Homemade Spring Cleaners, Part 1

According to the calender, spring has officially arrived. Of course, not everyone is enjoying it. Those of us in the Pacific Northwest have been battling the most bizarre winter in years. 

We've actually had snow. 

More than once.

I live at a lower elevation than some of my family members, but according to them, they've had several inches of snow in the last couple of days. Since they're a shady bunch over on there on the other creek, I'll have to take that with a grain or three of salt. And a little vinegar.☺

Speaking of vinegar...

Because I've given the calender instead of the relatives the benefit of the doubt, my spring cleaning has officially begun. My dust bunnies have been multiplying like, well, bunnies. And if you've ever had bunnies, you know what I mean! (We did once. Started with 3 females and let them run wild because they were so cute hopping around the farm. Woke up one day to about 30 cute little bunnies hopping around the farm. A few months later we were up to about 100 cute little bunnies hopping around the farm. And in the orchard, which no longer had any bark on the trees. Never saw a single jack rabbit before we had female free-hoppin' bunnies. Who knew?)

But I digress. Again.

Vinegar. It is good. You can clean with it. Mix it with some other stuff and it actually smells less like vinegar and more like cleaner. Which is a very good thing. 

Did I mention that it's cheap? 

Since you already know that I'm obsessed with Pinterest, you should know that I'm equally obsessed with homemade cleaners. And I've been pinning like crazy. Then I try my pins out. Some of them aren't worth the time it takes to press the "repin" button. But others. Well, let's just say that my dust bunnies are on the run.

Here are my first two winners. And trust me, these are gold...even if these don't technically have vinegar in them.☺

~Disinfectant~

3 Tb. peppermint castile soap (can use unscented)

25 drops tea tree essential oil

distilled water

14 oz. spray bottle

Fill bottle 3/4 of the way full of water. Add castile soap and tea tree oil. Top off with more water. This is great for cleaning the toilet seat area and bathroom counters.

~Sink Cleaner~

Empty Parmesan cheese can with lid

baking soda

15 drops lemon or grapefruit seed essential oil 

Using a wide mouth funnel, pour baking soda into can. Add essential oil and replace lid. Shake it up and use to clean the sink. Use straight vinegar to clean stainless steel faucet.

Make sure to label all of your homemade cleaners or you'll end of with a bunch of bottles of whoknowswhats.

Next up...All-purpose cleaner (with vinegar) that fizzes and a produce cleaner that smells good enough to eat!