It's so great to be able to mix your own scouring agent or multi-purpose cleaner and then tackle all the dirty surfaces in your home, knowing that you made the cleaning product yourself with just a few simple ingredients.
Here we present 19 environmentally friendly DIY cleaning recipes with natural ingredients from the French brand La Droguerie Écologique.
La Droguerie Écologique – Soda Crystals / Sodium Carbonate
Soda Crystals / Sodium Carbonate
Sodium Carbonate is a water-soluble, crystalline powder (soda in concentrated crystal form) that has long been used as a multifunctional cleaning agent in homes. It cleans, descales, removes unwanted odors, dissolves grease on laundry, and neutralizes acids.
1. Cleaning glass and discolored porcelain
For cleaning glass, decanters, bottles and porcelain that has been discolored from tea, coffee and similar substances.
Do this:
Mix 20-40 grams of Soda Crystals / Sodium Carbonate per liter of hot water.
Fill the container/porcelain with the solution. Shake and let it sit for a few hours.
Rinse with clean water/wash and let dry upside down.
2. Cleaning burnt pots and pans made of stainless steel
Easily clean your burnt pots with this simple method. Note! Only suitable for stainless steel and not for cast iron, aluminum or Teflon (Teflon should be phased out of your kitchen anyway).
Do this:
Sprinkle a layer of Soda Crystals / Sodium Carbonate in the bottom of the pan/pot and pour boiling water over it.
Cover with a lid and let it sit for about half a day.
Then rinse and wash as usual.
3. Multi-purpose cleaner
Is there anything better than a cleaning agent that works for many different purposes? With this cleaner, you can achieve a spotless result when cleaning your kitchen furniture, bathroom fixtures, and sink. Note! Soda solutions can cause wood types like oak or chestnut (with high tannin content) to darken. Test on a hidden area first.
Do this:
Mix 10 grams of Soda Crystals / Sodium Carbonate per liter of warm water.
Use a sponge and wipe the surface you want to clean.
Finish by wiping with a slightly damp cloth.
4. Toilet cleaning
Get a shining result when you clean your toilet with this simple recipe. The recipe can be used every two weeks for best results.
Do this:
Mix about 65 ml of Soda Crystals / Sodium Carbonate in a bucket with about 5 liters of warm water.
Pour the mixture into the toilet and let it work for 15 minutes.
Scrub the toilet bowl using a toilet brush and then flush.
La Droguerie Écologique – Citric Acid for cleaning
Citric Acid
Citric Acid has a very wide range of applications such as food additives, cosmetic ingredients, and as a pH regulator. It descales, cleans and dissolves limescale and is an excellent antioxidant. Citric Acid is completely biodegradable and is an effective household product that should be in every home.
1. Descaling
Limescale often builds up in coffee makers, kettles, and washing machines. Here are some recipes that will help you get rid of the limescale.
Descaling coffee machines:
Dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of Citric Acid in 1 liter of cold water.
Fill the machine with the solution and let it work for about 15-30 minutes.
Then pour out the mixture and rinse with clean, cold water twice.
Descaling kettles:
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of Citric Acid in 1 liter of water.
Fill the kettle with the mixture and let it come to a boil and boil briefly.
Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes and then pour it out.
Rinse thoroughly with water.
Descaling washing machines:
Pour 6-8 tablespoons of Citric Acid into the drum and run an empty cycle at 90 degrees.
Descaling faucets, pressure reducing valves, shower heads:
Mix 2-5 tablespoons of Citric Acid in 1 liter of water.
Scrub the areas to be descaled or let soak for about 12 hours.
Then rinse with water.
Descaling stainless steel septic tanks:
Mix about 3-5 soup spoons of Citric Acid (depending on the level of scaling) per 1 liter of warm water.
A soup spoon is 15 ml (3-5 x 15 ml).
Let the mixture sit in the tank for about 12 hours and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
2. Cleaning Recipes
Citric Acid has many applications and can be used for both pots and rust removal. Here are some practical recipes for cleaning in your home.
