If you’re a follower of our emails and blogs, I’ve been sharing things you can make to harness the power of citrus and replace many chemical cleaners in your home. Here are a few more that we love with or without the citrus. I also love products with multiple uses, such as baking soda for a mild abrasive. Keep that, white vinegar, Dawn dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide, and you have the beginning of an impressive arsenal.

Scrub stuck-on food and grime

The first thing to try is a magic eraser (you can buy them for less than $10 for 1000 on Amazon) on all grimy stuff. If that fails, the next step is a paste made of baking soda and peroxide. Apply and rub gently with a cloth or sponge, adding more as you need it. It does leave a film as it dries, so wipe that away with a wet rag or solution of vinegar and water. Cooked on food around the stove and even years-old stains on baking dishes you thought were a part of life can be scrubbed away. The peroxide is also a sanitizer. I use it often instead of bleach and save my clothes from being damaged.

All-purpose cleaner-degreaser

Fill a glass jar with clean citrus peels. Pour vinegar over the peels until they are entirely covered and store for four weeks, shaking the jar once in a while to mix the liquids. Once cured, strain and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Use this natural cleanser to clean countertops, stovetops, appliances, floors, and glass.

Powerful tub and shower cleaner

You need only equal amounts of Dawn dish soap and white vinegar. Heat the vinegar in the microwave until hot and pour into a spray bottle. Add an equal amount of dish soap, then apply the lid and shake gently to combine. Spray the cleaner on the grimiest of showers and tubs, then allow to sit for about an hour to do its magic. A light scrubbing with a sponge and a quick rinse will amaze you!

Laundry soap

I’ve tried a couple different recipes, and this is my favorite. It’s easy to make, easy to use, and it lasts in my household for over a year. I grate two bars of Fels Naptha laundry bar soap and run it through a food processor to make it into tiny bits (Zote works too, but I love the smell of Fels Naptha). I add to that an entire box of Borax laundry booster and Arm & Hammer washing soda (find these on the bottom shelf in the laundry aisle). Optional is a small tub of OxyClean or its Dollar Tree alternative. Mix well and hold in a sealed container. I use a gallon bucket with a lid, which leaves plenty of room to get my hands in there and mix it all together thoroughly. When doing a load of laundry, you only need about a tablespoon, or half of a shot glass, of this powder. It is that powerful. Do not be tempted to add more as it can be difficult to rinse out effectively. I find that clothes that have never touched commercial detergent maintain a higher level of softness, even when hung out to dry.

Fabric softener crystals

If you wish to use a fabric softener, try making a batch using 4 cups of salt (I use Epsom, but table salt and sea salt work too) and add 40 drops of your favorite essential oils for scent then mix well. Add ¼ cup to your laundry load with the soap, and let your washer do the rest.

If you prefer a liquid in the rinse cycle, try adding a cup of white vinegar instead. Not only does it soften the water, but it starts to remove residue left behind from washings of the past.

No need for harsh chemicals

Give these recipes a try and save a small fortune in household cleaners while protecting your family from harsh chemicals. Pure Carpet Cleaners holds the same value with harnessing the power of citrus in our cleaning solution. You get an incredibly clean carpet that is safe enough for your pets and babies to play on right away.