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Description

Girls will make a selection of environmentally friendly homemade cleaning products using simple household ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, and water. They will test each cleaner on different surfaces and compare how well it works against commercial cleaning products. Along the way, they will learn about reducing chemical use, protecting the environment, and making sustainable choices at home.

Resources

Resources Needed

**Cleaning Ingredients**

* White vinegar
* Baking soda
* Mild dishwashing liquid
* Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
* Warm water
* Lemon (optional)

**Equipment**

* Spray bottles
* Small containers or jars
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Funnels
* Mixing bowls
* Spoons or stirrers
* Labels and permanent markers

**Cleaning Supplies**

* Microfibre cloths
* Sponges
* Paper towels
* Gloves (optional)

**Testing Materials**

* Dirty mirrors or glass
* Ceramic tiles
* Stainless steel trays or sinks
* Plastic surfaces
* Commercial cleaning products (for comparison)

**Other**

* Recipe cards or instruction sheets
* Observation/comparison worksheet
* Rubbish bin and recycling bin
* Handwashing facilities

Instructions

1. Discuss why environmentally friendly cleaning products are better for people and the environment.
2. Divide the girls into small groups and provide each group with a homemade cleaner recipe.
3. Measure and mix the ingredients carefully to make the cleaning product.
4. Label each cleaner with its name and ingredients.
5. Set up cleaning stations with different dirty surfaces (e.g. glass, tiles, stainless steel).
6. Test the homemade cleaner on one half of the surface and a commercial cleaner on the other half.
7. Observe and compare how well each cleaner works, considering cleaning power, smell, ease of use, and cost.
8. Record the results on a comparison sheet.
9. Discuss which cleaner worked best and how using homemade cleaners can reduce waste, harmful chemicals, and plastic packaging.
10. Clean up the activity area and safely store or take home the homemade cleaners.

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