Homemade Cleaning Products

I have been encouraged (forced) to clean and organize my home. I will be having my in-laws moving in while they are looking for a home to buy. They sold their home quickly in Mississippi and haven't found their dream home in Illinois yet.

While organizing I found sheet after sheet of homemade cleaning recipes. I want to discard some, but I haven't tried them all to see which ones are a keeper. So in the next few months my goal is to try most of them to see what works the best. I will periodically post my results.

I have noticed that some of the natural products recommended in some recipes are actually not suppose to be used together. On their own they are great but put together they cause a chemical reaction. So the thought that two powerful natural products together must be even better isn't always true.

The following list is what I have found so far not to mix together:

1. Vinegar and baking soda-When combined, vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) fizz (the reaction) and cancel each other out. I have put this in my sink to unclog a drain with some success, but for cleaning it shouldn't be used.

2.Vinegar and Castile Soap- When combined, vinegar (an acid) and castile soap (a base) cancel each other and create unsaponified soap. This reaction reduces the soap back to its original oils. If you try mixing the two ingredients you’ll immediately notice the castile soap curdles and feels very oily.

I have seen Sal Suds and will try it soon but it states is can be a great alternative: Sal Suds, unlike castile soap, can be combined with vinegar since it’s a detergent with a different chemical composition than castile soap.

3.Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide- This combination is said to be a low toxic bleach. YUCK, this is what we are trying to get away from.

Life will be a little trying in the weeks to come with our living arrangements, but with a relaxing essential oil diffusing and cleaning to do I should do fine.

Look for results to come!