An herbal DIY scouring powder that is easy to make and super effective at cleaning!

Herbal DIY Scouring Powder

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As a blogger I always have time to make everything from scratch, cook fantastic gluten free meals, and my house is always clean and smelling of DIY herbal cleaners.

Okay, you may have guessed that statement isn’t exactly true. While mommies and bloggers try to juggle a gazillion balls at once, it’s not always easy to keep it together.

So how do you keep your sanity when it comes to keeping your house in order?

It would be easy to just pick up one of the “green” cleaners from the store, right? Unfortunately these cleaners are often “naturally derived,” aka not so much natural.

Clorox’s line of “green cleaners” give the same warnings as their supposedly more toxic counterparts.

Wear safety glasses. Wear rubber or neoprene gloves.

Do not wear product contaminated clothing for long periods.

I’m sure you want to slather these products on the counter tops where you prepare your families food and the bathtub your little ones soak in every night. Or not.

The positive side is that making your own cleaners doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. I make my own laundry detergent, enough for 80 loads, in about 2 minutes! Just as fast.

An herbal DIY scouring powder that is easy to make and super effective at cleaning!
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I’ve been using this recipe not only in my own home for the past few years, but in my client’s homes as well. When I got my first cleaning job as the custodian of my church at age 12, I had no idea that there were cleaners that didn’t burn your lungs and make your eyes water.

After I became a self-employed housekeeper, I discovered DIY cleaners and fell in love. Not only did my clients not miss the chemical smell, but I frequently got compliments on how fresh the home smelled. On top of it all, there were no complaints that the cleaners weren’t doing their job!

Speaking of natural cleaning, whether you are a newbie or expert, this amazing book has really helped guide me. It’s affordable, has fantastic pictures, great instructions, and I just love her ideas.

One of my absolute favorite cleaners to use is this herbal scouring powder. It’s cheap, easy, versatile and it WORKS! I’ve tried using just baking soda before, but it takes a lot of elbow grease and the results aren’t always the best.

I’ve used this herbal DIY scouring powder on:

  • fiberglass and tile tubs
  • counter tops
  • porcelain sinks
  • stainless steel sinks
  • electric and gas stove tops
  • burner plates
  • pots and pans
  • inside of ovens

An herbal DIY scouring powder that is easy to make and super effective at cleaning!
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I have noticed that it leaves a slight film on stainless steel but this is easily remedied by rinsing with diluted vinegar and wiping dry.

This scouring powder can be made with a blend of herbs and essential oils for an amazing clean and smell. If you feel like keeping it simple, you can just use 3 ingredients for the same cleaning power. Use what you have on hand, what fits your needs, or what just sounds (or smells) good.

A food processor of coffee grinder will help to better combine the herbs with the rest of the ingredients, but this will still work fine without it. A coffee grinder comes in handy though to finely powder any whole herbs you have on hand.


 Ingredients:

  • 1 C Borax (like THIS)
  • 1 C Baking Soda (like THIS)
  • 10 drops Essential Oil of choice (I like orange or lemon…even lavender and tea tree; you can find them all HERE)
  • 2 Tbsp Ground Herb of choice (lavender would smell lovely; find my favorite dried herbs and flowers HERE), optional
  • 2 Tbsp Dried Citrus Peel (I think a dried lemon peel would be great, like THIS), optional

Tools:

  • Mixing bowl
  • Glass jar for storage (I love Mountain Rose Herb’s containers and use them frequently for my skincare line; you can find them HERE)
  • Coffee grinder (like THIS) or food processor (like THIS one)

Make it:

Without a Food Processor

  • Pour the baking soda into the mixing bowl. Drop the essential oil(s) onto the surface and mash in with a fork. Don’t go crazy with it, this should only take about 15 seconds.
  • Stir in the borax and ground herbs, if using, and store in a jar.

If Using a Food Processor

  • Combine all of the ingredients and blend until well combined.

An herbal DIY scouring powder that is easy to make and super effective at cleaning!
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Comments 2

  1. Do you have a diy for dish soap for handwashing, as well as dishwasher soap?
    Thank you for all you do!!
    Cyn

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