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Lesson Plan - Kitchen Cleaners
Summary:
Types of Cleaners. The Known. The Unknown
Main Curriculum Tie:
Food And Nutrition I
Standard 20.0108-02 Objective 20.0108-0203
Identify and apply sanitation rules and guidelines. National Standard 14.4.1
Cleaning
Green
Around Your Home
Nationwide, more the 32 million pounds of
household cleaning products are poured
down the drain each day. The average
American home uses 25 gallons of toxic
chemicals per year.
Many of these products contain substances
that provide harm to our environment.
Careless or improper use and disposal of
these can threaten individual health and lead to
long term consequences like contamination of
surface and ground water.
“ G oing Green ” with household products can save
many resources, money, people and the environment.
Let’s try a little GREEN!
Cleaning products are involved in 10% of poisoning
exposures in children under 6 years of age.
Carolyn Washburn
Utah State University Extension
carolyn.washburn@usu.edu
(435)634-2692
“Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution
Basic Household Cleaning Products
Learning to clean from scratch—making homemade recipes—can truly work if you take time to
understand a bit about the chemistry behind how the materials work. Here are basic ingredients
that are safe and effective for cleaning.
Baking Soda
A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda is made from soda
ash, and is slightly alkaline (its pH is around 8.1; 7 is neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in
water, and adsorbs odors from the air. Sprinkled on a damp sponge or cloth, baking soda can be
used as a gentle non-abrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, and
fiberglass. It will eliminate perspiration odors and even neutralize the smell of many chemicals if
you add up to a cup per load to the laundry. It is a useful air freshener, and a fine carpet
deodorizer.
Washing Soda
A chemical neighbor of baking soda, washing soda (sodium carbonate – a mineral) is much more
strongly alkaline, with a pH around 11. It releases no harmful fumes and is far safer than a
commercial solvent formula, but you should wear gloves when using it because it is caustic.
Washing soda cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, and neutralizes odors
in the same way that baking soda does. Don’t use it on fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors—
unless you intend to remove the wax.
White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic—they neutralize alkaline substances such as scale from
hard water. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood
surfaces.
Liquid Soaps and Detergent
Liquid soaps and detergents are necessary for cutting grease, and they are not the same thing.
Soap is made from fats and lye. Detergents are synthetic materials discovered and synthesized
early in this century. Unlike soap, detergents are designed specifically so that they don’t react
with hard water minerals and cause soap scum. If you have hard water, buy a biodegradable
detergent without perfumes; if you have soft water you can use liquid soap (both are available in
health food stores).
Borax (sodium borate)
Is used for laundry soap, cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted
walls and floors.
Cornstarch
Is good when used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
Salt (NaCl or table)
This is an inexpensive natural cleaner and deodorizer. It is useful to remove a stains, clean pans,
and many other items.
Club Soda
This is good to remove grease from countertops, remove stains, and is a good glass cleaner.
Mold Killers and Disinfectants
For a substance to be registered by the EPA as a disinfectant it must go through extensive and
expensive tests.
Caution: Make sure to keep all homemade formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of
children.
Homemade Non Toxic Household Cleaners
All Purpose Cleaner (**Microfiber cloths):
• Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2
gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains
on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors,
etc.
• 1 Tbsp ammonia, 1 Tbsp detergent, 2 cups water
• ½ cup ammonia, 1/3 cup vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda-1 gallon warm water
Bathroom Mold Cleaner:
• Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one
part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas
with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.
• Full strength vinegar
• 1 part bleach to 10 parts water
Oven Cleaner:
• Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and
1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. Let sit
overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for
tough spots, or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers
Union.
Window Cleaners:
• ½ cup white vinegar, 1 gallon water ( 2 Tbsp vinegar -1 qt water)
• ½ cup ammonia to a gallon water (2 Tbsp – 1 qt water)
• 1 Tbsp ammonia, 1 Tbsp vinegar 1 qt water
• 3 Tbsp denatured alcohol to 1 qt water
Outdoor windows:
• 2-3 Tbsp dishwasher detergent and 1 Tbsp “Jet Dry” in ½ bucket of water.
Spray and wash, no drying necessary
Dry Carpet Shampoo:
• ½ cup cornstarch, 2 cups baking soda, 4-5 crumbled bay leaves, 1 Tbsp ground cloves.
Mix and shake into carpet, let sit for an hour. Vacuum up.
“Soft Scrub” for Tubs and Sinks:
• 2 cups baking soda
½ cup liquid castile soap (soap made from vegetable oil, not animal)*
4 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (acts as a preservative and keeps soft)
Add 5 drops antibacterial essential oil for smell (optional)
• 1/2 cup Dawn and as much vinegar as a spray bottle holds.
Toilet Cleaner:
• Sprinkle some baking soda and lemon juice into your toilet and walk away.
Return and scrub it with a toilet brush.
• Mix ¼ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, let sit and then scrub.
Furniture Polish:
• 1 parts vegetable oil and 1 part lemon juice. Apply, rub in and wipe clean
Upholstery Spot Remover:
• Club Soda
Drain Cleaners:
1 cup salt, 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup soda. Flush with 3 qts boiling water
Pre wash Stain Remover:
1 cups sudsy ammonia, 1 cup Ivory dish soap, 6 cups water
For nicer laundry:
1. Use baking soda with detergent to clean and soften
2. Add 1/8 cup white vinegar to rinse water for brighter clothes.
Homemade Wrinkle Release:
1 tsp fabric softener (liquid) 1 cup water (distilled is best)
Bug Spray:
1 tsp baby shampoo and 1 gallon water Mix and spray after sun is down.
