RECIPE: Natural bleach alternative

Recipe courtesy of Don’t Waste the Crumbs

I think we can all agree bleach isn’t the best cleaning solution out there. You can’t eat it, it smells awful and it’s dangerous for kids. But are there good alternatives out there? You bet! And that’s what I’m going to tell you about in this post.

This recipe is totally easy-peasy, which I think we all appreciate given our time and energy.

Supplies

• 3/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 10-15 drops lemon essential oil
• 3/4 cup baking soda
• 7 cups water

Method

Combine all ingredients in a container capable of holding 1/2 gallon or more. Shake well.

Use 1 cup per load, washing with hottest water setting available.

Some other recipes call for equal parts hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice, but I thought that was a bit expensive with so much lemon juice. The 3:1 ratio is enough to get the job done, and keep costs down.

Hydrogen peroxide should be kept in a cool, dark place and preferably in a dark bottle. I used an old water jug for this solution, labeled it appropriately and keep it stored in the garage where it’s normally dark anyway. Plus that’s where our washer and dryer is.

The water you add can be plain tap water. No need to use filtered water when it’s only going to be combined with tap water in the washer anyway.

Here’s a cost breakdown. How can you beat this?

• hydrogen peroxide: $0.07
• lemon juice: $0.18
• lemon essential oil: $0.38 (this is the only ingredient that’s hard to find at a discount store, so I’ve given you another resource)
• baking soda: $0.21

Total cost for 1/2 gallon all-natural homemade bleach alternative is just 84¢!

Store-bought bleach at most warehouse stores costs around 3¢ per ounce, but the homemade version costs just 1¢ per ounce – and you’re not getting the harmful chemicals!

To get the best deal possible, aim for less than $1 for a 32oz bottle of hydrogen peroxide and buy baking soda and lemon juice in bulk at a warehouse store.

If you try this recipe out and have any changes or tips, let me know in the comments!