Updated February 2020
EASY DIY CLEANING RECIPES
As I reached for my homemade spray cleaner to wipe away the handprints that seem to magically appear on various surfaces, I started to reflect on how many household cleaners I no longer purchase. Surprisingly, the list is quite extensive. It turns out that our home is primarily maintained with DIY cleaning recipes. Even more astonishing is that I hardly noticed this significant transition; it was a gradual evolution, one small change at a time. The best part? I don’t miss any of those commercial products, and I bet you won’t either.
There are several compelling reasons to embrace DIY natural cleaners, and you might relate to one or more of these motivations. Are you looking to eliminate toxic chemicals from your home? Do you want to be aware of what’s actually in your cleaning supplies? Are you simply fed up with carrying home countless bottles of cleaners? What about the excessive packaging that ends up in landfills? Or perhaps you’re just interested in saving some money?
These questions resonate with many, and I hear them frequently. For me, it was a combination of all these factors. Regardless of your specific reasons, I believe you will find both useful information and inspiration in this post. In the interest of simplicity, all the substitutes I recommend are straightforward and use basic ingredients that are versatile and can be applied in various ways.
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CLEANING SUPPLIES YOU CAN EASILY REPLACE IN YOUR HOME
- Window/glass cleaner
- All-purpose cleaner
- Floor cleaning solutions
- Carpet cleaner
- Air fresheners/deodorizers
- Laundry soap
- Fabric softener
Before deciding how to replace your current, likely more toxic and costly cleaners, let’s delve deeper into some reasons for making this switch.
ELIMINATE TOXINS FROM YOUR HOME AND THE ENVIRONMENT
This is arguably the most crucial reason to eliminate many, if not all, artificial chemicals from your household. With one family member a cancer survivor and another on the autism spectrum, the decision to cut out potentially harmful substances was a no-brainer. Advertisements would have us believe that a sparkling clean home is only achievable with their products, but I have discovered that this is simply not the case.
If reducing toxins is your primary concern, you can choose to use safer, commercially available alternatives to replace toxic cleaners. Products like liquid castile soap, Sal Suds, and Thieves cleaner may seem expensive initially, but they are highly concentrated, providing more value for your money. Concentrated products are also more space-efficient than large, commercially diluted solutions in plastic bottles.
Over time, I have curated a collection of concentrated products and easily accessible ingredients like distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and bottled lemon juice. When combined with high-quality essential oils, you can create a powerful arsenal of effective cleaning solutions. By opting for homemade cleaners, you contribute to reducing waste, as you can use refillable glass spray bottles instead of multiple plastic ones. Even if you use plastic, you’ll get more use from a single container before recycling it.
SAVE MONEY AND TIME BY MAKING YOUR OWN CLEANERS
Even if you’re not focused on eliminating toxins, you might be tempted to create your own cleaning supplies to save some cash. How does making your own cleaners save you money? For starters, many base ingredients can be purchased in bulk, such as vinegar and baking soda, both of which are incredibly versatile for both cooking and cleaning.
Additionally, that expensive laundry soap can easily be replaced with a homemade version that costs mere pennies per load. It’s far simpler than you might think! You’ll also save time, as you won’t have to make extra trips to the store when you run out of window cleaner. Plus, who wants to lug around heavy bottles? Treat yourself kindly; you have better things to do, right? You can whip up a homemade cleaner in the time it would take to write a shopping list!
Using bulk ingredients and/or concentrates also saves space, which is essential for anyone embracing a more minimalist lifestyle. If you’re wondering how long it will take to gather recipes and find safer, cheaper alternatives for your cleaning routine, I’ve got you covered! I only share recipes I know will work effectively.
Must-Have Ingredients to Keep on Hand:
- White distilled vinegar
- Baking soda
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Washing soda (which can be made from baking soda)
- Liquid castile soap
- Borax
- Sal Suds
- Essential oils – lemon, tea tree, lavender, mint, Thieves blend, etc.
- Non-toxic dish liquid
Manufacturers of cleaning chemicals would like you to believe that you need a different product for every cleaning job in your home. However, it takes surprisingly few cleaners to manage a variety of tasks.
The recipes in this post, along with cute labels for your DIY cleaning products, are all available as printables in the FREE Resource Library.
EASY AND EFFECTIVE DIY CLEANING RECIPES
GLASS AND ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
This recipe is incredibly easy to prepare, and it’s almost unbelievable how well it works. You may have heard that vinegar is an exceptional cleaner, but perhaps you struggled with cleaning your windows using vinegar alone. Why might that be? Most glass surfaces cleaned with commercial solutions often have an invisible waxy residue. Plain vinegar alone may not be sufficient to remove this wax buildup. By adding a small amount of dish soap, you gain the ability to cut through the waxy residue and pesky streaks, resulting in a beautifully clean surface.
Here’s the super simple glass and all-purpose cleaner recipe:
- 2 cups of filtered or distilled water
- 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dish soap (such as Mrs. Meyers or Thieves)
This straightforward glass cleaner recipe is highly effective for most all-purpose cleaning tasks. All of my favorite cleaning recipes are available as handy printables in my FREE Resource Library.
SOAP SCUM REMOVER
For an effective soap scum remover, combine:
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup Sal Suds detergent (often found in health food stores in the cleaning aisle)
Shake well before use and spray onto the area to be cleaned. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before rinsing. This solution is powerful, but be sure to work in a well-ventilated area due to the strong scent. For added cleaning power, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pad, which I always keep handy to make cleaning easier and faster!
