There was a time (many years ago now) when I defined effective cleaning by how the air smelled. It's not really clean unless I can smell the chemicals! Thankfully, that is no longer the standard by which I measure the cleaning prowess of the solutions I'm using. In fact, I now do everything in my power to avoid those toxic chemicals I believe are harmful to my health and the health of the environment. Because you can make your own cleaners with items from your pantry that work just as well and smell better! If you're starting a DIY green cleaners pantry, the following are the top ingredients you'll want to have around. Some combination of these ingredients will make you almost all of the recipes you find below! • Baking Soda• White Vinegar• Hydrogen peroxide• Borax• Essential oils, like tea tree oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, or lemongrass oil• Castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's)• Fresh herbs, citrus, or citrus peels• Olive or vegetable oil• Water 1 How To Make Your Own Bathroom Cleaners2 How To Clean Your Bathtub with a Grapefruit and Salt3 How To Green Clean the Grout In Your Bathroom

4 How to Make Your Own Kitchen Cleaners 5 How To Clean Burnt Pans with Vinegar and Baking Soda6 How To Green Clean Silver with Baking Soda and Aluminum7 How To Green Clean Grease from Kitchen Surfaces8 How To Clean the Stove Naturally 9 6 Ways to Green Clean Your Couch Upholstery10 How To Make Your Own Wood Polish11 How To Deep Green Clean Your Carpets12 How To Clean Brass with Lemon Juice and Baking Soda13 Homekeeping Help: How To Clean and Maintain Marble 14 5 Ways To Get Great Smelling Laundry Without Softener15 A DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe16 5 Homemade Natural DIY Fabric Softeners17 Use Chalk to Rid Your Clothes of Greasy Stains18 4 Ways to Clean Green with Fresh Herbs19 How To Make Your Own Clothing Freshener and Dewrinkler 20 An Excellent Homemade 3-Ingredient All-Purpose Cleaner21 An Easy Homemade 3-Ingredient Spray Air Freshener22 5 Home Remedies to Remove Rust23 6 Ways to Clean with Olive Oil24 DIY Cleaning: Make Your Own Yoga Mat Spray Wash25 How To Clean a Wool Rug with Snow

(Images: 1. Sarah Starkey; 2+5; Oops, I spilled it again. DIY Carpet CleanerI’m no debutante. I can’t be trusted to walk while holding a drink and having a conversation. video and you’ll see!So if you’re clumsy like me and love the warm feel of carpet, don’t trip about tripping. We made some really simple DIY carpet cleaner that works great for stain removal.Trust me on this one; I actually use this cleaning spray inbest pool cleaner for fiberglass poolWhen my pet has an accident on the carpet, this helps clean it rightcar steam cleaner london(And believe me, tortoise poop isn’t the easiest thing to clean.) best carpet cleaner for heavy stains

What is especially great about this spray is that it’s environmentally friendly and harsh-chemical free. That means it’s safe to use around pets and family, which is a huge plus, while helping to maintain the look of new carpet.The ingredients you’ll need are simple and affordable. better that you can probably find most of these in your kitchenWatch our how-to video for a quick Carpet Cleaner DIY or get the instructions below:Ingredients:1 c. Distilled White Vinegar1 c. Water10 drops essential oil1 tsp. saltBaking sodaSponge Paper Towel Remove the Stain:Step 1: Mix the first 4 ingredients in a spray bottle andpool party los angeles labor dayStep 2: Dab up liquid from the stain.best canister vacuum cleaner hardwood floorsStep 3: Sprinkle the stain with baking soda.gay pool party las vegas sunday

Step 4: Spray with vinegar mixture. Step 5: Scrub with sponge and pat dry with paper towels.BeerGetting that coffee or tea stain out of your rug may seem impossible, but you can literally lift it out by pouring a bit of beer right on top. Rub the beer lightly into the material, and the stain should disappear. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times to remove all traces of the stain. AmmoniaLift out stains from carpeting and upholstery by sponging them with a solution of 1 cup clear ammonia in 1/2 gallon (2 liters) warm water. Let dry thoroughly, and repeat if needed. VinegarVinegar is the superhero of stain removal. Try these different homemade formulas to remove a variety of common stains: Rub light carpet stains with a mixture of 2 tablespoons salt dissolved in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Let the solution dry, then vacuum. For larger or darker stains, add 2 tablespoons borax to the mixture and use in the same way. For tough, ground-in dirt and other stains, make a paste of 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and rub it into the stain using a dry cloth.

