Stop Poisoning Yourself – Make Your Own Safe Scouring Powder

Photo credit: bigstock.com

There is something soothing and nostalgic about using a product that your grandparents perhaps even your great-grandparents used. There is a great deal of wisdom in doing some things “the old fashioned way.” Do you remember your mother, or grandparents using an old fashioned scouring powder called Bon Ami? This old time scouring powder was completely natural and was famous for not scratching.

Many women take cleaning products for granted until they have children. Toddlers, especially, make you aware of every single product you have in your home that is toxic and/or deadly. Whether you have children or not, it’s a good idea to go through your household cleaning products and get rid of items that are toxic or that contain endocrine disrupting chemicals.

If you are wondering why we are discussing Bon Ami, it’s because this product does the job without any chlorine, artificial dyes, perfume, or any other kind of toxic chemical. It actually scrubs away dirt and grime with nothing more than a sponge or soft brush. However, there are some sources stating that Bon Ami can cause respiratory issues such as irritation.

If you are one of those “do it yourself” kind of people, you probably are already making your own toilet bowl cleaners, laundry soap, face creams and deodorants — so we figured, why not make your own scouring powder?

If you have been using borax as a natural scrubbing agent, you should know that, like Bon Ami, there are sources claiming that this powder also causes lung and respiratory problems. Although you can find arguments on both sides of the issue, why not stick with something that does not contain borax until we know more about it? Better to be safe than sorry, especially since there is a safe alternative.

This recipe takes about two minutes to make and is so easy your kids will love helping you mix up a few batches. It’s inexpensive and cleans better than the typical store brands of scouring powder but without the expected smell of chlorine bleach. This works well on bathroom floors, kitchen floors, tubs, toilets, and just about any place where you would normally use scouring powder.

Continue to Page 2

Photo credit: bigstock.com

OK, so how do you make it? Get ready because it is so easy, you won’t believe that this is all there is to it:

DIY Scouring Powder

Ingredients:

1 cup of baking soda
½ cup of regular, non-iodized salt
½ cup of washing soda (you can find this in the laundry aisle of your supermarket)
5 to 7 drops of lemon essential oil (optional)

Pour all ingredients into a jar or bowl and mix well.

You can make this into a shaker, just like your old scouring powder, by putting this mixture in a mason jar and poking some holes in the top of the lid. You can also save a couple of your parmesan cheese containers and use those. Parmesan cheese containers are perhaps the perfect choice as the lid allows you to shake a little, or dump quite a bit, and then close the lid to keep the mixture dry in-between uses.

Tips for Easy Use:

For super ugly messes, wet the surface with a bit of water or white vinegar first
Sprinkle on the powder, then allow to sit for 5 minutes
Scrub using a soft brush
Then rinse with water or vinegar

If this does not clean everything, repeat the process. Chances are excellent that no matter how ugly your mess is, after two swipes using the method above, your tub, shower, sink or whatever will be clean as a whistle.

We bet that after you try this homemade scouring powder, you will never even want to go back to your old scouring powder. Let us know how this powder worked for you! We would love to hear from you!

References:

www.jstevens.wordpress.com

www.pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prev Next