Get Your Shine On with Natural Homemade Cleaning Products

Are you ready for a sparkling clean home but want to avoid harsh cleaners?

Skip the chemicals and go the natural route. Cleaning product alternatives have been around for ages, often created with just a few staple kitchen ingredients. They are a great way to avoid harsh (and at times dangerous) irritants like chlorine bleach, ammonia, and synthetic fragrances.

These chemicals disinfect, but they also tend release gases and particles that can get into your lungs and the environment. 

Over time, these chemicals can damage surfaces, affect indoor air quality, and even make you sick. Homemade cleaning products are safer and affordable.

Most of the items you’ll need to create your natural cleaning concoctions are right in your pantry, like baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils. And you can create natural cleaning products to tackle dirt, grease, and grime effectively and safely.

Plus, you can customize to your liking based on scent, strength, and purpose. 

Keep Your House Spotless and the Family Safe 

From pets to kids, everyone benefits from natural cleaning products. Commercial cleaners can trigger allergies, asthma, and sensitive skin.

If you have pets, many cleansers have toxic chemicals that can harm them if accidentally ingested. These chemicals can even be absorbed through their paws.

Little ones are especially vulnerable if they are crawling and playing on floors freshly cleaned with harsh chemicals. 

Benefits of Homemade Cleaners

• Non-Toxic: Generally a safer option if you have kids, pets, or allergy-prone family members 
• Eco-Friendly: Reduces plastic waste and chemical runoff 
• Budget-Friendly: Most recipes cost pennies per use and last longer 
• Customizable: Option to add your favorite scents and adjust ingredients depending on use 
• Multi-Purpose: One cleaner can work with multiple surfaces  

Staple Ingredients  for Natural Cleaning Goodness

Our list of homemade cleaners includes a few staple ingredients; all you need to do is check your pantry! 

• Baking Soda: Gentle yet abrasive, use this to scrub away stains and deodorize.
• Borax: A natural mineral that boosts cleaning power and works great with laundry.
• Castile Soap: A plant-based soap that has multiple uses, like all-purpose cleaning.
• White Vinegar: Used in many cleaning recipes, it cuts through grease, dissolves minerals, and neutralizes smells.
• Essential Oils: Offers fragrance to your cleaning solution (tea tree, lavender, and citrus) and is known to have antibacterial properties. 
• Olive Oil: Perfect for polishing wood furniture.
• Hydrogen Peroxide: Naturally disinfects – great for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens.
• Citrus (Lemon Juice): Brightens surfaces and helps remove stains, and leaves a pleasant clean scent behind.

Now that you’ve gathered your essentials, it’s time to put them to work. Let the mixing magic begin with these simple homemade cleaning recipes.

DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

A quick go-to for your countertops, tiles, and chrome fixtures.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of warm water
• 1 cup of white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon castile soap
• 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (we like lavender or tea tree)

Directions:

1. Pour all your ingredients into a spray bottle.
2. Shake well before each use.
3. Spray on surfaces and then wipe with a soft cloth. For stainless steel, we recommend following the direction of the grain.

Natural Bathroom Scrub

Say goodbye to mold and soap scum! 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoons washing soda
• 1 tablespoon castile soap
• A few drops of tea tree oil

Directions:

1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add castile soap and essential oil to form a paste.
3. Once paste is formed, apply it to tiles, grout, and basins with a brush.
4. Scrub and rinse with hot water.

If you’re dealing with stubborn grout stains, sprinkle some extra baking soda and scrub with an old toothbrush.

Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Skip chlorine bleach and try this natural fix.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of baking soda
• ½ cup of white vinegar
• 10 drops of tea tree oil

Directions:

1. Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl.
2. Pour vinegar over it and let it fizz for 10 minutes.
3. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush.
4. Add a few drops of tea tree oil for a clean scent.

Furniture Polish

Keep wood surfaces shiny without harsh chemicals and fragrances. 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of olive oil
• ¼ cup of lemon juice
• 5 drops of essential oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients in a mason jar or spray bottle.
2. Dip a soft cloth into the mixture (or spray onto the cloth) and rub along the grain.
3. Buff with the dry cloth for a natural shine and add essential oil of choice for a natural scent.

Laundry Detergent Alternative

Commercial detergents can still be effective without scary chemicals. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of washing soda
• 1 cup of borax
• 1 bar grated castile soap
• Optional: a few drops of essential oil 

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container.
2. Use 2 tablespoons per load.

Glass & Mirror Cleaner

Get a beautiful streak-free shine with just three ingredients. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients in a spray bottle.
2. Spray and wipe with a lint-free cloth or newspaper.

Drain Deodorizer

Smelly drain? Here’s a recipe to keep it fresh.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of baking soda
• ½ cup of vinegar
• Boiling water

Directions:

1. Pour baking soda down your drain.
2. Add vinegar and let it fizz for 10 minutes.
3. Flush with boiling water.
4. Optional: Add in a few drops of essential oil 

Stainless Steel Polish

An easy way to restore shine to appliances. 

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Soft cloth

Directions:

1. Apply oil to the cloth.
2. Buff with a dry cloth.

Carpet & Upholstery Freshener

Neutralize odors from heavy foot traffic, pets, and more. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 10 drops essential oil (lemon or eucalyptus)

Directions:

1. Mix and sprinkle over the carpet.
2. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Natural Disinfectant Spray

A money-saving solution for doorknobs and light switches.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide
• 10 drops of tea tree oil

Directions:

1. Combine in a spray bottle.
2. Spray and let air dry—no need to rinse.

Oven Cleaner

Some of the harshest fumes come from oven cleaners. Try this effective alternative:  

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of baking soda
• 3 tablespoons of salt
• Warm water (enough to make a paste)

Directions:

1. Spread paste inside the oven.
2. Let sit overnight.
3. Scrub with a damp sponge and rinse.

Degreaser for Kitchen Surfaces

Stubbon grease is no match for this natural recipe. 

Ingredients:

• Peels from 2–3 lemons or oranges
• 2 cups white vinegar
• 1 cup of water
• 10 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Place citrus peels in a jar and cover with vinegar.
2. Let sit for 1–2 weeks, then strain.
3. Mix vinegar blend with water in a spray bottle.

Homemade Floor Cleaner for Hardwood

Keep your hardwood floors clean without damaging the finish.

Ingredients:

• • 4 cups of warm water
• • ½ cup of white vinegar
• • 2 tablespoons olive oil
• • 10 drops of lemon essential oil

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients in a bucket.

2. Mop floors with a damp (not soaking) mop.

Keep Your Home Sparkling with These Tips for Success

• Shake Well: Natural ingredients tend to separate, so make sure to give them a good shake.
• Test First: Always test your mixture in a small area before applying to delicate surfaces.
• Label Bottles: Write the recipe and date on each spray bottle for freshness.
• Store Safely: Even natural ingredients can cause irrritation to kids and pets, so be sure to keep out of their reach. 

Switching to homemade cleaners saves money and keeps your home environment healthy. As you reduce exposure to harsh chemicals, you also minimize environmental impact. So enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is clean and so are your cleaning products.

Check out a few more household tips:

• 20 Ways to Keep Your House Warm this Winter
• Fragrant and Floral DIY Homemade Air Freshener Ideas
• Home Gym Design: How To Make The Most Of A Small Space

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