Let it set for two days, then vacuum. For spilled paint, use a solution of 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons laundry detergent, and two cups water, sponge away the paint before it sets in and rinse with cold water. For fruit and fruit juice stains, mix 1 tablespoon laundry detergent with 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar and combine with two cups of water. Work the solution into the stain and blot. For coffee and tea stains, combine equal parts white vinegar and water and blot the stain. Shaving CreamYour little one is very sorry for spilling a little juice on the carpet, so make it “all better” with some shaving cream on the spot. Blot the stain, pat it with a wet sponge, squirt some shaving cream on it, and then wipe clean with a damp sponge. Shaving cream also works great on grease and oil stains; simply work the cream into the stain, let dry, and rub off with a damp soft cloth. CornstarchOh no, ink on the carpet! In this case a little spilt milk might save you from crying.

Mix the milk with cornstarch to make a paste. Apply the paste to the ink stain. Allow the homemade concoction to dry on the carpet for a few hours, then brush off the dried residue and vacuum it up. Cornstarch is also great for soaking up grease and oil stains. Sprinkle the spots liberally, let sit for several hours, and vacuum up. SaltDon't panic if you spill red wine on your white carpet. While the red wine is still wet, pour some white wine on it to dilute the color. Then clean the spot with a sponge and cold water. Sprinkle the area with salt and wait about 10 minutes. Now vacuum up the whole mess. For greasy food stains on carpet, mix up 1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol and rub it hard on the grease stain, being careful to rub in the direction of the rug’s natural nap. Ketchup spill on your carpet? Act fast because once this one dries, it will be nearly impossible to get out. Sprinkle salt over the spill, let sit for a few minutes, and vacuum. Sponge up any residue and continue salting and vacuuming until the stain is completely gone.

BoraxThoroughly dampen the stained area, then rub in some borax. Let the area dry, then vacuum or blot it with a solution of equal parts vinegar and soapy water and let dry. Don’t forget to first test this DIY remover on an inconspicuous corner of the rug or on a carpet scrap before applying it to the stain. WD-40Don’t let ink or other stains ruin your fine carpet. Spray the stain with WD-40, wait a minute or two, and then use your regular carpet cleaner or gently cleanse with a sponge and warm, soapy water. Continue until the stain is completely gone. Hydrogen PeroxideCan’t tell what that stain is? Still want to remove it? Try this sure-fire homemade remover: Mix a teaspoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with a little cream of tartar or a dab of non-gel toothpaste. Rub the paste on the stain with a soft cloth. The stain, whatever it was, should be gone. Baking SodaBaking soda is your best choice to quickly clean vomit or urine stains from your carpet. Wipe up what you can, then pour baking soda over the affected area and pat with a paper towel.

Let the homemade mixture dry completely before vacuuming up the residue. Baking soda will clean, sanitize, and deodorize the messy spot. Baking soda can also be used to lift grease stains when combined with equal parts salt. Sprinkle the mixture over the grease spot, and use a stiff brush to work the powdery concoction into the spot. Let sit for 4 or 5 hours and then vacuum up to completely remove the stain. Meat TenderizerScraped knees leave blood stains on your carpet? Cover the stain with equal parts cold water and meat tenderizer and let this homemade remover stand for 30 minutes. Sponge off with cold water. Club SodaClub soda works wonders on pet urine and other tough stains. Immediately blot up excess urine with paper towels; then soak with club soda; and scrub with diluted carpet shampoo. Club soda also removes spilled coffee and tea stains; simply pour liberally over the stain and blot to dry. Baby WipesUse baby wipes to blot up spills from your rug or carpet; it absorbs both the liquid and the stain.

Wipes can also be effectively deployed as a homemade stain remover when attacking various spills and drips on your clothing and upholstered furniture. ToothbrushesRemoving a stain can be a pain, especially one that has soaked deep down into soft fibers. To remove those deep stains, try using a soft-bristled nylon toothbrush, dabbing it gently to work in the stain-removing agent (bleach or vinegar, for example) until the stain is gone. Ice CubesChewing gum somehow end up stuck to the fibers of your carpet? Freeze the gum first with ice cubes in a plastic bag, then scrape with a butter knife and blot with trichloroethylene, a dry-cleaning fluid. Dry-Cleaning FluidDry-cleaning fluid is excellent at removing grease, lipstick, butter, and mysterious oily fingerprints. Blot up excess oil with a paper towel, and then work the fluid into the stain, moving from the edges to the center. Paint RemoverFor spilled nail polish, paint, or leaked ink, dab gently with paint remover.