After spending so much time at home (and on social media), we’ve managed to pick up a few hobbies and cleaning may be on top of the list. In the past year, we have managed to inspect every nook and cranny inside our houses and to notice dust and dirt in places we may have never looked into under different circumstances. Now that we have a new passion for cleaning, most of us have probably noticed how expensive cleaning products are! Aside from the cost, different commercial cleaning products are also filled with toxic chemicals and wrapped in elaborate plastic packaging. There is no way these products are good for the environment yet we still need them on a regular basis.
Don’t fret! Another trending hobby now, all thanks to YouTube and TikTok, is DIY. When it comes to cleaning, there are thousands of ideas on how to make your own all-natural cleaning products with items that you can just find at home or in your go-to supermarket. To make most of these products all you need is a spray bottle and natural cleaning recipes that we provide here. These are the best methods used by professional services such as Dallas house cleaning company Modern Maids.
Below is a list you can check out for homemade cleaner recipes, natural cleaning ingredients and recipes that can help you be a more responsible neat freak:
Natural Cleaning Ingredients
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There are several items found in your pantry that can be used for cleaning. Whether you use them as is or mix them together with other ingredients for a DIY cleaning concoction is up to you!
Baking Soda
Used since many centuries ago, Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent that deodorizes, cleans and helps remove tough dirts. It can be easily applied alone to clean sinks, toilets, baths, ovens, fridges and surfaces to remove dirt and stains.
White Vinegar
Another item that is an effective cleaning agent is White Vinegar. It is an amazing multi-purpose product that can be used all over your home to get remove foul odors, stains, grease, dirt, mold and mildew. Surprising as it is because white vinegar has its own off-putting smell, it has properties that hIt may have a slightly off-putting smell, but it’s acidic nature makes it strong enough not only to clean but also to disinfect.
Salt
Even with it being a must-have in every cooking recipe, salt still offers more. It is a super versatile mineral that can scour off dirt. Salt helps boost the cleaning effects of other ingredients, such as vinegar or bicarbonate of soda, when combined together.
Castile Soap
Unlike chemically-ladened products, Castile soap is an ec0-friendly option that helps clean the home. It can also be used as an all-purpose cleaner – from laundry detergent, to dish soap, hand soap, floor cleaner and even shampoo.
Lemon Juice
Similar to vinegar, lemon juice is very strong acid that not only removes stains and dirt but also helps fight against bacteria. You can use it with water to create a homemade all purpose cleaner or glass cleaner with the proper dilution.
Olive Oil
More than just a healthy cooking oil, Olive oil is also used to loosen up stains, grease and grime on all kinds of surfaces.
Essential Oils
Naturally anti-bacterial, essential oils not only help to sanitize your house, but keep it smelling great too. S. Aside from keeping any space smelling great, Essential Oils are also naturally anti-bacterial and helps disinfect, purify and even remove stains without any toxic chemicals needed. The lemon essential oil and lavender oil are two of the top essential oils when it comes to homemade cleaners.
Soap Nuts
Soap Nuts are berries that produce a natural soap called saponin that foams up and helps remove grime and smells when you mix it with water. This eco-friendly alternative is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Soap nuts are ideal homemade cleaners because of there ease of use.
DIY Cleaning Spray Bottle Ideas
Okay, now that we’ve covered the basic ingredients, let’s now discuss special mixes you can prepare at home for all your cleaning needs:
1. All-Purpose Cleaner
It’s very simple: Mix equal parts water and vinegar then add drops of essential oils to counter the vinegar smell. You can also also add lemon or orange rinds as an alternative to essential oil. Voila! You have your all-purpose cleaner in a bottle! You can now use it to clean surfaces but avoid using it on on marble, stone or granite ones.
You can also use it to remove hard water stains or wall smudges, clean trash cans and so much more!
2. Kitchen Cleaner and Deodorizer
Mix 4-5 tablespoons of baking soda with warm water – that’s it! You can use the mixture to clean kitchen tops, appliances, the insides of your refrigerator, and sinks. You can also use baking soda to deodorize surfaces, drains or garbage disposals. If you want to shine or remove spots from stainless steel, create a paste using baking soda and water. Use a damp cloth and rub gently in the direction of the metal’s grain. Rinse and dry after.
3. Toiler Cleaner
For a heavy-duty toiler cleaner – mix the big guns: white vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. Pour these three together on the area you wish to clean, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse!
