If you are looking to keep harsh cleaning chemicals out of your house and instead spend time making your own natural cleaning solutions, this is the guide for you.
Getting rid of harsh cleaning agents is one of the best ways to remove chemicals and toxins from the home. Instead of using store-bought cleaners, you can make your own effective cleaners using some easy to follow recipes and with products found in most pantries.
Many of the homemade cleaners are made using some of the same ingredients, making them easily accessible and cost effective as well.
To get you started, here is a recipe guide to natural and homemade cleaning solutions.
Our Recipes
All-Purpose Cleaner
This can be used all over the house but works really well in the kitchen. The combination of the white vinegar and baking soda works well to scrub away grease and dirt. The added essential oils of either lavender, tea tree or lemon all have disinfectant properties.
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 2.5 Tbsp baking soda
- 12 drops essential oil – lavender, tea tree or lemon
Mix the vinegar and essential oil together before adding the baking soda into a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake to mix all ingredients together.
Kitchen Scrub
Sometimes cooking leaves us with some dishes and surfaces that just don’t want to be cleaned. This soft scrub should work away all stubborn dirt.
- ½ cups eco-friendly liquid laundry soap
- 1 ½ cups baking soda
- 12 drops of essential oil – lavender or lemon (disinfectant properties)
Mix the laundry soap and baking soda together in a bowel to create a paste. Add the essential oils and store in an airtight container. If the mixture dries out over time, simply add a few drops of water to bring it back to the right consistency.
Disinfectant Wipes
These are so great to keep around the house in case of any spills or accidents. They can be whipped out easily and used to clean up little messes or little hands.
- 1 cup of water
- ¼ white vinegar
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 7 drops lemon essential oil
- 7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- Empty wet wipe container
- 20 squares of cloth (can use old t-shirts)
Fold the material into squares and place into the empty wipe container.
In a mixing bowl, mix together the water, vinegar, and essential oils. Pour the mixture over the cloth, and the mixture will soak into the material ready to be used.
Dishwashing Liquid
Instead of using chemicals to clean your dishes and cups, make up this homemade dish soap to use to clean off food from plates and cutlery.
- ½ cup of warm water
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup biodegradable cleaner
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
Mix the distilled water and salt until the salt is dissolved. In a separate mixing bowl, mix the vinegar, cleaner and lemon juice, add this into the salt water mixture. Add in the essential oils. Pour into an old liquid dish soap container.
Oven Cleaner
You don’t need much to have a good oven cleaner. Three simple ingredients come together to make an effective and safe oven cleaner.
- ½ cup baking soda
- 3 Tbsp water
- ½ cup white vinegar
Mix the baking soda and the water together in a bowl; add more or less water to achieve a spreadable paste.
Spread this paste all over the walls inside the oven and leave overnight. The next day, spray vinegar onto the paste using a spray bottle. This will create a foaming action which can be wiped clean using a cloth.
Drain Cleaner
Avoid horrid drain smells, and even more horrid smells of drain cleaners, by using this safe and reliable drain cleaner.
- ½ cup baking soda
- ¼ cup white vinegar
Sprinkle the baking soda down the drain, and then pour down the vinegar. The mixture will bubble; leave it to do so for an hour. Pour boiling water down the drain to rinse the mixture away. You may need to repeat this a few times before the clogged drain is clear.
Mirror and Window Cleaner
You can’t use just anything on your mirrors and glass; the wrong products will leave them streaky and unclear. This homemade mirror and window cleaner will perfectly clean and clear the glass in your home.
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup rubbing alcohol
- ½ cup of water
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
- 8 drops essential oils
Mix all ingredients into a spray bottle and spray onto the glass or mirror surface. Wipe clean. Remember to shake before use to ensure the corn starch is properly dissolved.
Air Freshener
Natural and homemade air fresheners actually smell better than store-bought ones most of the time. Here is a simple recipe to create your own air freshener at home.
- 13 drops of essential oil of your choice
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup of water
Mix all ingredients together into a spray bottle and spray before use. The recipe is easily adjustable to suit your preferences.
Wood Polisher
This homemade wood polisher is best used in a spray bottle and sprayed onto surfaces.
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 25 drops essential oil of choice
Mix all ingredients together into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the mixture directly onto wood and buff with a dry cloth. Shake well each time before use.
Carpet Freshener
This will not only disinfect carpets and kill fleas, but it also helps freshen up a room and give them a pleasant smell.
- 2 cups of borax
- 1 cup baking soda
- 12 drops of essential oil
Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Keep the mixture in an airtight container when done. Simply sprinkle on the carpet, let sit for 30 minutes and then vacuum it up.
Conclusion
Most of the homemade cleaning products contain baking soda and white vinegar. With these two ingredients, you can pretty much make any cleaner that you might need in the home.
Stock up on these along with some of your favorite essential oils and get cleaning!
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