Fun Toilet Bowl Cleaner Your Kids will Love

We all hate it. You know it. I know it. Cleaning the disgusting toilet bowl. However, this is a chore even the kids could enjoy. Lots of bubbly fun in the bathroom. Just make sure curious hands don't touch while it cleans to prevent germs from spreading. Plus it is so simple to do and requires no materials at all.

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar

Directions

1. Flush the toilet to wet the entire bowl.
2. Sprinkle the baking soda around the bowl
3. Pour the vinegar around the bowl edges and let the fizzy fun begin
4. Let the bubbles fix for 10-20 minutes
5. Flush the toilet
6. Repeat as needed.
7. If the toilet is needing a second round you may want to scrub with a brush.

Homemade Washing Machine Cleaner

So you just washed your clothes and the still stink and so does the washer. Chances are it is not the detergent you are using rather it is the washer itself. So how do you clean the behemoth of an appliance? That is more simple than most people think and should be done at least monthly to keep the machine performing at its best. Here is a recipe I have found that works really well for getting the stinky smells and soap scum out of the washer.

Materials

Measuring cup

Bowl

Ingredients

1cups Washing soda

1/2 cup Borax

2 cups Vinegar

to make and use

First, mix the washing soda and borax in a bowl till evenly mixed. Then pour the mixture into the detergent slot. If you do not have a detergent slot, that is okay. Then pour the vinegar into the softener slot. If your washer does not have either the detergent or softener slots, that is okay. Just pour the washing soda and borax into the drum and pour the vinegar into the bleach slot.

If your washer has a self-clean setting, set it to that and run the washer.

If your washer does not have a self-clean feature, set the unit to the longest, hottest and deepest water setting. So say for mine I would set it to hot water, heavy soil and large load. Now run the washer.

Once the cycle has ended make sure to check the drum for powder that did not dissolve (should not be any). If there is run a rinse cycle. After that you are done.

Weekly Shower cleaner

We all know scrubbing the tub and shower can be a real pain in the rear. Especially on the lower back. I find this is doubled when you have hard water. My state in particular has a ton of calcium and lime in the water. So how do you scrub that off without breaking your back for too long or putting a few chemicals on the tile and porcelain? Baking soda and salt. Both have great scrubbing qualities that do not require a lot of muscle at all. The baking soda can also easily scrub the grout which I find is the hardest spots. This recipe I find works for me but if you do not have a shower head with a hose, I highly recommend having a regular cup ready to rinse at the end instead.

Materials

Sponge

Shower head with hose (or Cup if you do not have a hose attached to the shower head)

Bowl

Measuring cup

Tablespoon

Cloth

Ingredients

1 cup Baking soda

1 tbsp. Salt

Water as needed

First measure and mix the ingredients together in the bowl until salt is evenly distributed. Wet your sponge or cloth and dip it in the bowl on the side you intend to use for scrubbing. Rub it onto the tile and tub in circular motions. Do this until the bathing area looks and feels clean. The tub and tile should feel smooth but not slimy with the exception of the mixture being on it. Use the shower head hose to rinse off the baking soda and salt when finished. To polish wipe dry with a clean dry cloth.

Fun to Watch Homemade Sink and Drain Cleaner

So this one is a very familiar recipe. That is because it almost the same as the toilet cleaner recipe, if anything it is just simply doubled. However, its use is a bit different than just cleaning the porcelain sides. This recipe can also help clear your pipes of minor clogs and also for regular maintenance of your bathroom and kitchen pipes for both sinks and tubs.  Also much like the toilet cleaner, this recipe is fun for kids to watch as the baking soda “magically” disappears.

Materials you will need to make and use this recipe are

2 measuring cups (one for dry baking soda ONLY and the other for vinegar ONLY)

1 scrubbing sponge or cloth

Ingredients

2 cups of baking soda

4 cups of vinegar

Water (enough to wet sponge, fill sink, and check the drain)

To use

First, wet your sponge and dip it into the baking soda with scrubbing side down. Scrub the sides of the sink with it. Do not worry if you do not get everything off during this part. Every four to five scrubbing motions (whether circles or up and down is up to you) dip the sponge again. When you are done cleaning the entire area take the drain stopper out if you have one. Pour half of the baking soda (1 cup) down the drain. Slowly pour half of the vinegar (2 cups) down the drain. Let that sit for 30 minutes before going onto the next part.

Now after 30 minutes go get the kids. Put the drain stopper back in and close the drain. Fill the sink with water. Pour the rest of the baking soda into the sink. Then slowly pour the rest of the vinegar. Put the sponge in there with it as that will rinse it out and sanitize as well. Watch as the sink and sponge starts to fizz. Let that sit for about five minutes and then open the drain. If the sink is still slowly draining you can repeat the first part. Run some water once the sink has drained to rinse the porcelain and the drain. 

Easy Outdoor Window Cleaner

So cleaning the house windows in the hot sun is no fun and usually time consuming. I have found that the chore just was not worth doing most of the year. I looked into the windex outdoor cleaning system but it was like many of the other cleaners just was expensive and full of chemicals. This was cheap, quick, and easy to make. I have included two sets of steps for single story and multi-story homes. Materials are slightly different but the ingredients are the same.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Water
• 1/4 cup of White Vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon of either castile soap or dish detergent (both work well)

For the single story.

