Homemade Powdered Cleanser (Similar to Comet or Ajax)

Looking for a homemade version of Ajax or Comet (minus the harsh bleach)? This morning my son and I whipped up a container of our own version of powdered cleanser in about 15 minutes.

Homemade Powdered Cleanser

Ingredients:

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup borax

1/2 cup washing soda

1/2 cup baking soda (set aside 1 tablespoon if you will be adding essential oils)

5-10 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)

Combine salt, borax, washing soda, and baking soda in a container with at least a 2 cup capacity. If you will be adding an essential oil, grind the reserved 1 tablespoon baking soda with 5-10 drops essential oil in a mortar and pestle, and then add to the rest of the mixture. Shake well to combine.

To use: Dampen surface you wish to clean. Sprinkle cleanser over surface; allow to sit for a couple minutes if desired. Scrub cleanser into surface with a sponge until clean. Rinse cleanser off with water.

This cleaner should be safe to use on most hard surfaces, including stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic, or plastic. If you are in doubt about whether or not to use the cleaner on a surface, test a small, inconspicuous area first.

I used an old Parmesan cheese container to put my cleaner in--it's perfect since it has the shaker holes at the top. If you don't have a Parmesan cheese container, perhaps you could try a large spice container, or follow the directions here to make a shaker using a mason jar.

We tested the cleaner on our kitchen sink right after we made it, and I was very pleased with the results. There were several rust spots in the sink from a steel wool pad, and the cleanser tidied them right up. My only recommendation would be to wear gloves if you have an open cut on your hand--the salt will sting it.

Cost-wise, the entire 2 cup batch only cost me around 96¢ to make--not to shabby! That comes out to only 6¢ an ounce, which is several cents cheaper per ounce than anything you'd buy in a store. So, not only is it cheap, but it is fast and easy to make, and cleans wonderfully. Go ahead and whip some up!

Soapmakers: Why You Shouldn't Use Vinegar if You Come into Contact with Lye

It was one of the first things I learned when I began making my own soap; I read it in books and on the internet: "Always keep a jug of vinegar on hand when you are working with lye. Vinegar neutralizes lye." Soapers, have you heard this? Do you practice the habit of keeping vinegar nearby when you make your soaps? So did I, until recently, when I read an interesting post on a soap forum, and then decided to research the claim myself.

Khachapuri: A Delicious Cheese and Egg Filled Bread

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Summer Squash and Wild Rice Casserole

Squash season will soon be upon us. Yellow Crookneck Squash The time will come when I will make my daily trek out to the garden and be delighted to see that my first yellow crooknecks and zucchinis are ready for picking...and then there will be more the next day, and the next, and the next. It will eventually get to the point where I have grown weary of eating squash sauteed in butter, I've frozen enough of it to last me the winter, and even dehydrated thin slices of it into chips, and still, it continues to produce, and begs for me to pick it. Which is why I wanted to share this recipe--it was a winner (even my oldest son, who is not much into squash, said that it was good). Summer Squash and Wild Rice Casserole

DamummisSeptember 4, 2012 at 4:42 PM
OOOoo I am SO doing this. *runs off to gather supplies*
UnknownJanuary 30, 2016 at 12:49 PM
Love this recipe so far, I used Wild Orange Essential Oil!!! Scrubbing away. Question for you. Several other recipes I found for DIY cleansing powder included adding 1/2 cup of ascorbic acid. I usually see it used for anti-caking. Any thoughts on adding this one way or the other? Not sure if there would be an additional cleaning power. Thanks in advance.

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