I hate cleaning. We will just get that out of the way. But one of the biggest things I hate about cleaning is the smell of store bought cleaners, especially while pregnant. So I decided that since I am trying to “green” up our lives anyway I would make my own cleaners that I could use anywhere in the house. I also figured if I had just a few cleaners that I could fit in a bucket I would be more apt to clean things because they would be easy to grab and take from room to room.

I wanted to make two different bottles up. The first bottle is for my bathtub and sink to really get that soap scum off. I found awesome directions using blue Dawn dish soap mixed with vinegar and some tea tree oil (it is anti-bacterial). So I mixed up 1 part Dawn to 2 parts vinegar and added about 10 drops of tea tree oil. I sprayed it on my tub and let it sit for a bit, after it sat I sprinkled some baking soda all around my tub (this really helps get stuff off as it is an abrasive). I took my super awesome scrub brush (the large one in the picture below) and scrubbed my tub really well. It was so white and so smooth after I finished. I was so impressed. I also did this to my sink, but I used an old tooth brush to really get in and around my taps because they were gross and it really helped get them clean.

For the rest of the bathroom and for my kitchen I use a spray bottle with 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water. I will sprinkle baking soda on first and spray and wipe. I have also been using micro-fibre cloths that I bought (at the dollar store) and they work really well. I have been trying to cut back on the paper towel that I use. I put my baking soda in a spice shaker which is nice and allows me to sprinkle without accidently spilling the whole box. And since my cleaning bucket is kept in my bathroom next to my diaper pail I can just sprinkle some baking soda on top of my diapers every once and a while to help with smell.

And one of the great things is that I didn’t spend a lot of money. I bought my red bucket, micro-fibre cloths, scrub brush, spray bottles, vinegar, baking soda and Dawn all at the dollar store. I had to get my tea tree oil at the drug store but it was only $8 and will last me a really long time. So that is my green cleaning kit.