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Eco-Friendly Family
All natural cleaning product gift basket ?
My sisters and mom have been begging me to make them some cleaning products. We have only gone EF in the past year due to my son's asthma and allergies. I'm still pretty new to it, but so far love the cost saving aspect. I've had to cut back to part time at work because my son was always sick and it was impossible to work full time (even though he was home with a sitter). Our holiday budget is smaller than it has ever been before. Since they've been begging for it, I thought a gift basket full of some the cleaners I make with recipe cards for each would be an inexpensive, but much appreciated gift. I was thinking of putting in an all purpose cleaner, a spray and mop cleaner, window cleaner, furniture polish, and dishwasher detergent (with rinse aid).
Any ideas on cute ways I could pacakge each (should I just go the dollar spray bottle route)?
Will someone critique my cleaners...they work for me, but thought since I'm new someone might have some ideas that work better....
All purpose Cleaner: equal parts vinegar and water, with a squirt of Dr. Bronners castille soap, and 10-20 drops of tea tree oil.
Dishwasher detergent: equal parts baking soda and borax and vinegar in rinse agent (I just started using this, and find it just OK).
Window cleaner: Vinegar and water
Floor cleaner. 2 tablespoons dr. bronners and water (they both have wood floors though.....so is this recipe ok for wood floors)
Furniture polish: 3/4 olive oil, 1/4 vinegar, and 1/2 t lemon oil
*I was reading Dr. Bronners website last night and it said not to mix with vinegar ever, I've been using that all purpose recipe for a while with no problems though...should I change it still?
Thanks for all your help!
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Re: All natural cleaning product gift basket ?
You might get some pretty ribbon to tie around the bottles and nestle them in some craft or tissue paper, or re-use some wrapping paper from last year/scraps that aren't big enough to wrap anything at the end of the roll, that you can shred into strips like you see in easter baskets. Holiday colors would really pull it together and make it look gifty. You could also hole-punch the cards and thread matching ribbon through to tie them together.
You also might tinker with Dr. Bronner's in a dish soap recipe. I haven't done it, but I have heard of it being used in dishwashers, which makes sense because it is a surfactant and can dissolve grease. You just need to make sure not to use too much and end up with a dishwasher full of suds! Maybe somebody else here has tried it and can give you ideas about where to start this one.
I also keep a "grease cutter" around for when I need it. 2 cups water. 1/4 cup Dr. B's. 10 drops lavender oil.
If you think your laundry detergent is just "OK" maybe try the EFF blog laundry detergent. We love it. https://www.theecofriendlyfamily.com/2009/08/laundry-detergent.html
For our wood floors we just use vinegar and water. Dr. B's might leave a film? I don't know. Maybe you could also get them a spray mop if you're wanting so spend a little more. I have the rubbermaid reveal and got it at Target.
I think this is such a neat idea!
I just tried using a little bit of Dr. B's on our laminate floors and it was disastrous. It left a film that I'm having a hard time really removing. Not recommended.