8 DIY household cleaners

Carpet Cleaner

In a large pail, pour:

2 gallons of hot water
2 cups aluminum sulfate (available at stores and pharmacies)
1 cup white vinegar
¾ cup cinnamon tea

Dip sponge mop into the solution, squeeze out excess, mop one section of carpet at a time.

Rinse the mop in fresh water after each cleaning as you work your way around the carpet.

Toilet Bowl Scrubber

To remove stains from porcelain toilets, mix:

2-3 parts borax
1 part lemon juice

Stir gradually until it’s a pasty consistency. Apply to stained toilet bowl and rim. Let stand for 1½-2 hours. Scrub off with toilet brush.

Ink Stain Remover

In a bowl, mix:

2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch

Whole milk until the mixture becomes a thick paste

Cover the stain and let sit for 3-4 hours. Brush paste off and launder as directed.

Window and Glass Cleaner

In a 32-ounce spray bottle, mix:

1/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
3 1/2 cups water

Shake well before using. Spray on glass surface, wipe clean.

Tough Multipurpose Cleaner

For cleaning non-wood surfaces, mix:

1 1/2 pints water
1/3 cup rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon clear household ammonia
1 teaspoon mild dishwashing liquid
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine the ingredients in a 32oz spray bottle and shake well before each use. Spray on countertops, kitchen appliances and fixtures, and tile or painted surfaces. Wipe down with a clean cloth or damp sponge.

Citrus Disinfectant

In a quart jar with a lid, combine:

Peel from 1 orange, grapefruit, lemon, or lime
3 cups white vinegar

Fasten the lid on the jar and store the mixture in a cupboard for two weeks, giving it an occasional shake. Remove the peel from the jar, strain the vinegar, and return it to the jar.

To use as a spray cleaner, pour 1 cup of citrus vinegar in a 16oz spray bottle and fill with water.

To clean linoleum floors, add 1 cup citrus disinfectant to 2 gallons water.

Nontoxic Bathroom Cleaner

In a bowl, mix:

1 2/3 cups baking soda
1/2 cup liquid soap
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white vinegar

Stir with a fork until any lumps have been dissolved. Pour liquid into a 16oz spray bottle.

Shake before using, squirt on area to be cleaned. Scrub with a nylon-backed sponge.

Rinse off with water. Keep cap on between uses.

Oven Cleaner

In a bowl, mix:

¼ cup baking soda
2 teaspoons of salt

Add water, ½ teaspoon at a time and stir until the mixture has a paste-like consistency.

Allow the mixture to set for at least five minutes before applying to a damp sponge and scrubbing oven walls. (Avoid using this mixture on the oven’s heating elements.)

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