Cooler Cleaning.

 This is what happens when you leave liquid inside a cooler and neglect it for a few months:

Mold, bacteria, stains... makes me want to vomit!

But here is the proof that my natural cleaner works!  All I used was my home made cleaning recipe with natural ingredients and ten minutes later, clean and ready to go!

Why should you make the switch?  Store bought household cleaners, even some of the "green" ones, contain many harmful chemicals that can affect your health.   Cleaners often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals that contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches.  You don't have to believe me, read this article from the American Lung Assocation, click here. 

The smell of bleach is often times related to a sense of clean because of the vast amount of historic uses.  Bleach has been used for decades to clean and disinfect, but its time to change! Bleach and other harmful chemicals is not the only way to keep your house clean.

I know I have posted the recipe on the blog before but here it is again with the places you can find the ingredients.   I don't measure so these are approximates and probably different than the last recipe I posted!  The mix does not have to be perfect.  The end result can be used everywhere on everything!  Although, I don't clean windows or mirrors with it as the baking soda leaves a residue.  So what should you use on your windows?  Water.  Nothing else.  It works.  Somebody (or some company) tricked us into believing we need a blue spray to clean our windows!

In a spray bottle add:

• 2 Tblsp Borax - Basically a mineral with a high pH (9.5) which increases the pH of the water it is in to make other cleaning supplies more effective.  The boron in borax inhibits metabolism in organisms and therefore kills unwanted pests and acts as a disinfectant.  Found in grocery stores, all purpose stores, ie: walmart, target.  Look in the laundry detergent section.
• 2 Tblsp vinegar - Because of it's high acidity it is effective at killing most mold and bacteria. 
• 2 Tblsp baking soda 
• 2 Tblsp All Natural Soap - I use Dr Bronners Lavender.  You can find these at all natural food stores but they also now have them at Target. 
• 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil - The big disinfectant!  Essential oils are found at natural food stores or health markets. 
• 10 drops of peppermint oil - I just like the smell.  I now associate peppermint with a clean house.
• Fill the rest with warm water and shake.  

Quick, simple, cheap and FUN!  You kind of feel like a mad scientist when you are mixing it all up.


Cooler and "cooler" cleaning!