**Never mix bleach with any product such as ammonia or vinegar. It will cause
toxic fumes that are very dangerous.
References: http://organizedhome.com/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products
http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm
www.beingfrugal.net http://cheapskateliving.org/saving-money/cheap-and-easy-homemade-cleaning-
products/
“Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution.”
Homemade laundry powder detergent
2/3 bar Fels Naptha* Laundry Soap (equivalent of 1 cup grated)
½ Cup 20 Mule Team Borax
•
½ Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.
•
Container large enough to hold 2 cups of laundry detergent
•
•
1. Grate the Fels Naptha laundry soap with a grater or use a food processor. Approximately
2/3 of a bar of soap will make 1 cup of grated soap.
2. Add the ½ cup of Borax and ½ cup of washing soda to the grated soap.
3. Shake and/or mix well
Use:
One tablespoon of detergent is sufficient per load of wash. If you have a high-efficiency
machine, you might want to experiment with using a little less detergent for normal loads. If your
clothes come out feeling stiff, lower the amount of detergent. For clothes that are heavily soiled,
add a teaspoon more of the detergent.
Homemade gel laundry detergent
1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap* (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep
on low heat until soap is melted.
• Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir
well until all is dissolved.
• Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
• Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it 2.5
gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 TBS Glycerin
**Fels Naptha, Zote, Ivory Bar soap, Sunlight bar soap, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, don’t use scented
bar soap.
Costs $.01-$.04 cents a laundry load.
Homemade Fabric Softener
Into a spray bottle measure half a cup of cold water and pour it into the
clean spray bottle. Add half a cup of your favorite liquid fabric softener.
Shake the spray bottle to mix up the fabric softener and water.
Take a clean wash cloth and from about 4-6 inches away, spray it with the softener mixture about
5-6 times. Toss the wash cloth into the dryer with your laundry and turn on the dryer.
Other fabric softeners are: 1/3 cup baking soda to the wash cycle. Although this will make
fabrics softer and fluffier, it won't do much to reduce static cling. Adding an equal amount of
white vinegar to the wash cycle will have the additional benefit of reducing static cling. You can
mix one part vinegar with one part white vinegar to two parts water and keep it in a bottle by the
washing machine. When mixing the ingredients, combine the baking soda and water first, then
slowly add the vinegar while stirring. You can expect a fizzing sound during the mixing process
and you may find that the baking soda doesn't completely dissolve. When you're ready to run a
fabric load, simply shake the bottle to redissolve the baking soda and add a third of a cup of your
homemade fabric softener to the wash cycle.
Round Paper Coffee Filters
Pour some cheap liquid fabric softener into a large flat bowl or pan. Dip a paper coffee filter into
the liquid and let soak for about 30-seconds. Wring or scrape the excess cheap fabric softener off
of the wet coffee filter and back into the bowl. Hang the wet coffee filter on the coat hanger with
a paper clip and dry hanging over a large bath towel.
Store sheets in an airtight bag or plastic coffee can until you are ready to use them. You use these
fabric softener sheets just like you would for the store bought fabric softener sheets.
Making good use of your Bounce.
1. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
2. Clean off baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit
overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food
and the pan.
3. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
4. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the
loose hairs
5. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to
prevent dust from resettling.
6. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice and
bees.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is the only germicidal agent composed only of water and
oxygen. Like ozone, it kills disease organisms by oxidation! Hydrogen peroxide is
considered the world’s safest all natural effective surface sanitizer. It kills microorganisms by
oxidizing them, which can be best described as a controlled burning process. When hydrogen
peroxide reacts with organic material it breaks down into oxygen and water.
How to use hydrogen peroxide to clean - disinfect - bleach - sanitize - deodorize
(almost) anything:
1. Spray hydrogen peroxide on it, and wipe off (counter tops, mirrors, windows, hands,
animal's fur, moldy lawn chairs, moldy basement walls)
2. Spray hydrogen peroxide on it, and leave it on (wash off later, or scrub off) (shower
walls, tiles, cat box, moldy plant leaves)
3. Mix peroxide with hot water and soap and apply (mop the floor, in a carpet cleaning
machine)
4. Pour some peroxide in the bottom, spray the sides, and let it sit (garbage cans, catbox,
empty aquarium, empty hamster cage)
5. Soak it in hydrogen peroxide (yellowed plastic, infected finger, earrings, fruit, vegetables,
seeds you want to sprout)
6. If soaking it didn't help, soak it again.....
Here are some additional ideas that you might find useful.
1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10
minutes daily, then spit it out. No more canker sores, and your teeth will be whiter without
expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.
2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.
3. Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply
put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.
4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other
bacteria.
5. I had fungus on my feet for years until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on
them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.
6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My
husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine but was healed by soaking in
peroxide.
7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to
disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.
8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold,
plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes, and then blow
your nose into a tissue.
9 If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3%
peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen
greatly.
10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet
hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide-burnt blonde hair like
the hair dye packages but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty
blonde. It also lightens gradually, so it's not a drastic change.
11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.
12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to
whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a
minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.
13. Use peroxide to clean mirrors. There is no smearing.
CAUTION!
• Living things are very sensitive! Too strong a solution of peroxide can do real harm to:
people, plants, animals, skin, fur, fruit, vegetables, and sprouting seeds. Please find out the
appropriate level of dilution to use when dealing with people, animals, and plants.
• Use caution in bleaching -- you don't want uneven results. Bleaching hair and teeth often
