also add 10-20 drops of essential oils inside to add more scents.

 

4.  Disinfecting Spray Cleaner

1 1/4 cups water

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup vodka (excellent germ-killing properties – you can substitute rubbing alcohol, but it will have a more medicinal scent)

15 drops essential oil – peppermint + lemon OR lavender + lemon are great in this recipe

glass spray bottle

 -Mix all ingredients together

 

5. Marble and Granite top Cleaner

3 tablespoons rubbing alcohol

1 1/2 cups water

1 teaspoon castile or dish soap (if you want your spray to smell like your dish soap, use that)

-Combine ingredients, close spray bottle, shake, and CLEAN!

Benefits of a Clean Home

THE BENEFITS OF A CLEAN HOME!

We all know how great it feels to come home to a clean house!

Here are some of the surprising benefits of having a clean home that you may never have thought of!

–NOT WASTING TIME

Taking just a few minutes to put items away right after you’re done using them has an amazing effect. This provides less of a mess and it’s easier to find the items next time you need them!

–MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HOSPITABLE

I’m sure we’ve all been there—a friend calls you (or doesn’t even call first!) and tells you they’re coming over and they’re right around the corner!

Don’t get me wrong, your house doesn’t have to be spotless to impress a guest, but we don’t want to miss a shared moment over a messy house!  A standard pick-up is easy to do each day, and makes your home look so much better. If you spend 15 minutes every day to clear off counters and put things back where they belong, it can make a huge difference!

–A QUICK BURST OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

A good cleaning session can get your heart pumping, especially if it’s a task like scrubbing down the shower or vacuuming the floors. Sometimes a vacuum can be so heavy, it’s like lifting weights, right?

If you hate to exercise, but want to stay active and healthy, just put on your rubber gloves and tackle a few cleaning jobs for 20-30 minutes. You’ll quickly break a sweat without paying for an expensive gym membership. Vacuuming can be your workout for the day!

–LESS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

Keeping your appliances in good condition, will allow you to spend less money to repair or replace them. Cleaning your appliances regularly is the number one way to ensure that you get all the uses you can out of it.

–SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

When you cross something major off your to-do list, it will give you a huge boost of energy. It generally puts you in a better mood and makes you happier.

One quick glance over your clean and tidy house, and I promise you too will get warm and fuzzy whenever you think about all the hard work you’ve done. It will also encourage you to continue the habit in the weeks, months, and years to come.