Make a Cleaning Soap that is Eco-Friendly

Soap is generally for cleaning. Ironically, the components of most soap in the market right now can be another source of water pollution. Hard to believe that a cleaning soap may be damaging our environment? Right, but that is a fact.

Significant results about the truthfulness of this claim were found when tests were done on car washing detergents and anti-bacterial soap. As such, there is now a growing popularity in using soaps that were made out of eco-friendly materials.

Here is how you can make a natural liquid soap on your own. Just follow the steps:

1. Make the basic soap base. In doing this, simply add lye (use potassium hydroxide and not sodium hydroxide) into the water. The result will be an extremely hot solution so take extra care.

2. Heat the oils. You can choose all natural oils for soap making. Coconut oil and olive oil are some of them. Add the lye and water solution when the temperature of the oil being heated is at about 160 degrees.

3. Bring the mixture to trace by stirring for 3 to 5 minutes and then letting it sit for 5 minutes. This should be done continuously for about 30 minutes up to an hour.

4. Cook the paste either by traditional pot cooking or by using your oven but pot cooking is best recommended. This might need some patience as it could take some time, as long as 4 hours. Stir the soap mix every 20 to 30 minutes.

5. Test the mixture for doneness. Put some boiling water into the soap paste and stir it well. When the paste dissolves completely and produces a clear mixture then this is already done.

6. Dissolve the paste. Put distilled water to the soap base and bring to a boil. Stir it very well until the solution is completely dissolved and consistent. This can take a little more than an hour.

7. Make sure to neutralize it. Test the pH level of your liquid soap. Slowly put in the neutralizing solution like boric acid, constantly testing the pH level. Do this until the ideal pH is achieved.

8. Add the fragrance and color you desire.

9. Let the liquid soap solution rest and cool down.

10. Pour into containers.

Reminder: For best results, limit the formulation from 20 up to 25 drops of essential oil in every 250 ml liquid soap base. You also have the option of using oils with anti-bacterial properties but since there had been found proof that this can be harmful to the environment then best to leave it as natural as possible.

If you find the process not easy, as aforementioned, the process requires patience. Therefore, get your natural and eco-friendly soaps from trusted online suppliers. They have combined in their soap productions some beneficial vitamins and minerals that can add to getting healthier skin. With natural eco-friendly cleaning soap, you may not only get the cleanliness and skin nurturing you need; you are also helping in promoting a better Earth.

Natural Cleaning Solutions In The Laundry

We do the laundry a lot more often than we used to. Today, it's not unheard of for people to pop two shirts into the wash a day (one from work and one from the gym). In the past, people wore things for longer so there wasn't as much for the laundry maid to do. "Wash day" came once a week, usually on Mondays when there was cold Sunday roast left over and nobody had to cook much so they could concentrating on the nightmare job of doing the laundry.

But just because you've got a modern washing machine with a wool cycle, a hot cycle and enough lights for a very small Christmas tree doesn't mean that you have to use fancy modern wonder ingredients to get your clothes clean. Do yourself and the environment a favour, and use natural laundry products to wash clothes like your grandmother (or great-grandmother) used to use.

If you must use commercial washing powder (and I have to admit that I do - in a hard water area, using liquid soap in the machine on a cold cycle has a tendency to gunge up the pipes and valves) you can get away with using less than the manufacturer tells you to use on the side of the box. Let's face it: who wrote the stuff on the side of the box? Who's going to make more money if you go through three boxes of powder in stead of two? Right. In practice, you can reduce the amount of soap powder per load to three-quarters what the manufacturers tell you to - or even half. You can also be kinder to the environment by using a brand (which, happily, is usually cheaper) that doesn't have oodles of whiteners, brighteners and fragrance. This means you will pump less goodness-knows-what into the water system. And remember that washing clothes in commercial powder is still better than dry cleaning.

If you wash in hot water or if the water in your area isn't hard (lucky you!), you may be able to get away with using liquid soap in your washing load. This doesn't mean a commercial liquid soap. Instead, save soap scraps and pour boiling water over them to melt them down. Once the result has cooled to a gel, it can also be used for soaking grubby clothes as a pre-wash treatment, as general maid-of-all work for cleaning floors, cleaning cars and spot-cleaning carpets. You can also use it as shampoo. You can also use soap flakes, which you can buy again, thankfully, if you don't fancy grating a bar of soap.

If you are in a hard water area, you can still use soap flakes or soap gel to wash clothes, but you will have to add a water softener. Borax is the classic water softener used in many natural domestic cleaning recipes.

Soap residues are responsible for making towels and blankets as stiff as cardboard. Thorough rinsing helps, as does drying in the open air. But to really make sure things stay soft enough to rub on sensitive bits of your body, use vinegar as a fabric softener. Put about half a cup per load into wherever fabric softener is supposed to be put in your washing machine, or else add it to the final rinse.

