eHow.com Video: How to Make Natural Cleaners for Shower Curtains

Anjie Cho July 23, 2014

Try using natural cleaners like white vinegar and peroxide to reduce the use of toxic cleaners in your bathroom and keep shower curtains and doors clean

see more eHow.com videos here

Video Transcript:

Hi, I'm Anjie Cho, and this is how to make natural cleaners for shower curtains. I think the most offensive and toxic cleaners are the conventional ones made for bathrooms. I'm going to share with you my favorite non-toxic natural cleaners for shower curtains and doors.

First, to get the soap scum and mildew off. White vinegar's excellent for this because its acidic properties can dissolve the soap scum. Spray undiluted white vinegar on your shower curtain and give it some time to work. Come back in an hour, then use a bristle brush to remove the soap scum.

Once your shower curtain or door is nice and clean, you need to keep it up. I love this anti-mildew shower bathtub spray made with hydrogen peroxide. Add a few drops of essential oil, I prefer eucalyptus, put it straight into the brown bottle. Screw a spray bottle top right on there.

By the way, the reason why hydrogen peroxide often comes in these opaque brown bottles is that it can break down quickly in sunlight. Keep the new spray in the shower and spray your curtains and doors after every use. It will help prevent mildew and mold from forming.

You can use easy to find household products like white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to make natural cleaners to keep your shower curtain or door clean and fresh.

by Anjie Cho

Visit the Holistic Spaces Store

eHow.com Video: How to Make Eco-Friendly Washing Detergent With White Vinegar

Anjie Cho May 21, 2014

Most detergents are not eco-friendly or hypo-allergenic. Making your own washing detergent from white vinegar is an easy, healthy way to detoxify your home and support the environment

see more eHow.com videos here

Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho and this is how to make eco-friendly washing detergent with white vinegar.

Sadly most conventional laundry washing detergents are not biodegradable. Most are petroleum based and they aggravate skin allergies. I'm here to share my favorite do-it-yourself recipe for an eco-friendly washing detergent.

You'll need a bar of natural Castile soap, washing soda, borax and your favorite essential oil. And of course white vinegar. First you grate the soap into small pieces. Avoid commercial soaps which are not eco-friendly. This is also a great way to use up those small left-over slivers of soap. To that, add one cup of washing soda. Washing soda is also known as soda ash or sodium carbonate. It's easy to find at your local grocery store.

Next add one cup of borax. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral. Also find this at the grocery store. Mix this all together with nine drops of your favorite essential oil. I love lavender or orange. These oils have a sweet and cheerful scent. You store it in an airtight container and you can use two to three tablespoons per load.

Now what about the white vinegar? White vinegar is a great all around natural, non-toxic cleaning alternative for everything from cleaning windows and counter tops to adding to your washing detergent. It's also a perfect alternative for bleach. Chlorine bleach isn't necessarily bad but it's very dangerous to have in your home around children. It's fatal if swallowed and caustic. It also pollutes and contaminates our water supply.

Instead of bleach use white vinegar in conjunction with your eco-friendly washing detergent by adding one cup to each lead and half a cup to the rinse cycle. The vinegar will boost the laundry detergent by fighting odors as well as whitening and brightening your laundry. It's a natural bleaching agent. In the rinse cycle it can replace our conventional fabric softener which is also terrible for the environment.

Making your own eco-friendly washing detergent is an excellent way to go green and create a healthy and non-toxic home.

by Anjie Cho

Visit the Holistic Spaces Store

eHow.com Video: Eco-Friendly Ways to Wash Your Clothes Without a Machine

Anjie Cho May 14, 2014

Washing clothing without a machine is an easy, inexpensive and wonderful way to save energy and extend the life of clothing.

see more eHow.com videos here

Video Transcript:

Hi. I'm Anjie Cho and this is the eco-friendly way to wash your clothes without a machine. Most of us use a washing machine and dryer to clean our clothing. Did you know that clothes will last longer and you can save energy by washing your clothes without a machine. It takes energy to heat up the water to wash and even more energy to dry the clothes in the dryer.

You'll need a large container or bucket or your sink. I have this laundry pod. It's convenient but by no means a requirement. If you're using a container or sink a washboard is also useful. They come in all sizes. You'll also need an eco-friendly biodegradable laundry detergent and a hanging rack or clothesline.

As you would with regular machine laundry separate your clothing into colors, darks and whites. Fill the container or sink with cool water. Remember warm or hot water uses up a lot of energy. At this point add some eco-friendly biodegradable laundry detergent. Let the detergent dissolve and agitate the water required. Then place the clothes in the container with soap and water and soak it for a few hours, overnight is best. This is a really important step for getting your clothes clean.

You can agitate the clothing periodically. My laundry pod has a crank to spin the clothes. You can also use a washing board at this time. After you soak the clothing drain the water and you can use this water to water your plants. Then you soak the clothing one more time in clean cool water. Again let it soak a few hours overnight, drain, use the water for plants. My laundry pod has a spinner so I can spin the water out. If you don't have this you can gently squeeze out any excess water. Hang dry the clothing on your laundry rack or outside on a clothesline.

Washing your clothes without a machine is a wonderful way to save energy, save the earth and even extend the life of your clothing.

by Anjie Cho