We’ve been doing quite a bit of spring cleaning around my house in the last week and a half or so (see my hubby, at left, mopping in our impossibly tiny kitchen), and I decided maybe it was finally time to make some green cleaners. I know making your own product for wiping the shower walls isn’t quite the same thing as concocting your own toner, but if you’re going to clean your face green, why not clean your bathroom green, too?

I’ve been holding onto this book Green Clean for at least a year; I bought it at my favorite crunchy bookstore in Mountain View and thought it would come in handy when we eventually ran out of purchased cleaners. We’ve been getting close to running out for a while, so I’ve had it sitting out in the bathroom until I found time to deep clean. Thankfully it’s one of those cool books made from that Cradle to Cradle “paper” that’s water and stain resistant.

I went quite crazy and made my own laundry detergent, bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, and floor cleaner! The ingredients were all simple: borax and washing soda from my local hardware store, distilled white vinegar, lavender essential oil, and simple Dr. Bronner’s soap, which I buy in peppermint scent for doing dishes. Our bathroom and kitchen floors looked especially great, but my favorite cleaner was the all-purpose, grease-fighting Castile Cleaner: Mix in a spray bottle 1 teaspoon washing soda, 2 teaspoons borax, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint castile soap, 2 cups hot water, 10 drops lavender essential oil. Spray as needed and wipe clean with a sponge or cloth.
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