Essential oils are also popular additions to natural laundry products. Some oils not only add a pleasant scent but also help remove stains and act as disinfectants. Eucalyptus oil makes a great stain remover and is the key ingredient in Sard Wonder Soap (if you can get hold of this, it is fantastic for removing all sorts of stains). Tea tree oil is antibacterial. So is lavender.

Natural Homemade Cleaning Products

Natural homemade cleaning products will save you money and help the environment, how can you refuse to saving money and helping the environment? Your not a horrible person if you use commercial cleaners but taking the time to look at alternative cleaners should be high considered. Some of use may be very sensitive to the chemicals in commercial cleaning products. If you are you know how difficult it can be breathing in those fumes. Natural homemade cleaning products would be ideal for you and really anyone who wants to help the environment out too.

The best natural homemade cleaning products include, water, baking soda, white vinegar, citrus solvent, lemon juice, Borax, and liquid soap. You will protect your family and pets if you use these natural cleaning products on a regular basis. If u mix and match these natural products you will have cleaners that will keep your house smelling good and looking even better. There seems to always be a catch to something when it seems to good to be true right? This isn't one of those times because these products are safe and will clean your home, no side effects, no nothing.

I use natural cleaning products almost everyday because something always need to be done around the house so I know from experience they work. It gives me the sense of accomplishment because I know I'm helping my family, the environment, and my home buy using them. Natural homemade cleaning products really are fantastic and I will continue to use them.

Tips and Tricks For a Safer Home Cleaning Using Natural Cleaning Products

As you thought your home is clean, but it maybe unhealthier, because of toxic cleaning products made from petroleum-based chemicals.

Lots of these commercial cleaning products have hazardous chemicals that are not listed on the label. Manufacturers won't say anything about the ingredients that that they called "secret formula" from its label and many of these secret ingredients are toxic and carcinogenic.

You should be aware about cleaning products that promises "Eco Friendly" and are now on the Green bandwagon. Also known as Green Wash, but make sure read labels carefully and research all product claims.

You can reduce your chemical exposure by eliminating chemicals in your home, and using only natural cleaning products.

If you say its non-toxic then you can say its healthier also it is fun to make. Making alternative ways of cleaning is by creating natural cleaning products, its safer, cheaper (it will only cost cents).
Here are the lists of things you'll need to make a Natural cleaning product.

Micro fiber cloths

Spray Bottles

Liquid castile soap

Mixing bowls

Borax

Vinegar

Hydrogen peroxide

Baking soda

Vodka (optional)

Organic essential oils (optional)


Using Borax as a Laundry booster is effective... it can even remove molds - (cheaper and non-toxic).

For disinfecting and .and whitening use Hydrogen peroxide, it's much safer than chlorine bleach (Lemon juice is also a natural whitener).

Food store sells Liquid castile soaps this item can be used as liquid cleaners, much safer than other brands.

Baking soda can be used in your bathroom or kitchens, all you need is a glass grated cheese container with a stainless steel top that has holes in it, just sprinkle then scrub and there you go, a natural way of cleaning your bathroom (oh I almost forgot you can also add your favorite essential oil, Lavender or tea tree oil, it has an anti-bacterial qualities.

Another safer alternative of draining cleaners is to sprinkle the baking soda down the drain with apple cinder vinegar and let it bubble for 15 minutes, rinse with hot water, also baking soda and apple cinder make a spa-like bath that removes aches and pains, its detoxifies also.

Looking for a fabric softener? Baking soda can also handle that one.

If you want to polish your silvers, and instead of using toxic polishers, add a sheet of aluminum foil and baking soda to a sink filled with hot water, soak the silver pieces and wait until its clean, an easy way of cleaning silver.

Maybe all of us knows that vinegars has many uses, for floors, windows, bath, kitchen and many more, vinegar with liquid castile soap (essential oil), filtered with water can clean them all, Vinegars are fabric softener also, dryer sheets are toxic never use one of them, to prevent fabrics from Fading use vinegar in wash cycles.

Use micro fabric cloth with vinegar in cleaning windows, avoid using newspapers, it contains toxic dyes and also those commercial window cleaner that contains butyl cellosolve (Manufacturers won't list them on the labels because its toxic).

Fabric refreshers contains dangerous chemicals, use vodka instead, just put it in a spray bottle and there you go, you can freshen your chairs and upholstery, a cheaper and non-toxic because the alcohol evaporates quickly, but avoid using it as a hand sanitizers it absorbs into your body via your skin, use sanitizers that are plant based or just the old way but effective soap and water.

For air fresheners use Organic essential oils and can also be use as a natural cleaning product, it just depends on your personal preference and tolerance to these kind of scents.

