Prepper basics: Effective and natural cleaning products

In today’s modern society, it is often easy to forget the power of Mother Nature: she, whose gardens we repeatedly destroy for our own purposes. If you take a look at the most popular drugs today, you will see that many of them were derived from plants. Nature remains the ultimate chemist.

This applies to cleaning items as well. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best natural cleaning products that all preppers should be aware of:

All-purpose cleaner

• 3 tbsp. vinegar
• ½ tsp. washing soda
• ½ tsp Castile soap
• 2 cups hot water

This cleaner can be used on anything – from counters to floors. Be careful when you are mixing this solution, though. It tends to bubble and spill on the floor. To be safe, mix this over the sink.

Scouring powder

You can use one of two ways to make a great, natural scouring powder. The first is make a paste using equal parts baking soda and warm water; the other is to make a paste using baking soda, a few drops of Castile soap, and warm water. Either concoction can be directly applied to whatever surface you want cleaned and then rub with a clean cloth.

Grease cleaner

• 2 cups water
• ¼ cup Castile soap
• 10 drops lavender oil

Lavender oil is a natural antibacterial agent and gives the solution a nice scent, too! Use this cleaner to get rid of stubborn grease spots in your pots and pans. We suggest making a larger batch and then storing it in several airtight containers. In this way, you will always have an effective grease cleaner on hand. (Related: Benefits of using green cleaning products and making homemade cleaners.)

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Bath and sink cleaner

• ? cup baking soda
• ½ cup Castile soap
• 2 tbsp. vinegar
• ½ cup water
• A few drops of tea tree oil

This makes a thick paste-like cleaner that gets rid of stains and mold quite easily. To use, we recommend using a squirt bottle, similar to those for mustard or ketchup.

Homemade laundry detergent

• 1 5.5 oz. bar Fels Naptha soap
• ½ cups washing soda
• ½ cups borax
• Water

Use a cheese grater or food processor to grate the Fels Naptha bar. You would need fine strips.

Powdered laundry detergent: In a container with a tight-fitting lid, combine the grated Fels Naptha, washing soda, and borax. Stir to mix well. Store in a sealed container. Use 1 to 2 tbsp. for each load.

Liquid laundry detergent: Place the grated Fels Naptha strips into a cooking pot. Add enough hot water to cover the strips and place over low heat. Continuously stir to prevent clumping. Wait until the soap is melted. DO NOT let it boil.

Remove the solution from the stove and pour into a large bucket that has its own lid. Add the washing soda, borax, and 3 gallons of hot water. Stir until it is well incorporated. Allow this to sit overnight. In the morning, stir again. Use ½ cup to 1 cup per load.

Remember that this detergent will not produce any suds.

Homemade fabric softener

There are many recipes for homemade fabric softeners. One of the easiest ones is to combine vinegar with baking soda and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil into one solution. Use this mix during the last cycle of your load.

With a little bit of ingenuity and creativity, you too can make cleaning products that are not only effective, but good for the environment!

Read more articles on how to make your own natural cleaning products at Natural.news.

Sources include:

MDCreekmore.com

TheHomemadeExperiment.com

ScientificAmerican.com