These Natural Homemade Cleaning Products will make your house sparkle without having to use harsh chemicals! Plus they’re way more affordable than what you’d buy in the store!
The Magic of Homemade Cleaning Products
After having my first child, I started paying close attention what ingredients comprised the cleaning products I used in my house. The realization of just how harsh, toxic, and bad some of them were, not just for our kids and pets, but for our planet, made me say goodbye to them all — for good. Fortunately these days, there are lots of great safe and environmentally-conscious products on the market. While bringing you peace of mind, store-bought natural cleaning products often cost more than their chemical-heavy counterparts. That’s why I started making a lot of my own cleaning products at home. Natural Homemade Cleaning Products clean just as effectively as anything you can buy in the store, but for a fraction of the price as you’re using inexpensive ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. From the kitchen to the bathroom and and every nook in between, these seven DIY solutions will leave your home sparkling and smelling fresh.
1. Vinegar: Nature’s All-Purpose Cleaner
One of the world’s most effective cleaners is something you likely already have: white vinegar. This versatile ingredient is a true powerhouse when it comes to cleaning. Vinegar’s distinctive sour taste comes from acetic acid, which also possesses potent cleaning abilities. The acidity makes vinegar an excellent solvent for breaking down and dissolving tough stains, grease, and mineral deposits on various finishes, leaving surfaces gleaming. Vinegar also contains antimicrobial properties, making it ideal for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. Stored properly, vinegar last forever, so I always keep a gallon or two of distilled white vinegar under my sink.
Simple Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe:
To make a DIY all-purpose cleaner, simply mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. I love the sharp scent of vinegar in salad dressing and pickles, but it’s not how I want my kitchen or bathroom to smell. So, I add a few drops of either lemon, lavender, or mint essential oil (use any essential oil scent you like!). You could also put in the peel of a grapefruit, orange or lemon, or even a sprig of rosemary from your garden to the solution if you want. It gives your cleaner such a pleasant aroma plus the citrus contains mild disinfecting properties. So leave the chemical residues behind and say hello to a natural clean!
2. Baking Soda: The Mighty Scrubber
No doubt sitting somewhere close to the vinegar in your pantry is a humble box of baking soda. Aside from being an essential ingredient for cake making, baking soda is another must-have in any DIY cleaner’s arsenal. Baking soda’s gentle abrasive quality makes it perfect for tackling stubborn stains and grease buildup without causing damage to your surfaces. It’s even gentle enough to use on stainless steel, ceramic, and porcelain. Sprinkle baking soda onto sinks, tubs, and stovetops, then scrub it away with a damp sponge or cloth. You’ll be amazed at how easily it lifts away dirt and grime, leaving your surfaces looking like new. It also is the best way to tackle those caked-on, food-stained pots and pans (see my hack below).
To transform your baking soda into an even more potent cleaner and odor eliminator, combine it with vinegar. The combination of vinegar’s antimicrobial properties with baking soda’s mild disinfectant properties help kill bacteria and impede their growth on surfaces, and also break down dirt, grease, and grime from surfaces, making them easier to clean. It’s great as well to use for tile grout and for cutting through grease and oil buildup on surfaces. It’s even a great oven cleaner. The best part is that it’s safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly.
Hack for Cleaning Stubborn Pots and Pans
Here’s a magic hack for cleaning pots and pans. Take about ¼ cup of baking soda (or the amount needed to fully cover the food stained area). Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Add ½-1 cup of white vinegar (or the amount needed to cover the bottom of the pan) and bring to a boil on the stove. Remove from the stove, cover immediately, and allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes. Pour out the baking soda/vinegar mixture and use a scrub brush or sponge to remove any excess food.