Making your own natural cleaning products ensures that you have a safer living for your family, its fun and far from danger, cheaper way to avoid those commercial products.

Green Cleaning Your Bath Fixtures - Naturally!

If you've invested in high-quality bath fixtures or other luxury plumbing products, why would you buy cleaning supplies that are harmful and chemical-laden? Over time, the porcelain, metal, steel, and plastic items in your bathroom may be affected by compounds that cause tarnishing or chipping. After all, think back to what your grandmother did - she made her own cleaning supplies that were just as efficient. In this day and age, however, we like to think of this phenomenon as "green cleaning."

Natural, non-toxic cleaning products, those you make yourself, are definitely cheaper but require more time - you have to sit down and make a batch yourself, yet this alternative can be just as effective as all those other less-than-environmentally-friendly products in the supermarket today.

I'd like to share with you some of the most effective homemade cleaning products - liquids, pastes, and stain removers that you can make yourself - without harmful, chemical-laden cleaning products. Try some out on your bath fixtures and we're sure you'll want to switch for good!

Basic Cleaning Products for Your Luxury Plumbing Products

Making natural cleaning products to use on your fine, luxury plumbing products is easy and can be done in no time. However, here are some necessities that should be in your cupboard at all times:

Baking soda: As a natural deodorizer, this handy non-toxic substitute scours and works well at eliminating hard-to-remove stains on your faucets, levers, and other bath fixtures. It's naturally abrasive and is one of the most effective green cleaners.



Lemons: Use as a natural bacterial combatant and acidic cleanser for the toilet and sink areas around all of your luxury plumbing products.



Borax: An all-in-one cleaner, sodium borate cleans walls and floors, deodorizes, and inhibits the growth of mold on most of your bath fixtures as well as showerheads and walls.



Vegetable-based (castile) soap: Available in liquid, flake, or bar form, it will clean all of your high-quality, luxury plumbing products and fixtures.



Distilled white vinegar: Wipes away soap scum, grease, mildew, and sticky wax build-ups on your finest bath fixtures almost effortlessly.



Tea tree oil: Excellent for deodorizing and disinfecting the bathroom. It cuts through mold and mildew on your luxury plumbing products quickly.



Hydrogen peroxide: A natural anti-septic that works well in bathrooms to get rid of harmful bacteria growth.

Each of these items can clean high-quality, luxury plumbing products efficiently on their own, but when combined, they become super-strength green cleaners you'll use again and again. Effective recipes can be found all over the Internet, but here are some of the best to keep your bathroom and bath fixtures squeaky clean.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of vinegar. Pour this mixture into the toilet bowl and let soak. After a few minutes, scrub with a toilet brush and rinse (1).



All-purpose cleaner: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with a pinch of liquid soap and 2 cups of hot water. Shake until all ingredients are fully mixed and dissolved (2).



Scrubbing paste: Mix enough soap with 1/8 cup of baking soda so that a creamy mixture forms. After the stain or surface has been scrubbed and removed, rinse the freshly cleansed area thoroughly with water (3).

A Different Approach to Cleaning Fine Porcelain

Cleaning your porcelain bath fixtures can be trickier - if you use the standard products from the supermarket, you may be in for a surprise. Porcelain can be either glazed or unglazed, and unglazed pieces have been known to take on the color of the cleaning product.

If you notice hard-water scum on any of your luxury plumbing products or bath fixtures, mix equal parts of vinegar and warm water into a solution. Then, scour the area thoroughly and rinse with water. Or, for a general yet thorough cleaning of your bath fixtures, simply mix one tablespoon of detergent to one gallon of hot water (4).

Eliminate Chemicals - Go Non-Toxic for Good

Purchase spray bottles, buckets or pails, and glass jars to keep your new pastes, cleaners, and mixtures handy for the next clean-up.

And whether or not you decide to make your own green cleaning products to clean your luxury plumbing products, you can help the environment even more. Aside from paper towels, try cleaning with reusable rags, which you can make from old cotton-based clothing that you no longer wear to clean your faucets, handles, and other luxury plumbing products. You're creating less waste this way by recycling whatever you find around the house.

There are many ways to help the environment and green cleaning your bath fixtures is just one of them. This small contribution eliminates many problems, such as putting chemicals in the air you breathe and potential threats to children and pets. Besides, the greatest return on your investment will be the satisfaction that you've joined millions of people around the world who have chosen to clean their luxury plumbing products and bath fixtures the green way - naturally!

Sources

1. Green Cleaning Recipes, Better Homes and Gardens. BHG.com

2. How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit, Care2.com.

3. Alternative Recipes, Windham Solid Waste Management District. WSWMD.org

4. Care and Cleaning of Porcelain, Porcelain Enamel Institute. PorcelainEnamel.com