Homemade Pine Cleaner

I came across a recipe for homemade pine cleaner. Trying to make my own cleaner up here in Maine is not only better for the environment, but also cheaper on my pocketbook. They charge something like a chemical tax for all cleaning items up here.

Pine needle cleaner breaks down grime, wipes away clean, and leaves a fresh pine scent! It’s easy to make with simple, natural ingredients!

Pine needles have antibacterial properties, so not only does this spray help break down everyday grease and grime, it can also help disinfect surfaces. But the best part is that it wipes away clean, leaving behind a fabulous fresh pine scent. It’s essentially a homemade Pine Sol …and it smells just as good too!

This one is so simple. Go outside and forage a bunch of pine tree needles. Any kind of needles will do, except leaves like are on arborvitae trees. You can mix and max. Stuff them in a mason type jar and fill with regular white vinegar. Add 5 drops of lemon essential oil. Be sure to cover all the needles. Let this steep (shaking occasionally) for 2 weeks.

When you open it and if it smells like VERY strong vinegar, let steep another 2 weeks (I had to do this).

When it is ready to strain, just strain out the needles and pour into a squirt bottle and it's ready for use.

TIPS:

• If you don’t have the lemon essential oil on hand, you can add fresh lemon slices instead. You could also omit the lemon altogether in a pinch! The pine cleaner will still work great without it; the lemon just adds a little cleaning boost and fresh smell.

• After straining the pine needles, don’t throw them in the trash! You can add the pine clippings to your compost pile, or simply toss them outside and let nature do its thing. It’s just plant material after all, no need to add it to a landfill!

• When you strain the needles, the remaining liquid will have a light yellow color…that’s totally normal!

Below are some pictures of the before and after results. Enjoy!