CLEANING FLOORS FAST AND EASY
For laminate, tile, and sealed wood floors, I have found that the best non-toxic cleaning method is a steam cleaner. The cleaning pads are washable and reusable, and steam is remarkably effective at loosening even the most stubborn dirt. I was fortunate enough to find my current steam cleaner at a local Aldi store. The model I have is similar to many available on the market.
After owning another steamer with a rectangular mop surface, I now prefer the triangle shape, as it can easily reach corners. Most models also come with a carpet glide that allows you to run the steamer over your carpets to refresh them between deep cleanings. This won’t pick up dirt but will freshen the carpet. Always test in an inconspicuous spot first.
If you prefer not to use a steamer, you can utilize my glass and all-purpose cleaner spray. Simply spray the pad of a microfiber dust mop to achieve a nice clean on your floors. Always sweep or vacuum thoroughly before using any steam or wet cleaner on your surfaces.
DIY CARPET CLEANING SOLUTION
In our household, a carpet cleaning machine is essential. I can’t imagine being without mine. This is the model I use. After years of purchasing commercially available cleaning solutions, I realized that I could create my own solution for a fraction of the cost. And guess what? It works wonders!
HERE IS MY FAVORITE DIY CARPET CLEANER RECIPE:
- 1 gallon of hot tap water
- 1 tablespoon of dish soap (without bleach, of course!)
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1/4 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide
Fill the tank with hot water and add the remaining ingredients. Always test on a hidden area first to ensure it won’t fade the carpet.
AIR FRESHENING SPRAY AND DEODORIZER RECIPE
Advertisers want you to believe that your home must smell like Spring rain or some other fragrance to be considered clean. However, clean doesn’t have a smell. In fact, many air fresheners are quite toxic and entirely unnecessary. If you desire a fresh scent, simply open your windows during a Spring rain!
Nevertheless, there are times when a pleasant aroma is welcome. That’s where essential oils become incredibly useful. A few drops of your chosen oils in a spray bottle filled with distilled water and organic witch hazel (which acts as a dispersing agent) can effectively eliminate stale odors quickly and naturally. Always use any cleaner and essential oils with caution around pets, as they can be particularly sensitive to essential oils.
HERE IS MY SUPER SIMPLE AIR FRESHENER AND DEODORIZER RECIPE:
- 8 oz distilled or filtered water
- 2 oz organic witch hazel
- 10 – 15 drops of essential oils (a combination of mint and lemon works well for a refreshing scent, while lavender and mint create a calming atmosphere – feel free to experiment with your favorites)
Alternatively, you can place essential oils in a diffuser to freshen your rooms naturally. Just ensure you use high-quality pure oils that don’t contain fillers or added chemicals; otherwise, you may negate the purpose of using them. Here is where I purchase all of my essential oils.
Always use caution when diffusing or spraying essential oils around pets. Consult with your veterinarian if needed.
DIY LAUNDRY SOAP
After discovering that even the “all-natural” laundry soap from Costco scores poorly in terms of environmental impact, I’m determined to start making my own laundry soap again. It’s not difficult and lasts a long time. You can find my favorite liquid laundry soap recipe as a FREE printable in the Resource Library. It’s easy, super cost-effective, and ideal for my high-efficiency top-loading washer. The recipe only requires three basic ingredients, all of which can be found in the laundry aisle of larger grocery stores.
In case you want to go even more traditional, you can find a simple recipe for making your own washing soda! Pretty cool, right? The Borax used in this recipe is also excellent for combating ants. There’s been some discussion about the safety of Borax, which is a natural ingredient, so I thought I’d link you to an article that allows you to make an informed decision. Personally, I’m comfortable using it.
DIY FABRIC SOFTENER ALTERNATIVE
Have you ever walked through your neighborhood and caught a whiff of someone’s fabric softener from the dryer sheets they were using? Fabric softener sheets were among the first items to leave our home. Initially, I switched to an unscented and dye-free liquid fabric softener, but eventually replaced it with white distilled vinegar. The vinegar actually helps rinse excess soap from your laundry.
A smelly washer? That won’t be an issue for you if you add vinegar to every load and let your washer air out afterward. After experimenting with plastic dryer balls, I discovered wool dryer balls and have never looked back. I love adding a few drops of essential oils to them for wonderfully scented clothes.
When it comes to laundry stains, immediate treatment is key, regardless of which pre-treatment or detergent you use. The longer a stain sits, the more difficult it becomes to remove. Always test any stain remover first to ensure it won’t harm your garment. A dab of Sal Suds is particularly effective for tough stains, especially greasy ones, and can even work on stains set by the dryer. For stains like blood, cold water combined with hydrogen peroxide does the trick. I keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide fitted with a spray nozzle handy for those inevitable nosebleeds in our household.
If you’re interested in creating a clean and easy version of OxyClean laundry booster, it’s super simple to make your own. I found a great recipe here.
None of these recipes are complicated or time-consuming. They all work exceptionally well and will not only save you money and time but may also help you breathe a little easier. After scrutinizing too many labels filled with unpronounceable chemicals, I love knowing exactly what is in my cleaning supplies.
Check out some of my other homemade money-saving cleaning tips!
THE EASIEST AND BEST WAY TO CLEAN A THERMAL COFFEE POT
HOW TO MAKE CITRUS CLEANER FOR PENNIES
HOW TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR BATHROOM CLEANING ROUTINE
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