DIY Natural Cleaning Products That Work
Check out these natural cleaning recipes for homemade hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, produce wash, liquid hand soap, a DIY bleach alternative, and more using ingredients you probably already have around the house!
In such a time of uncertainty, many of us are clinging to things we CAN control.
Keeping a clean home is high up on that list, am I right?!
While it might be tempting to spray your whole place with bleach (that makes things “clean,” right?), a lot of common household cleaning products are actually pretty toxic to our health. Not to mention, limited stock right now.
Luckily, there are simple ways you can DIY your own natural cleaning solutions to keep things sanitary and fresh.
Bonus: Some of the best natural cleaning products are probably already stocked in your cupboards!
Read on for simple, inexpensive cleaning solutions you can make yourself.
Must-Have Cleaning Essentials
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Before we get to the cleaning, let’s check out some of the most common (and most useful) natural cleaning ingredients you most likely already have around the house. Many of these are recurring in the DIY recipes below, but they can also be used on their own.
Here is a list of common, non-toxic household cleaning items:
Olive oil: This good-for-you cooking oil also works as a cleaner and polisher.
Salt: Chances are, you don’t keep salt with your cleaning supplies. However, you might want to start doing so. Any table salt will do, though a coarser salt (like sea salt) is a good option.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a hardworking cleaning item that is both versatile and inexpensive.
Borax: This original 20 mule team is a natural mineral that’s good for cutting grease, oil, and dirt.
Essential Oils: Essential oils have natural healing and disinfecting powers, and can be safely added to most cleaning products. Some essential oils like Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint will not only leave your home smelling fresh, but they are also amazing cleaning agents + immune system support.
Lemon: Lemon is known to be an environmentally friendly cleaning agent and acts as an antioxidant. Since lemon juice contains citric acid, it will cut grease while making your home smell oh-so-fresh!
Vinegar: Distilled white vinegar will clean everything. It comes in giant gallon jugs and can be used to disinfect pretty much anything.
Tip – add some essential oils to the mix so that your house doesn’t smell like vinegar – or try infusing with citrus peels to completely mask the vinegar smell!
Along with the list above, you’ll also need some basic cleaning supplies.
All of these are available on Amazon, so you don’t have to leave your house!
Here are my favorites:
- Scrub Brush: A simple hand held all-purpose scrub brush will come in handy when cleaning your home. This wood handled heavy duty scrub brush can be disinfected (with vinegar or alcohol) and reused over and over.
- Microfiber Cleaning Cloths: Microfiber cloths are non-abrasive so they can be used on all surfaces. They are super absorbent and won’t leave lint or streaks behind. (These are the same ones I recommend in the post How To Clean Up Spills And Remove Stains From Leather Furniture.)
- Glass Spray Bottle: You can use this beautiful, reusable spray bottle with any of your favorite cleaning solutions. My glass spray bottle is one of my favorite things in the kitchen because it’s useful and stylish! (These amber colored bottles are cute too!)
- Pumice Stone: Pumice stones are used to help break down and remove tough mineral deposits and stains. These handy cleaning superstars are really helpful when it comes to stubborn stains, particularly in your kitchen and bathroom.
5 DIY Natural Cleaning Products You Can Make
Queue the Outkast song because these homemade cleaning solutions will help you achieve a space that’s so fresh, so clean. 😉
Use these recipes to whip up your own homemade cleaners with ingredients from around the house.
DIY Bleach Alternative
If you’re convinced that you need bleach to clean.all.the.things – it’s time to rethink.
This easy bleach alternative recipe will not only naturally disinfect and fight germs, it’ll also brighten your load of whites! So skip the bleach and make this all in one handy mixture instead.
This bleach alternative uses hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, lemon juice, essential oils, and water.
Homemade Produce Wash
Talk about non-toxic: All that’s needed to clean and sanitize your fresh produce is vinegar, salt and lemon!
And when you’re done giving those veggies a good scrub, you can also use this mixture to clean off your cutting board and sink.
This DIY produce wash uses lemon juice, white vinegar, table salt, and water.
DIY Liquid Hand Soap
Hand washing is all the rage these days, and for good reason!
For a simple, effective liquid hand soap, try this 3 ingredient recipe from Mom4Real. It’s super easy to make at home, and will quickly become your favorite!
This DIY hand soap uses essential oils, Castile soap, and water.
Homemade Disinfectant Spray
For serious disinfectant power, try using this homemade disinfectant spray on counter tops, doorknobs, light switches, and even toys!
Don’t miss her tips on how to ensure this DIY disinfectant spray is antiviral based on the recent CDC recommendations.
This disinfectant spray uses essential oils, white vinegar, and alcohol to deodorize, sanitize, and kill mold.
DIY Hand Sanitizer
When you can’t find any hand sanitizer on the shelves, make your own! (Crazy times we’re living in ?)
The essential oils in this DIY hand sanitizer recipe do more than just disguise the scent of the alcohol. They are also antimicrobial, increasing the strength of this hand sanitizer. #winwin
This spray uses essential oils, aloe vera, and alcohol to kill germs and sanitize.
Free Printable for Natural & Safe Cleaning At Home
While there are plenty of commercial cleaners, you can also call on a few household staples to give your home a good natural cleaning.
One of my favorite bloggers created this beautiful (and free!) printable you can use as a quick reference guide on how to use the 6 most common household cleaning items.
With a few household items and a bit of elbow grease, you can clean just about anything in your home. I hope these simple and easy DIY cleaning recipes will make cleaning your home a breeze.
Prefer a made-for-you solution? Take a look at these Top Recommend Natural Cleaning Products You Can Buy.
What are some of your favorite ways to keep your home clean? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!
