Earth Scrub (a green "soft scrub") all-purpose cleaner

Submitted by Meredith K.

"This is a great "soft scrub" for counters, sinks, tubs, shower stalls, etc. You can optionally add an essential oil to scent. (I use Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castille soap, so I don't need any extra scent.) It's important to use liquid soap, not detergent, because detergent makes it much harder to rinse. Castille soap is best; it's available at health food stores. It's great to use this and know you're saving money while being kind to your lungs and the planet at the same time! I got this recipe from Karen Logan's book, Clean House, Clean Planet (a great book!). You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to make it disinfectant and use it for a toilet bowl cleaner."

 

• Ready In: 5mins
• Ingredients: 4
• Yields: 16 oz. bottle

ingredients

• 394.39 ml baking soda
• 118.29 ml liquid soap
• 118.29 ml water
• 29.58 ml white vinegar

directions

1. Stir liquid soap into baking soda.
2. Add the water, and stir to be as smooth as possible.
3. Add the vinegar and stir again.
4. Pour into a squeeze bottle.
5. (A clean, empty ketchup or syrup bottle works well.) Shake well before using, and keep tightly closed between uses.

Reviews

[bamabess]

This is definitely a great recipe and one I've already used and enjoyed. However, I add the vinegar while I'm cleaning, rather than adding it to the original mix. The vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other when mixed, so the combination doesn't add any extra cleaning power. I'd suggest adding an extra tablespoon of water to the original mix to get the desired consistency, and then adding a little vinegar if needed when cleaning.

 

[nickie409]

I made this specifically for my glass cooktop, which I always used commercial brands for. I wanted a non toxic, less expensive alternative, and this worked perfectly! I used castille soap from Trader Joes, and sifted the baking soda first, and it came out perfectly smooth. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

[Lidya]

I love this cleaner. It's inexpensive and works really well.

 

[Bobbin]

This is a very good cleaner. I used Dr. Bronner's tea tree oil castile soap. It has a pleasant scent. I have used this in my bathrooms and kitchen. It has cleaned all very well and easily. In my kitchen I cleaned my cooktop after I had already gone over it the day before with a razor blade and Bar Keepers Friend. There were still a few spots on it. They came off with this cleaner and a wash cloth. I have been impressed. Mine does thicken after non-use, so I just stir in a little warm water before use.

 

[ThatSouthernBelle]

This works great, if not WAY better than caustic cleaners. There was no smell, my skin didn't burn as I scrubbed and it got rid of ALL the gunk - I didn't clean my bathroom for 2.5 weeks to see how this would actually fare on really grime. One note of caution - this stuff goes a LONG way. I was glopping on the stuff by the spatula full which meant I ended up wiping this stuff up forever due to the soap - reminded me a lot of the time when I was 11 and used liquid dish soap in the dishwasher and it foamed all over the floor :-P You just need a little to get a sparkly clean bathroom. If you add tea tree oil, it will disinfect as well.