DIY Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer
If you’ve got a stain on your carpet (cough cough… pets..) here’s an option for a natural stain removal with the help of baking soda (and our perviously mentioned friend, vinegar. First, sprinkle the stain with baking soda and let it sit for about 10 minutes and vacuum it up. Then, mix a tablespoon of dish soap, a tablespoon of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water. Use a sponge to blot this solution on the stain (don’t rub!) then blot with a dry cloth. Repeat this process until the stain disappears.
3. Lemon: The Degreaser Extraordinaire
The scent of fresh lemon is intoxicating to me. Not only does lemon smell divine, it also packs a powerful cleaning punch. Lemon juice can help deodorize and cuts grease! To use lemon as a natural cleaning ingredient, cut it in half, sprinkle it with salt, and you have a potent natural scrubber for cutting boards (you can’t beat it for removing the smell of onion or garlic from wood), countertops, and more. The acidity of the lemon juice helps to break down grease and grime, while the salt adds an extra scrubbing boost.
4. Castile Soap: Gentle Yet Effective
If you’re looking for an effective cleaner that’s also gentle, look no further than castile soap. Made from all-natural ingredients like olive oil and coconut oil, castile soap is safe for both you and the environment. Mix a tablespoon of castile soap with a quart of warm water for a gentle yet effective cleaner for floors or wall or countertops (even granite). You could even use it as dish soap. It’s tough on dirt but gentle on surfaces, making it perfect for all your cleaning needs. Dr. Bronner’s has been my favorite castile soap for ages. Its quality is second to none!
5. Essential Oils: Nature’s Fragrance
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts derived from the flowers, leaves, stems, bark, and roots of plants. Long prized for their aromatic and therapeutic properties, each essential oil has its own unique scent and potential health benefits, from calming and relaxing effects to boosting mood and energy. In addition to their use in aromatherapy, and skin and haircare products they are ideal for use in homemade cleaners, not only because of their obvious fragrance enhancing powers, but also for their antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, making them great for disinfecting surfaces. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil — they’re highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way — to your cleaning solutions for an extra boost of freshness and cleanliness.
Laundry Essential Oil Pro-Tip:
Add a few drops of your favorite oil to unscented laundry detergent. You can adjust the number of drops based on the level of fragrance you prefer. And replace those artificially scented dryer sheets, with your own homemade version. Just shake a drop or two of essential oil on a piece of paper towel and add it to the dryer just like you would a dryer sheet. Our laundry has never smelled more heavenly.
Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, and especially Grapefruit (for my surface cleaner) and a special blend by DoTerra called On Guard (which I can’t get enough of it) are some of my favorites oils.
6. DIY Glass Cleaner: Crystal Clear Shine
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then add a teaspoon of cornstarch. The cornstarch acts as a very gentle abrasive to the liquid, which helps scrub away any dirty residue on the glass. Make sure to shake well before each use, then spray onto glass surfaces and wipe away with a clean cloth for a crystal-clear shine. If you prefer to add a drop or two of essential oil for fragrance, go right ahead (peppermint is my favorite scent for glass cleaner).
7. Homemade Air Freshener: Natural Scents for a Fresh Home
Air fresheners are too often overlooked when it comes to cleaning the house. My bedroom and living room feel all the cozier — and cleaner — when there’s a hint of lavender in the air. Commercial air fresheners may smell nice, and seem innocuous — but most contain harsh chemicals and fragrances that can irritate the lungs and trigger allergies. Instead, try making your own air freshener. Simply mix water with a few drops of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle and spritz away to bring a fresh, natural scent to any room.
These seven solutions for DIY cleaning products will leave your home sparkling clean and smelling fresh, and all without the use of harsh chemicals. From vinegar and baking soda to essential oils and castile soap, nature provides us with everything we need to keep our homes clean and healthy — and for way less than any cleaning product you can but in a store. So why not embrace the beauty of DIY cleaning recipes and give these homemade natural cleaning products a try? Your home – and the planet – will thank you for it!
Let me know in the comments if you have any homemade natural cleaning products that you love to make! And tag me on social media if you use any of these ideas!
