Your ingredient cheat sheet

Nine ingredients. Five jobs. Once you know what each one does, every recipe makes sense.

Here's your quick reference.

Ingredient	pH*	Role	What it does
Sodium percarbonate	10-11	Oxidiser	Releases hydrogen peroxide ad washing soda in water to lift stains and kill bacteria
Washing soda	11-12	Alkali	Softens water, cuts grease, boosts other ingredients
Borax	9-10	Alkali / buffer	Softens water, inhibits mould, stabilises formulas
Bicarb soda	8-9	Mild alkali	Deodorises, gently scours, safe on almost any surface
Citric acid	2-3	Acid	Dissolves limescale and mineral deposits (do not mix with alkali's or soap)
Coconut soap flakes	9-10	Surfactant	Lifts dirt and grease and suspends it in water so it rinses away
Castile soap	8-10	Surfactant	Same job as soap flakes, in liquid form
Glycerine	~7	Humectant	Attracts and holds moisture to protect surfaces and skin
Xanthan gum	6-8	Thickener	Gives liquid cleaners body and helps them cling to surfaces

And a few supporting players...

These aren't in every recipe, but they show up often enough to know what they're doing.

Ingredient	pH*	Role	What it does
Essential oils	~5-7	Fragrance / antimicrobial	Scent your recipes and some (like tea tree) add antimicrobial properties
White vinegar	~2-3	Mild acid	Cuts light grease and mineral deposits (do not mix with alkali's or soap)
Hydrogen peroxide	~4-5	Oxidiser	Disinfects and lifts stains (use straight, don't mix with other actives)
Alcohol (vodka)	~7	Solvent	Dissolves oils and residues, speeds drying, extends shelf life
Water	7	Carrier	Activates everything else (quality matters, hard water affects results)

* pH values are approximate and can vary depending on concentration, water temperature, and formula.

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