Audrey Woods | Les Trappeuses
Spring is synonymous with a thorough cleaning. Les Trappeuses offer three recipes for natural cleaners that are kind to the environment, your family and your wallet. All that without compromising on effectiveness!
- Amazing streak-free window cleaner
- Citrus peel all-purpose cleaner
- Mint and balsam fir scouring powder
These natural cleaners are excellent substitutes for conventional commercial cleaning products, which are often harmful to both environmental and human health. And in addition to them being easy to make, effective and economical, you probably already have most of the ingredients you need on hand.
Amazing streak-free window cleaner
¼ cup (60 ml) rubbing alcohol
¼ cup (60 ml) white vinegar
1 tbsp. (15 ml) cornstarch
2 cups (500 ml) warm water
Combine all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well before each use. If past disappointing results with water and vinegar have left you skeptical, never fear, this here is a sure-fire window-cleaning recipe. Cornstarch—the magic ingredient—removes all marks and makes this natural home cleaner a worthy rival of the popular blue product, at a fraction of the price.
Citrus peel all-purpose cleaner
1 cup (250 ml) water
1 cup (250 ml) citrus concentrate vinegar (1 litre of lemon, clementine or orange peel macerated in 250 ml to 500 ml of 5% vinegar)
To make the citrus concentrate vinegar, fill a Mason jar with 1 litre of citrus peels and cover the peels with vinegar up to the rim of the jar. Let macerate for two weeks at room temperature. At the end of the maceration period, pour the vinegar through a sieve or filter and discard the peels. Your citrus concentrate vinegar is now ready!
To make a citrus peel all-purpose cleaner, combine 1 cup of water with 1 cup of the vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. It is effective for cleaning work surfaces and counters as well as for dusting furniture. Your housecleaning will almost be a joy! Almost.
Tip: You can also use the citrus concentrate vinegar to wash the floors! Combine ¼ cup of vinegar with 4 litres of water.
Photo credit: Sara-Maude Ravenelle
Mint and balsam fir scouring powder
1 tbsp. (15 ml) salt
3 tbsp. (45 ml) baking soda
2 tbsp. (30 ml) peppermint liquid castile soap*
15 drops of balsam fir essential oil
*Found in the organic section of most grocery stores.
Combine all the ingredients in a small Mason jar (120 ml). Effective for cleaning the inside of ovens, dirty pots, greasy melamine cupboards, ceramics, sinks and bathtubs.
To complement these three cleaners, I suggest using reusable cloths for a true green cleaning. If you normally use paper towels for housecleaning and are not enamoured with the idea of replacing them with washable cloths, use environmentally friendly paper towels made from 100% recycled fibres.
There you have it! With these three natural cleaning products, you’ll have a clean home and a clear conscience! 😉
