The Natural Cleaning Handbook
Page 17
• 12 ounces 99% isopropyl alcohol
• 2 teaspoons glycerol or vegetable glycerin
• 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide
• 3 ounces distilled water (hand sanitizer is one place it is important to use only truly distilled water, and not just boiled and cooled)
Mix all ingredients in a 12- or 16-ounce spray bottle, or mix in a bowl and funnel into smaller bottles. Shake before use and spray hands liberally. Hands should stay wet for at least 10 seconds. Let dry thoroughly.
ALCOHOL-FREE HAND SANITIZER SPRAY
Spray hand sanitizer is one of my favorite ways to sanitize hands. You can be sure it won’t slide off in a big glop onto your lap, and it’s easy to quickly saturate your hands. Aside from that practicality, this hand sanitizer is also alcohol-free, which means it is much lighter on sanitizing properties, so I prefer to use it when it isn’t the height of cold and flu season. The more gentle sanitizing properties are much kinder to your hands. This recipe makes one 8-ounce spray bottle, but I like to divide it into two smaller spray bottles.
• 1 cup distilled water (hand sanitizer is one place it is important to use only truly distilled water, and not just boiled and cooled)
• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide or witch hazel (with or without alcohol added)
• 3 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• 20 drops tea tree essential oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a spray bottle. Spray liberally on hands and let dry completely. Make sure your hands stay wet for at least 10 seconds.
FOAMING HAND SANITIZER
Foaming hand sanitizer is another one of my favorite ways to make hand sanitizer, and this lemon version smells amazing. The foam helps the sanitizer stay on your hands long enough to do it’s tough job of killing germs, and this formula keeps your hands nice and moisturized. You can find pocket-size foaming containers online, or reuse ones you already own. You can also put this in a larger foaming container. The recipe makes enough for a few small hand sanitizers or about one 8-ounce foaming container. Make sure to leave room in your containers (about 20 percent of the volume) for air so the mixture can foam up properly! Some foaming mechanisms work differently than others, so you may need to vary the amount of water/soap you add to get the foam to work properly. Keep in mind you probably won’t get as much foam as a store-made formula.
• 8 ounces 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol
• 2 ounces distilled water (hand sanitizer is one place it is important to use only truly distilled water, and not just boiled and cooled)
• 1 tablespoon citrus (or plain) castile soap
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
Mix all ingredients well and let sit for 10 minutes. Pour into foaming containers. Pump onto hands, rub thoroughly. A light foam (soap) may remain on your hands for a few seconds, but keep rubbing it in for clean and nourished hands.
HAND SANITIZER GEL
The classic hand sanitizer gel, made with pure ingredients and for a fraction of the price at home, what’s not to like? A high alcohol concentration is what makes this hand sanitizer potent, and the concentration must remain above 60 percent in the final product to make this effective against most viruses and bacteria. You’ll also want to make sure you’re using only 100 percent aloe vera gel. (It should be clear, not green.) You don’t need water in this formulation, which would only dilute the ratio of alcohol. This recipe makes a 4-ounce bottle. I like to get the flexible squeeze bottles in the travel aisle that have a wide opening that you can clean thoroughly (they can even go in the dishwasher to be completely sanitized!).
• ¾ cup 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol
• ¼ cup pure aloe vera gel
• 10 drops cinnamon or tea tree essential oil (optional)
Mix thoroughly and funnel into your container. Squeeze onto hands, rub thoroughly, and ensure hands stay wet for at least 10 seconds. Let dry thoroughly.
ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WIPES
Sticky, messy, germy hands are just part of life. But there’s no need to let them get you down, or to get you sick, when you have these wipes on hand! Just be sure not to let little ones lick their hands until the mixture is completely dry. Feel free to use a plain water wipe afterward if this makes you feel more comfortable for little hands. Of course this works for hands of all sizes, and I like to keep them in the car for road trips, post-gym trips, and after grocery shopping. You can purchase or make a small “wet bag” (a fabric bag with a waterproof inner lining) to bring these on the go in smaller quantities too!
• 1 roll paper towels, cut in half across the middle or a stack of small reusable thin cloths
• 2 cups 91% or 99% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• 2 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide
• 2 tablespoons pure aloe vera gel or vegetable glycerin
Place the half roll of paper towel or your reusable towelettes in a suitable container with an airtight lid (this is important; the alcohol will evaporate). Mix all of the ingredients together and pour over the paper towels or towelettes. Be sure to saturate the entire roll, shaking if necessary. Give it time to soak up the mixture. Add more rubbing alcohol if needed, but do not add water. If you are using paper towels, once they have completely absorbed the mixture, you should be able to easily remove the inner cardboard tube and begin to pull cloths from the middle. To use a wipe, wring out any excess moisture so you have a damp towel, and use it on your hands as though you were washing them thoroughly. Do not use near the eyes or lips, and use with great care on children under two years old.
