How to make a citrus household cleaner and stain remover

The other day I was having a cup of coffee with a friend and we were lamenting on how the earth has changed and how polluted the air was and how the weather is taking a turn for the worse.

And then she told me about how she is making her own household cleaner for her dishes. I admit I am a nature lover and I am all for preserving it … but I have not thought of making my own cleaner!

For a while I thought she was a little mad until I found this article in the Star yesterday which tells us how to make a household cleaner as well as stain remover! I am reproducing it here for the benefit of us all.

* 1) Fill a large, wide mouth jar with citrus peels (e.g. lemons, oranges, limes or grapefruits).

* 2) Cover the peels with white household vinegar.

* 3) Let it brew for four weeks, shaking the jar occasionally (just to mix it a little). After four weeks, strain the mixture two times.

* 4) Use as laundry booster (toss in with your whites). Mix 1/2 cup per 4.5 litres of water to dilute and place in a spray bottle for use as a window cleaner, counter top cleaner and floor cleaner.

* 5) For the laundry stain remover, mix 1 cup hot water, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide. Store in spray bottles. Spot treat stains and soak overnight.

There, sounds pretty simple right? I think I might just attempt to do this. But I do wonder in that 4 weeks of brewing … is there any smell which may potentially make me feel faint?

Do you have any other ways of making your own cleaners?

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