Simple Homemade Softscrub Cleaners

Here are two quick and easy recipes for making an effective soap scum buster on the tub surround or a gentle cleaner for around the kitchen and bathroom.
The first is a basic mixture while the second adds a lavender scent using essential oil and powdered milk for making a smoother paste.
Use these on surfaces where you need some extra power that is more gentle than an abrasive powder.

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#1
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup liquid dish detergent
1/8 cup – 1/4 cup vinegar
Mix the baking soda and dish detergent first, then add the vinegar.
Adjust the baking soda or vinegar amounts until you have the consistency you like working with.
#2
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup powdered milk
1/8 cup (one-eighth) liquid castile soap
5 drops lavender Essential Oil
Combine all ingredients in a squirt-top bottle and add enough water to make a smooth paste. Shake or stir to mix.
Apply to surface, then wipe area with a damp sponge or cloth. Rinse well.
*Source: The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier

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Tips
Just use whatever’s on sale or a generic brand of dish detergent and you’ve got yourself some super cheap, yet very effective, homemade softscrub!
The liquid dish detergent is what you would use for hand washing dishes, not dishwasher detergent.
Use the amount of vinegar that gives you the consistency that you prefer.
Vinegar’s a great grime buster–so don’t be shy with it.
If you just want to do some spot treatments and don’t need a large amount of softscrub, give the spot a light squirt of dish detergent, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on top and gently rub. You won’t need to bother with the vinegar for small spots like this.
Try heating the vinegar in the microwave first before mixing it in with the other ingredients. You don’t want it super hot, but a warm temperature that’s comfortable to work with.