Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

If you have a nut allergy, I have seen sunflower seed paste/butter in the health food section. I haven’t tried it yet but might get some for day care lunches as my little one goes to a nut free centre.

So funny you should say that the jug you bought would also be good for drinks…my mum loves to tell me the story about my grandfather who came in from cutting the grass, saw a cordial bottle on the sink, glugged half of it down before he realised it was metho!!!

Hi Katrina, just getting organised for the 20 day challenge, however I have no idea what BORAX is or where i would get it… pls help!!

I have had trouble finding the borax, is there something else you could use to replace it?

Hi Katrina,

I’m just wondering why you add the Earth detergent; is it only for the nice smell?

Thank you!
Meriam

Hi,

I looked up Borax in response to the comment from Dagmar. this is what I found on wikipedia

Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.

Borax has a wide variety of uses. It is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes. It is also used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound for fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, neutron-capture shields for radioactive sources, a texturing agent in cooking, and as a precursor for other boron compounds.

However, I found this link as well.

http://www.crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not

On a cleaning note – does anyone have any bright ideas how to remove a years-in-the-making calcium scale build up on bathroom floor tiles without damaging the tile surface with a paint scraper? Bicarb/vinegar, orange shower cleaner, a scourer and elbow grease have lessened it, but only the scraper chipped it away successfully. I’m just not game to scrape a large area in case I ruin the tile surface….

Does this clean cabinets as mine look like they have a build up since I have a gas range?

Hi Katrina,
Firstly, I am so glad I found your website! It has inspired me with ideas for improvement and to fine tune some areas I wanted to do better for myself and our home. Secondly, this All Purpose Cleaner is amazing! I thought I’d give it a while and it breaks through some tough grease, residue, oils and all sorts! So thank you for posting! One quick question, inside our home we have an exposed brick bar in the dining room. We had an old puppy dog who used to rest on it, leaving a residue that might be oils from her skin. I thought I’d try a test spot with this all purpose cleaner and it did work, however before continuing, is this mixture harmful to bricks and grout? I’d hate to damage something.
Thanks! Kelly

This solution is also great for cleaning fly screens! 🙂

Great recipe! I made it up this week and it has been working like a charm – thanks!

Does this clean cabinets as mine look like they have a build up since I have a gas range?

★★★★★

Hi Katrina,
Thanks for all your tips! Just wondering what brand of detergent you use.

Borax not available here at the moment. Can I leave it out or can you give me an alternative.

Great thank you.

Hi Katrina,
Have you tried decanting half a bottle of vinegar putting it into an empty vinegar bottle then fill with water and leave for 2 weeks and it will gain its strength again.

Thanks for posting your cleaner recipe. I had a navy blue and a black shirt that had grease spots on the front of them. I read on a blog to use straight Dawn Dishwashing Soap and a soft brush. I poured a small amount on the spots and then used the brush. I laundered them and when I took out of the washer the spots were gone. I had almost decided to throw them in the rag bag until I tried this method. Worked like a charm for me.

Hi Kat, I’ve been advised (and it also says so on the container) that Borax is harmful/can affect fertility. What role does the borax play in your cleaner and what do you think might be a sustitute. I’m currently pregnant and looking at more children, so I wont be using Borax (i’ve looked at the online articles and there are arguments either way but I wont risk it). Thanks heaps Ange

Hi Folk,
if you are trying to avoid cleaning grime from your wall tiles in the shower or bath/shower, or from any of the water proof wall surfaces, include glass around the shower, how about you minimise the risk of build up of grime by DAILY removing the water after you shower (or after the last one showers each morning – or teach them to do the same)?
I use one of those handled wipers that you clean your car windows with at the petrol stations.

It will work a treat in removing remaining shampoo soap and water. And it is quick and easy to do.
All you are doing is removing whereever the water is obvious on the water proof surface.
You start from the top and do a swipe from left to right, then remove.
Do another left to right that overlaps enough to catch any water gravitating downwards.
And repeat until you come to the bottom of that wall or glass door etc.
Then do the same on the remaining waterproof surfaces of you bathroom tiled wall or glass shower doors etc.

This means the moisture never remains, so it dries quicker and reduces the risk of grime and mould.

So when it comes to cleaning day your job is much easier.
It is merely covering it with the anitfungal and soap agents (see the recipe that Kat provided.).

does anyone have a homemade recipe for cleaning wooden floors?