Green Housekeeping Recipes

All-Purpose Cleaner

2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 cups water
20-30 or more drops of essential oil (optional)

Tip: Warming in microwave until barely hot will boost cleaning power for tough jobs. Only microwave in a glass container.


Storage-32 ounce pray bottle. WVE recommemds using janitorial strength because vinegar can corrode an ordinary bottle components. 

Creamy Soft Scrub

2 cups baking soda
½ cup liquid castile soap
4 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (acts as a preservative)
5 drops antibacterial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree, rosemary or any scent you prefer (optional)

Mix together and store in a sealed glass jar, shelf life of 2 years.

Tips: For exceptionally tough jobs spray with vinegar first—full strength or diluted, scented—let sit and follow with scrub.

Dry Soft Scrub


Make with baking soda or salt (or combination of both) with 10-15 drops essential oil to scent

Furniture Polish

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
20-30 drops lemon essential oil

Shake well before using
Dip a clean, dry cloth into the polish and rub wood in the direction of the grain. Use a soft brush to work the polish into corners or tight places.

Tips: To remove water spots, rub well with toothpaste. To remove scratches use 1 part lemon juice and 1 part oil, rub with soft cloth.

Furniture Polish

Mix one part lemon juice with 3 parts olive oil to make a wooden furniture polish

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, drizzle with vinegar, let soak for at least 30 minutes and scrub with toilet brush.

Let ingredients soak for a while to make for easy scrubbing, especially on persistent stains like toilet bowl rings.

Drain Opener

½ cup baking soda
½ cup vinegar

Pour baking soda down the drain and follow with vinegar. Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Flush with boiling water.

Laundry-Fabric Softener

Add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to rinse

Fabric Whitener


Use hydrogen peroxide rather than bleach. Soak your dingy white clothes for 30 minutes in the washer with 1/2 cup 20% peroxide. Launder as usual.


Use Olive Oil

After polishing copper or brass, rub it with a little olive oil to slow down the reoccurrence of tarnish

Olive Oil can be used as a stainless steel cleaner; apply sparingly

Rub olive oil into wooden cutting boards to help prevent cracking, repel staining and marking

References-Green Living Tips, Women’s Voices and the Daily Green.