ANTIBACTERIAL SURFACE WIPES AND SPRAY
These wipes are always on-hand at my house, and are a go-to cleaner even when it isn’t cold and flu season. When it is cold and flu season, be sure to always have a jar of these wipes to frequently wipe down counters, door handles, faucet handles, light switches, and anything else that gets touched regularly. You can make these wipes using regular paper towels, or purchase/make reusable rags that can be thrown in the wash. The process is the same either way. Saturate the wipes with the cleaning mixture, wring off any excess moisture, and wipe away viruses and bacteria! I also like to keep these in the car. Making a smaller batch and keeping it in a mason jar or other airtight jar or “wet bag.” To make the spray, simply add the cleaning solution to a spray bottle and use it as a spray. Warning: If using this on granite or marble, omit the hydrogen peroxide.
• 1 roll paper towels, cut in half across the middle or a stack of small reusable thin cloths or 1 (16-ounce) spray bottle
• 2 cups 91% or 99% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• 2 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide
• 20 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 20 drops geranium essential oil
Place the half roll of paper towel or your reusable towelettes in a suitable container with an airtight lid (this is important; the alcohol will evaporate). Mix all of the ingredients together and pour over the paper towels or towelettes. Be sure to saturate the entire roll, shaking if necessary. Let the mixture sit to absorb. Add more rubbing alcohol if needed, but do not add water. If you are using paper towels, once they have completely absorbed the mixture, you should be able to easily remove the inner cardboard tube and begin to pull cloths from the middle. To use a wipe, wring out any excess moisture so you have a damp towel, and use it on your hands as though you were washing them thoroughly. Do not use near the face.
AIR PURIFYING SPRAY
Stale, germ-filled air is one of the pitfalls of cold and flu season when we are all stuck inside and it’s too chilly to open the windows. This spray has natural purifying properties that neutralize odors and bacteria, allowing you to breathe a little easier. The sunny scent also inspires and reminds us that even if we aren’t by the beach, we can have a little bit of summer any time we want with this spray! After you spray this, be sure to light your pure beeswax candles (page 117) which are proven to help purify the air.
• 4 ounces witch hazel
•
4 ounces distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 15 drops lemon essential oil
• 15 drops lime essential oil
Mix well in an 8-ounce spray bottle. Shake before each use, and spray into the air liberally as needed.
GROCERY BAG SANITIZER SPRAY
Reusable grocery bags are fantastic for the environment as a whole, but can also be a great environment for germs to grow. This sanitizing spray cleans spills and kills germs all at once, and makes your bags smell great, too. Keep this in the car or nearby in the kitchen so you can wipe your bags down as soon as you unload your groceries. Let them air dry before folding for storage. This spray is specifically for recycled plastic or other non-porous material bags. If your bags are washable, I highly recommend washing them after every use. Do not use this spray on cloth bags as the hydrogen peroxide may discolor them.
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 10–20 drops basil essential oil
• 10–20 drops lemon essential oil
Fill your container halfway with hydrogen peroxide, and the rest of the way with distilled water. Add 10 to 20 drops of each essential oil. Mix well. Spray the bags liberally and make sure they stay wet for at least 1 minute. You can also spray a paper or cloth towel liberally and wipe the bags if you prefer.
LIQUID HAND SOAP
Washing your hands well is one of the best ways to wash bacteria and viruses down the drain! It’s important to wash your hands properly, though, and to thoroughly rub all areas of your hands, front and back, for a minimum of twenty seconds. The soap merely lifts up and rinses away the bacteria and germs, rather than killing them on contact, so it’s important to take the time to get the soap into all the areas where germs may be hiding and to flush them away. This homemade liquid hand soap is a bit thinner than traditional store-bought soap, so it may take some getting used to. You may also want to experiment with different tops for your soap dispenser, as some are better for thinner liquids than others. Feel free to experiment with different scents, or add all-natural food coloring if you prefer a colored soap.
• 1 cup castile soap
• ¾ cup distilled water (it is important to use distilled here instead of simply boiled and cooled)
• 1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
• 2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
• 5 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 5 drops tangerine essential oil
Mix all ingredients carefully, folding them together rather than stirring, to minimize foaming. Funnel into your hand soap dispenser.
FOAMING HAND SOAP
Foaming hand soap makes your soap go a long way. It’s fun, easy, and has just as much cleansing power as regular soap. As previously mentioned, properly and frequently washing your hands with soap and water are one of the most beneficial things you can do to stay healthy. This recipe fills one soap container. Why not make a few bottles of this recipe at a time; one for each bathroom and the kitchen. You can vary the scents if you’d like different scents for different rooms, and could even add a few drops of natural food coloring if you’d like to make this match your bathroom. You will need a foaming soap dispenser for this recipe to work; if you can’t find one, simply use an empty one you’ve purchased.
• ⅔ cup castile soap (unscented or any scent)
• 25 drops lemon essential oil (or your other favorite blend)
• 25 drops lavender essential oil (or your other favorite blend)
• Warm distilled water (or boiled and slightly cooled water)
Mix the castile soap and essential oils well in a small dish. First, fill your foaming soap container half-full with warm water. Then gently add the soap mixture. Make sure you leave enough headspace for the foaming pump and some air at the top. Add more water if necessary. Do not shake this mixture, but put the top on securely and gently turn it upside down a few times. Let sit for about 10 minutes before first use.
