Sherry and John Petersik have been sharing their adventures in renovating and living in a 50-year-old Richmond, Virginia, home via their popular Young House Love blog since they bought the house in 2009. They’ve chronicled everything from refinishing cabinets to their DIY backyard wedding. In “Clean Up Your Act: All-Natural Homemade Cleaners,” Sherry taught me a few new formulas, and she’s letting me pass them along. (Kool-Aid is definitely a new ingredient for my arsenal!) As with any of these recipes, improvisation is always encouraged.
All Purpose Liquid Cleaner
1 gallon hot water
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap
Dishwasher Detergent
2 cups borax
2 cups baking soda
4 small packages unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid (or substitute ½ cup citric acid)
Mix together and store.
All-Purpose Spray
2 cups water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon pure castile soap (peppermint)
3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
20 drops tea tree oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
Mix together in a 32-ounce spray bottle and store.
Mildew and Germ Killer
2 cups water
25 drops tea tree oil
25 drops lavender oil
Spray on tile. Do not wipe off.
Baking soda is a key ingredient in homemade dishwasher detergent and many other cleaners. Photo by Povy Kendal Atchison