Green Cleaning Recipes

Dishwasher Liquid

375ml liquid castile soap
15 drops lemon essential oil
8 drops sweet orange essential oil
8 drops lime essential oil

Mix all the ingredients in a squirty bottle (re-use an old washing up bottle) and shake well every time you use. Use two tablespoons for each dish wash. Citrus essential oils are good for about a year if stored cool and dark.

Use white vinegar as your rinse aid.

Air freshener

100 ml White vinegar (1/3rd)
200 ml Water (2/3rds)
20 drops Pine essential oil
20 drops Geranium essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a glass measuring jug, mix well and pour into dark glass spray bottles (available from many on-line retailers). Shake well before each use.

Surface cleaner - anti germ

500ml water
65ml liquid castile soap
1 teaspoon eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil

Mix together in a glass jug or spray bottle. In the sprayer shake well - can be used on all surfaces.

Toilet cleaner - anti germ

500ml water
65ml liquid castile soap
1 tablespoon tea tree essential oil
10 drops of eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil

Mix together in a spray bottle. Shake well - spray on toilet surfaces, under and behind the seat. Leave for 10 minutes then wipe off with a damp cloth or sponge dedicated to toilet cleaning.

Kitchen appliance surface

2 teaspoons Borax
125ml hot water
65ml white vinegar
125ml lemon juice
750 ml water
2 teaspoons liquid castile soap
6 drops orange essential oil
6 drops lemon essential oil

Dissolve the borax in the hot water and then pour the borax solution into a spray bottle along with all the other ingredients. Shake well, spray onto surfaces to be cleaned & wipe with a clean, damp cloth.

Oven cleaner

125g salt
60g Borax
125g baking powder
Warm water

Mix the ingredients together and add just enough water to make a paste. Apply to the surfaces inside the oven and leave for 1 hour. Wipe down with a cloth wrung out in white vinegar, followed by a cloth wrung out in clean water.