IP How to Clean

Homemade Cleaners

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 cup baking soda

1 cup borax

10-20 drops each lemon, tea tree, rosemary oil

Shake and store in a tightly sealed mason jar. When ready for cleaning, pour 2 T of baking powder mixture into your toilet bowl, scrub, then add 1 cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for a bit, and scrub. Flush.

Shower Door

Make a Paste of this with equal parts soda mix and vinegar. Wipe on doors, let sit 10-15 minutes. Scrub off and rinse. To prevent future stains, spray on Rain-X and wipe off with microfiber cloth.

For Toilet Outside, Mirrors and Countertops

1/2 cup Warm Water
1/2 cup Vinegar
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
15 drops Tea Tree Oil

·         Spray on, Wipe down outside of toilet, HANDLE, and Toilet paper holder.

·         Also, pour 1 cup vinegar into tank, let sit, and flush.

Disinfect brush by soaking overnight in vinegar OR bleach.

For mirrors, try just Club Soda and a microfiber cloth.

OR - Homemade Windex

1/4 C Rubbing Alcohol

1/2 C White Vinegar

1 ¼ C water

If you like: a splash of blue food coloring to fake out the haters in the household 

Dusting Spray

1 c water

¼ c vinegar

2 T olive oil (I would use less of this)

10-15 drops EO

Spray surface, wipe with microfiber cloth.

Jewelry Cleaner

Dish Detergent & Warm Water

The best homemade jewelry cleaning solution is a mixture of a few drops of Dawn dish detergent in warm, not hot, water.

Let the piece sit in the solution for a few minutes, longer if it's very dirty, then gently scrub with a new, baby-size, soft toothbrush. To rinse, place the item in a new container of lukewarm water.

Make sure the water isn't too hot or too cold, as some gemstones do not take well to drastic changes in temperature.

You can dry the piece off with a paper towel or a regular cloth, as long as you're careful not to snag the prongs on the fibers.

Baking Soda

Cleaning with Baking Soda
From https://livesimply.me

The Bathroom

Deodorize and Clean Toilets: Generously sprinkle baking soda around the interior of the toilet bowl, wait 10 minutes, and then use a toilet brush to scrub away stains and odors. If you’d like to add a fresh lemon scent, mix a few drops of lemon essential oil with the baking soda, and then follow the steps above.

Clean the Bathroom Tub and Sink: Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of a ceramic/porcelain bathtub and sink. Use a scrub brush or sponge to gently scrub the surface with the baking soda. As you scrub, the build-up that can occur on both surfaces will lift away, leaving behind a sparkly tub and sink. If you’d like to add a fresh lemon scent, mix a few drops of lemon essential oil with the baking soda, and then follow the steps above.

The Kitchen

Oven Scouring Powder: Sprinkle baking soda over the bottom surface of your oven, and then spray the surface (and baking soda) with water. Allow the wet baking soda to sit for a few hours, and then use a textured sponge to scrub away the build-up. Wipe the surface with a wet cloth, until the surface is clean. This isn’t a regular cleaning activity for me. Who has time to deep clean an oven on a regular basis? A spritz of all-purpose spray (made with vinegar and Sal Suds) is usually the only attention my oven receives.

Clean the Kitchen Sink: Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of a ceramic/porcelain sink. (I don’t have experience with other sink surfaces–always test a small area first.) Use a scrub brush or sponge to gently scrub the surface with the baking soda. I love watching the grease and dirt/food build-up magically disappear. Rinse the surface with clean water. If you’d like to add a fresh lemon scent, mix a few drops of lemon essential oil with the baking soda, and then follow the steps above.

Deodorize the Fridge: Regularly cleaning the fridge helps take care of most odors, but just to be safe I like to keep a jar of baking soda in the fridge. This baking soda helps to neutralize odors and keep them from overtaking the fridge (and other foods). Combine baking soda (1 cup) and a few drops of lemon essential oil in a storage container. Store the container/mason jar in the fridge. After a month, dump the baking soda (or use it to clean your sink or toilet bowl), and create a new deodorizer.

All Areas

Deodorize Carpets and Rugs: Between pets and kids, our carpets and rugs are subjected to all sorts of fun activities. In order to keep these surfaces smelling fresh, I sprinkle them with baking soda (whisked with a few drops of a favorite essential oil, like lavender essential oil), wait 30 minutes, and then vacuum the surface.

Magic Eraser: Baking soda is a natural magic eraser. I’ve removed crayon from walls and tables with just baking soda and water. It’s magical! A reader friend recently shared with me that she was able to remove red wine from her rug with baking soda and water. Sprinkle a wet cloth with baking soda and then gently wipe the wall (or another surface) with the cloth until the marks disappear. The results will depend on the kind of paint on your wall. Always test a small area first.
White Sneakers - for leather, 3 Tb soda and 2 Tb water to a paste. Dip a toothbrush in and gently scrub. For fabric or mesh, use dish soap and warm water and don't over-wet. Or use Magic Eraser.

Best Cleaning Spray

3 oz (90 ml) H2O
2 tsp liquid castile soap
dash white vinegar
5 drops peppermint
15 drops lemon
15 drops orange

Have not dried this yet, am waiting on my orange order.

Other cleaning sprays to try from livesimply.me

Note: Careful using vinegar on granite, marble or other surfaces sensitive to acid.
In a 16-ounce spray bottle, combine 1 cup of distilled water, 1 cup of white vinegar, and an optional 15-30 drops of essential oil: lavender, peppermint, grapefruit, orange, or lemon. Seal the bottle and shake to combine the ingredients. Store the cleaner for up to 3-4 weeks. Shake between uses.

Dr. Bonner's SAL suds are tougher on grease than the regular Dr. Bonner's. Recipe:
In a 16-ounce spray bottle, combine 1 cup of distilled water, 1 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 tsp of Sal Suds, and an optional 15-30 drops of essential oil:  lavender, peppermint, grapefruit, orange, or lemon. Seal the bottle and shake to combine the ingredients. Store the cleaner for up to 3-4 weeks. Shake between uses.

To Avoid Vinegar: In a 16-ounce spray bottle, combine 2 cups of distilled water, ¼ cup of castile soap, and an optional 15-30 drops of essential oil: lavender, peppermint, grapefruit, orange, or lemon. Seal the bottle and shake to combine the ingredients. Store the cleaner for up to 3-4 weeks. Shake between uses.



Interested in Essential Oils? I can get you started! Email me!