March 2015

Spring is here, and with the season comes Spring Cleaning. However, purchasing lots of different cleaning supplies can really add up, not to mention create a lot of waste. This spring, consider making some of your own cleaning supplies; you probably have most of the ingredients in your apartment already! Here are a few recipes for different cleaners.

• All Purpose Cleaner: Mix 4 Tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of warm water together in a spray bottle. This cleaner is great for surfaces like countertops, sinks and fridges.
• Window Cleaner: Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar and ¼ cup lemon juice together in a spray bottle.
• Metal Cleaner: This works great for cleaning up old, battered cookie sheets and baking pans. In a bowl, whip together ½ cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon dish soap and 1-2 Tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Spread over cookie sheets and let sit for a few minutes before scrubbing with a sponge.
• Homemade Floor Wipes: Spending a small fortune on those disposable floor dusters? Grab some dust clothes and trim them to fit the size of your floor duster, then place in a lidded plastic container. Mix together ¼ cup each of vinegar, lemon juice, water and rubbing alcohol with 1 Tablespoon of dish soap, and pour solution over wipes. Keep sealed and you’ll always have wet wipes ready when you need to mop your floor!