Homemade Enzyme Cleaner

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* Bissell is trademark to the Bissell Company

Have you ever used an enzyme cleaner?  I discovered them when we had pet stains in the rental house we moved into six years ago.  We cleaned the carpet with the Bissell enzyme cleaner and were very happy with the results.  

There's bacteria in the product that will break down organic matter.  It works wonders.  I used the left over product to clean other things too.  There's a whole list of what you can clean with it (see below for everything I've used it for).  However, it's expensive.  A bottle like this runs 6 to 18 dollars... and yes.. just like the other products I've shown you, it's mostly water.

So, I did a search a couple of years ago and found a newspaper article that introduced me to making my own.  This is not an instant product... the enzymes develop as the stuff you put in it ferments so be prepared to wait.

Enzyme Cleaner Concentrate Recipe:

• 3 parts Citrus Scraps  (rinds, pith, apple cores, peelings.. ect.) 
• 1 part Brown Sugar  (no bleached or refined sugar here)
• 10 parts Water

A Note About the Container:

Oh and yes I'm using that jug I got from the recycle bin yesterday.  You can use any container, just make sure it's clean.  A fruit juice jug or other wide mouth jar works well too.  It just needs to seal water tight.

Here's How:

• Chop the fruit, yes it's ok to use the whole fruit but you don't have to.  These grapefruit were on the ground under the tree outside and too far gone to eat.. but perfect for this.  
• Put the bits into the container with the sugar and water.  Close and shake well. 
• Store in a cool dry place with the lid loose.  The fermenting will create gas that needs to escape.  
• Close and shake the container daily for at least the first month.
• Yeast will grow on the top of the stuff, so if you can see into your jug and see a film, shake it up and don't worry.
• It'll be ready in three months.

This is a concentrate so I dilute it before using.  Here's some uses for it:

Undiluted:

• Unclog Drains - pour it right down the drain.
• Stains - finally something that works.
• Insect Repellent -  (have not tried this one yet - just heard this) Spray on all entrance points and pour down drains.
• Laundry Boost - 1/8 cup for heavily soiled laundry

Diluted:

• Bathroom Cleaning - 2 parts concentrate to 10 parts water. I put it in a spray bottle and clean with it as well as spray the shower daily after each use.
• Fruit and Veggie Wash - 1 part concentrate to 10 parts water
• Floor Cleaner - 1 part concentrate to 20 parts water.  Another spray bottle for this and there's no need to rinse when you are finished. (if you use a bucket, you can pour the mop water into your plants or down your drain so the concentrate works twice)
• Facial Cleanser - 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water.  I hear it's great for complexion and acne.  This is another I have not tried but will start Joey on it as soon as this batch is ready.
• Hair Rinse - 1 part concentrate to 10 parts water. I've heard that this will give you shiny smooth hair... it's worth a try.

Is the the last cleaner you'll ever need?  Maybe, but it's easy to run out so I tend to keep the others around too.