4. Natural Heavy-Duty Scrub
Dip 1/2 lemon into 1/2 cup of borax powder, use it to scrub surfaces and then rise. Using this method, you can get rid of rust stains on porcelain and enamel sinks or tubs! You can find borax powder in the detergent aisle of your favorite grocery store or online. Don’t forget about essential oil which makes the perfect homemade cleaners even for heavy duty scrubbing.
5. Laundry Detergent
Grind soap nuts or boil them in water, place them in a pouch and you have a natural laundry detergent. Add the pouch into your washing machine and use them for around 4 to 5 washes. When you’re done with them, they can also be composted in your garden!
6. Window and Mirror Cleaner
Mix 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water, put the mixture in a spray bottle and use it to polish and clean your windows and mirrors. You can also add essential oils to offset the vinegar smell. Avoid using the mixture on a hot day as it can leave streaks.
7. Air Freshener
Mix water and around 10 drops (or until the scent is strong enough for you) of essential oils and fill a spray bottle. Use it to freshen up the air, your furniture or linen.
8. Microwave Cleaner
Mix vinegar and lemon juice in a small cup and place it inside the microwave. Turn it on and leave the cup for 2 minutes. Leave the door closed for a further minute or so to steam, then open and wipe down the inside with a damp cloth.
9. Liquid Dish Soap
Mix 4 parts of Castile soap with 1 part water in a bottle then use it as a hand soap!
10. Furniture Polish
Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 3/4 cup of olive oil and juice from half a lemon. Use the mixture to wipe furniture. Olive oil works perfectly as a furniture polish. Mix together 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 3/4 cup of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon.
11. Mold and Mildew Cleaner
Fill a bottle with vinegar mixed with tea tree oil and use to spray affected areas. Let it sit for around 30 minutes and rinse off the area with warm water. Finish by scrubbing off with a cloth. Tea tree oil actually helps fighting the mildew!
12. Floor Cleaner
Of course, every powerful cleaner includes vinegar! Simple add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a buchet of hot water and a squeeze of Castile soap. Use this to scrub floors!
13. Carpet Deodorizer
Mix baking soda and 10 drops of essential oil. Shake and store! Whenever your carpet needs freshening up, use this mixture and leave for up to 30 minutes before vacuuming.
14. Oven Cleaner
Add 1/4 cup bicarbonate of soda, 1 tsp of salt into some water. Continue adding water little by little until you create a paste. Apply the mixture on your oven and let it sit overnight. Scrub and wipe clean the next day with a damp cloth for a sparkling oven!
15. Chopping Board Cleaner
Disinfecting chopping boards is a must! To do it, simply chop a lemon in half and rub over the surface of the board, then wipe clean. If there are tough stains, you can squeeze lemon juice onto the chopping board and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off.
16. Drain Cleaner
If you have a blocked drain, pour a good amount of baking soda first then add white vinegar to the drain. These two will help each other in breaking down dirt, grime and grease clogging up the drain. After 10-15 minutes, pour boiling hot water down the drain to clean everything out.
17. Stain Remover
Create an all-purpose stain remover by mixing 1/4 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and a squeeze of Castile soap or any liquid soap and 2 cups of water. Shake and pour into a spray bottle. Use it whenever you have a tough stain on your clothes or the carpet.
18. Homemade Brass Cleaner
Use salt and white vinegar to clean non-lacquered cabinet pulls, bathroom appointments, and more. Dampen a sponge with vinegar or lemon juice, then sprinkle on salt. Lightly rub it over the surface you wish to clean then rinse thoroughly with water. Immediately dry with a clean soft cloth.
19. DIY Grease Cleaner
Sudsy ammonia is an ingredient that contains detergent that helps remove tough grime. Combine 1/2 cup of it and enough water to fill a one-gallon container. Use it to clean your oven racks, stove hood, and grill by dipping a sponge into the solution and wiping over the surface before rinsing with clear water.
20. Last-Resort Clothing Stain Remover
To handle badly-stained white clothing, mix 1 cup of powdered dishwasher detergent, 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach (not ultra or concentrate) and add into 1 gallon of hot water. Soak the stained garment in mixture into a stainless steel, plastic, or enamel bowl for 15-20 minutes. If stain is still there, let it soak a bit longer, then wash the item as usual.