EASY HOMEMADE LAVENDER AND CALENDULA BAR SOAP
Good old-fashioned soap and water plus proper hand-washing technique is the number one tool in your arsenal to staying healthy. Getting enough sleep might give it a run for number one, but there’s no recipe for that, unfortunately! You may feel that using “melt and pour” soap base is cheating, but in reality, it’s just a shortcut. You cannot make true soap without using lye, but most of us would rather not take the precautions to work with this caustic ingredient. Melt and pour bases still contain lye, but it has been premixed so there’s no need for you to handle the lye directly, allowing soap making to be an afternoon project instead of an all-day one! Homemade bar soap additions are nearly endless, from lavender and calendula dried flowers for a wonderful scent, to oatmeal or poppy seeds for an exfoliating quality. Once you see how easy it is, you’ll want to be making all of your soap from scratch! Small tip: Dry soap actually lasts much longer than fresh, moisture-filled soap, so feel free to store your extra bars out in the open before use.
• 10–12 ounces goat’s milk “melt and pour” soap base (available online or at many craft stores)
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender
• 1 teaspoon dried calendula petals
In a double-boiler on the stove (or very carefully in the microwave, 30 seconds at a time), melt the soap base, stirring constantly until it is creamy and thoroughly melted. Stir in the essential oil and a small handful of lavender and calendula petals. Pour the mixture into a silicone soap mold (your choice of shape!) and let sit for a few hours or until thoroughly hardened.
CARPET CLEANER SPRAY
I grew up in a Midwest household where you always took your shoes off first thing when you enter a home. Nowadays, it seems more popular to keep shoes on at home, but that brings a whole lot of germs into your home, too. Not to mention there are pets, kids, food spills . . . carpets can be tough to keep clean. This carpet sanitizing spray is here to help! You can use this spray alone, or, if you have an attachment on your floor steamer that allows you to steam your carpets, spray the carpet before you steam. Steaming your carpet disinfects it with heat, and kills mold spores, insects, and germs. Be sure to let your carpet dry thoroughly after steaming or cleaning with this spray, opening windows, or putting a fan on it if needed. One last tip: Vacuum before you spray or steam your carpets. You might get addicted to this . . . somehow having clean, fresh carpet is ultra-satisfying.
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 20 drops lavender essential oil
Mix well in an 8-ounce spray bottle. Spray the carpet liberally and let air dry. Keep pets and children away until the carpet is thoroughly dry.
LAVENDER CARPET REFRESH SHAKER
Carpets can get musty, collect germs, and harbor insects, so every once in a while they need a good shaking down . . . with baking soda and diatomaceous earth, that is! Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a real flea and pest preventative, as is the lavender essential oil, while baking soda soaks up any odd odors. For the best results in odor reduction, make sure your baking soda is fresh, and also make sure your carpet is thoroughly dry before adding the mixture. If there is any visible soil, clean that first and let air dry before using the refresh shaker. Feel free to double the recipe if you will be doing a larger area, but I like to make this new each time and do a small section. Remember, sprinkle lightly!
• 1 cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoons food-grade diatomaceous earth
• 10 drops lavender essential oil (or any other essential oil that is not in an oil solution)
Mix all ingredients together in a jar with a shaker top. Sprinkle lightly over carpet, and lightly brush into the fibers. Let sit at least 2 hours or overnight, keeping kids and pets away. Vacuum thoroughly.
HARD FLOOR CLEANING SPRAY
This works so well on wood floors, laminate wood floors, and
tile. It works particularly well when used in conjunction with a steam mop (one of my favorite things!). If your steam mop has a refillable solution container, feel free to pour this mixture directly in there. Or, spray the floor, then steam mop while it’s still wet. Of course, you can still do things the old-fashioned way, on hands and knees with a rag! If you don’t have Sal’s Suds, use an extra cup of water in place of the vinegar and 1 teaspoon of castile soap instead. There are no essential oils in this recipe, since I don’t think they’re necessary, and Sal’s already has a pleasant aroma in my opinion, but if you don’t have pets or kids licking floors, feel free to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to this mix.
• 1 cup distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 1 cup distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sal’s Suds
• 1 tablespoon isopropyl alcohol (any concentration is fine)
Add all ingredients to a 16-ounce spray bottle and gently shake to combine but not too much to agitate the bubbles. Spray and wipe with a warm damp cloth or use with your steam mop. Let the floors dry thoroughly.
1 “Guide to Local Production: WHO-Recommended Handrub Formulations.” World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf
2 Ashworth, Boone. “How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer.” https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer/
CONCLUSION
Phew. From making citrus vinegar to moving your body well when cleaning, and from ceiling fans to salt stains on shoes, we’ve covered a lot of ground. I’ve thrown in some silly names to keep us laughing, added extra tips here and there to add to your bag of cleaning tips and tricks, and, hopefully, I’ve helped you transform your home into a safe, clean, pleasant place to spend your time.