Removing stains from tea or coffee cups and vases:
Pour 1-2 tablespoons of Citric Acid into the cup/vase and pour boiling water over it.
Keep in mind that the cup/vase should be able to withstand boiling hot liquids.
Let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with water.
Removing thin films of lime, cement or plaster:
Dilute 3-6 tablespoons of Citric Acid in 1 liter of water.
Rub the solution on the surface to be cleaned and then rinse with clean water.
Cleaning burnt bottoms of stainless steel pots:
Mix 12 tablespoons of Citric Acid in about 2.36 dl (1 cup) water.
Heat the solution for a few minutes in the burnt pan and then rinse well.
Cleaning chrome, stainless steel, ceramic and plastic surfaces:
Mix 2-5 tablespoons of Citric Acid in 1 liter of warm water.
Wipe the surfaces with the solution, scrub if needed.
Then rinse thoroughly with water.
Rust removal:
Prepare a 10% citric acid solution in a bowl by mixing Citric Acid and water.
Place the object to be cleaned (e.g., a key) in the solution overnight. A chemical reaction occurs between the citric acid and the rust. The iron oxide (rust) is then converted into a colorless substance.
Then rinse the object with water.
La Droguerie Écologique – Sodium Percarbonate
Sodium Percarbonate
Sodium Percarbonate is a water-soluble, crystalline powder (soda in concentrated crystal form) that is produced by adding hydrogen peroxide to Soda Crystals / Sodium Carbonate. Sodium Percarbonate does not contain chlorides or phosphates that can cause significant damage to our waterways. It does not bioaccumulate and has a low environmental impact. Instead, it is an excellent bleaching agent used in many commercial laundry detergents and liquids.Sodium Percarbonate releases oxygen and functions as a stain remover by quickly and completely dissolving a wide spectrum of stubborn stains. Sodium Percarbonate is effective on all organic stains, including tea, coffee, red wine, chocolate, fruit juice, fruit stains, carrot, mayonnaise, butter, tomato sauce, olive oil, beetroot, make up, lipstick, sweat, ink, clay, soot, grass, and urine. It can be used on various types of textiles such as whites, colors, bibs, handkerchiefs, carpets, bedding, cloth diapers, and any other fabric that can be washed in water.
1. Stain removal on white textiles
White fabrics tend to yellow with age, which isn't very pleasant. Sodium Percarbonate is most effective at 60 degrees but can also be used at lower temperatures such as 40 degrees. Here we offer some smart tricks so you can get your white clothes white again.
For white laundry:
1 tablespoon of Sodium Percarbonate to a full washing machine (4-5 kg).
Removing colored stains:
2 tablespoons of Sodium Percarbonate to a full washing machine (4-5 kg).
Hand washing or soaking:
1 tablespoon of Sodium Percarbonate to 4-5 kg of laundry.
Blood stains:
Soak the garment in cold water and apply Sodium Percarbonate directly to the stain.
2. Cleaning and removing grease from exterior wood
Sodium Percarbonate helps remove grease, moss, lichen, and fungus from wood. It can also be used to revive wooden structures such as decks, piers, picnic benches, and garden furniture that have turned gray over time due to weather exposure.
Cleaning outdoor wood:
Mix 1-2 parts Sodium Percarbonate with 10 parts hot water (about 40°C) in a bowl until dissolved.
Carefully apply the solution with a brush to the wood that needs to be cleaned.
Let it work for 15-20 minutes.
Scrub with a hard scrubbing brush (e.g., coconut fiber). Rinse the brush thoroughly afterward.
Rinse the wood thoroughly with water.
Neutralize your wood with a solution of vinegar diluted in water.
Let it dry.
Consider applying a layer of linseed oil (containing a siccative).
Hope you find all these fantastic cleaning recipes useful in your home.
Please leave a comment and tell us about your best DIY cleaning recipe or ask a question and we'll answer!