Materials

•  a spray bottle 
• a swiffer sweeper mop (or similar style mop)
• 2 microfiber cloths
• Garden hose attached to a spigot (make sure you can reach all of the windows with it)

First mix all of the ingredients in the spray bottle. Then if you have screens on your windows make sure you take those off. Now put one cloth on the end of the swiffer sweeper (do not use the swiffer pads for this as they do not hold up well). Spray the first window with the hose to wet it. Then Spray the  mixture on the window. Now wipe or scrub the entire window with the mop. Now use the Garden hose to rinse the window. Take the wet cloth off the swiffer sweeper and put the dry one on it then use that to dry the window. Repeat till done with all of the windows. When you are finished with the windows put the screens back onto them.

For multi-story

Materials

• A bucket
• soft brush with an optional, extension pole 
• Garden hose

First mix all of the ingredients in the bucket. Then if you have screens on your windows take those off. Now prepare the brush. Spray the first window to wet it with the hose. Then dip the brush in the bucket and scrub the entire window with the brush. Now use the hose to rinse the window and let them air dry. Repeat till all the windows have been washed. Finally put the screens back onto the windows.

Bathroom cleaner that is Fun to Watch

This is one of the easiest recipes to use for cleaning the bathroom and frankly fun to watch it work. My niece (age 3) and nephew (age 5) love watching this This helps with the Iron rings I get in my toilet from my hard water. It makes the bowl look disgusting. This can also be used to clean the sink, shower, and tub using the same steps.

materials

• Spray bottle
• brush or cloth for scrubbing

ingredients

• Vinegar
• baking soda
• essential oils (optional)

First, fill the spray bottle with vinegar and essential oils (enough for your liking). Then spray the surface you want to clean with the mixture. Let it sit for about two minutes then (this is the fun part, seriously get your kids) lightly sprinkle baking soda on the area. Let it sit till it stops bubbling or fizzing. If you put it in the toilet bowl, use the brush to scrub the bowl then flush. If you put it on other surfaces use a cloth to wipe it off. Spray one last time to make sure you got all the baking soda dissolved.  Wipe again, and then you're done. 

Carpet refresher.

Ever have those times where your carpet is more dirty than usual but too clean to waste effort on using a shampooer? I definitely had that feeling this week since my roomba had not been scheduled to go off very regularly lately. I do not own a stick or upright vacuum right now because a decent one is very expensive. I got lucky I found my roomba brand new at an estate sale for $40. It does pretty well for its size and my one bedroom apartment. Anyway this post is not about my vacuum. I decided to try a carpet refresher a year ago, but the ones at the store are expensive for what I need. I found this recipe which is super easy and cheap to make. This usually helps repel bugs from the house especially if you use the oils or rosemary. I use this weekly and it leaves my house smelling awesome and clean when its all said and done, even if all I did was this to clean my apartment that week.

Materials

• 16 oz mason jar with lid
• large phillips screw driver
• hammer
• mixer
• mixing bowl
• measuring cup

ingredients

• washing soda
• baking soda
• borax
• essential oils (optional or can substitute for ground rosemary leaves)

to make

First  take the mason jar and lid and tightly close it onto the jar. Then take the screw driver and the hammer and punch holes into the lid. I made five of them in the top. Next pour  one cup of washing soda, baking soda, and borax into the mixer with one teaspoon of essential oils or one sprig of ground rosemary. mix till the powder looks consistent and the oils are evenly spread.If you can add the oils slowly after you have started the mixer. Open the mason jar and pour the mixture into it then close the lid.

To use

Vacuum your entire carpet first to get any large and loose debris out of the way. Aiming the jar at a downward angle lightly shake it back and forth covering entire carpeted area with the powder.  Let it site for anywhere between 30 minutes to eight hours (I did thirty minutes today but I usually do eight hours) depending on how bad your situation is. While waiting you may want to dust your house as this does make a sort of  powdery dust on some things at times. Vacuum it all up and you're done.

All Purpose Cleaner (First Post!!!!)

Yay first post!!

I figured I would start this blog with a cleaner we all use. All purpose cleaners. This one is easy to change up or mess up and not need to freak out over or increase the amount of all your other ingredients. It is okay. This one works really well on kitchen grease as well as a counter cleaner except for granite, it does streak on that. I find it works great just about everywhere else too including wood and floor spot cleaner.



                 BEFORE                                                                                                 AFTER

What you'll need

Materials:

• 8 oz. spray bottle
• Funnel (Optional)
  
• One table spoon
• One teaspoon (2 teaspoons = .5 tablespoons)

Ingredients

• 1.5 tablespoons of Vodka
• 1.5 tablespoons of Castile Soap
• 1 teaspoon of essential oils (Optional, I use Peppermint)
• Water 

Use the funnel to pour the first three ingredients into the spray bottle. Then slowly pour water into the bottle so as not to agitate the soap too much. Put the lid on the bottle and shake it up to mix it all together. Shake it before use each time you get it out to use the cleaner.