What has stopped me to use those natural household cleaners has always been the smell of vinegar, yep I can't say perfume here because is a very nice word for a non very nice smell. It's very interesting, because it acts wonderfully getting rid off bad small yet it smells not as you'd expect while using it. Thus, what can we do to change that?
Obvious, perfume it!
Essential oils are soluble in vinegar, it takes a while but it does worth it... you'll be able to create a strong, efficient and fragrant cleanser you won't stop using.
I recommend to start doing the blends in spray bottles of 500 ml. Fill them with white vinegar and add any of these anti-bacterial, bugs-away and purifying blends:
A. 15 drops eucalyptus
15 drops lemon
B. 15 drops Mint
5 drops lemongrass
10 drops lemon
C. 15 drops orange
5 drops lavender
10 lemon tea tree
Shake the mixture everyday and allow to settle for 21 days minimum. Then, it's ready. You can also use them as a air-freshener by adding for 1 part of vinegar blend wit 1,5 parts of water.
IMPORTANT: Vinegar is an acid, which means it is corrosive, so a thoroughly rinse off must be done when using it. (my mum always says min 4 rinses!)
Personally I am more of a soap cleaner person, so my deep cleansing formula is:
4 tbsp liquid eco-dishwasher (Castile soap is a good one)
1 tsp organic bleach
500ml water
To perfume this formula you just need to add 7 drops of your favourite essential oil to the liquid eco-dishwasher and blend it well before mixing up with the other ingredients. Why? because essential oils are soluble in soap but not in water.
Now, how to make an organic bleach and sustainable bleach?
This winter you won't bin the ashes, make your own organic bleach as in olden times! Use only the finest powdery grey or white ash leftover in your fireplace or wood heater; if needed, pass ashes through a metal sieve to remove large charcoal chunks. Pour the ashes in a container and fill with heated/very hot rain water. Rain water is “soft water” without added minerals that can disrupt the lye making process. Use a ratio of 1 part wood ashes to 4 parts rain water. Stir ashes and water to mix and then allow ash to settle to the bottom. What looks like clear water after the ash has settled is actually the wood ash lye water. To use as a bleaching agent, add approximately one cupful per wash load. Use hot wash water to accentuate the bleaching action of the lye. Safety Note: Wear gloves when handling wood ash or your clothes after using the lye water and be sure to rinse clothes thoroughly before dry.
Rather a modern approach instead? Then this is your formula, lemon is the best whitening source!
3/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 Tbsp. citric acid (optional– whitens clothes natural and helps to soften water, making this more effective in hard water)
distilled water to fill
20 drops lemon essential oil
amber glass container
Directions:
Pour hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, citric acid (if using), and lemon essential oil into an amber glass bottle. Shaken until citric acid is dissolved. Fill the rest of the jug with distilled water and use as you would. Store the solution in amber glass container to keep the hydrogen peroxide from breaking down in sunlight!
Welcome to the non-toxic cleaning, helping your family, helping your planet...
Wish you have a magical day!
Sonia x