5 DIY All Natural Cleaners to Try

Cleaning your home may be something you enjoy doing or it may be a dreaded chore. But no matter how you feel about it, it’s something that must be done. Instead of using the cleaners you buy in the supermarket, making your own natural cleaners is a safer, more effective, and eco-friendly way to clean.

Making your own cleaners is easier than you probably think and the best part, according to Good Housekeeping, is that you may already have everything you need – like vinegar and baking soda – in your pantry. While all natural DIY cleaners are safe to use, it is important for you to label your containers and list all the ingredients just in case your child or fur baby gets into them.

Here are five DIY cleaner recipes to make your home sparkle:

All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
This all-purpose cleaning spray from the spruce can be used to clean your kitchen countertops, stainless steel appliances, and is effective in cleaning grease. All you need to do is fill a clean spray bottle with equal parts of white vinegar and distilled water. Then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or you can add citrus peels which will also enhance its cleaning power. Just mist and wipe the surfaces you are cleaning.

Homemade Dish Soap
This fantastic grease cutting homemade dish soap recipe from the living well mom blog only has three ingredients: castile soap, essential oils – lemon, lavender, and orange –, and distilled water. It is better to use a glass container since essential oils could break down plastic containers. Just mix the ingredients together and you are ready to tackle even the grimiest dishes.

DIY Laundry Detergent
Making your own natural laundry detergent requires some ingredients that you may not normally have in your pantry but a little goes a long way, according to a recipe from the spruce. You will need a bar of castile soap or soap flakes, baking soda, washing soda, and borax. If you use a bar of soap, it must be grated. Add all the ingredients to a bowl while wearing gloves because washing soda is caustic. It takes just minutes to make. This recipe is good for 30 loads of laundry.

Homemade Glass Cleaner
This DIY recipe from Good Housekeeping will leave your windows and mirrors sparkling. All you need is white or apple vinegar, rubbing alcohol, water, and orange essential oil. Then just add to a clean spray bottle. The alcohol evaporates quickly so it doesn’t streak. When cleaning mirrors, it is best to spray the solution on a clean cloth.

Disinfectant Spray
Instead of using an alcohol-based disinfectant, this recipe from the Green Citizen blog uses citric acid – an antimicrobial – instead. It is simple to make, just mix a few spoon fills with water and add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to a clean spray bottle. Use this mixture to sanitize your kitchen counter tops or any other surface you prepare food on.