Did you know that you can have a healthier home, save money, and help our environment by cleaning with food-safe ingredients such as white vinegar and baking soda? It's easy to make your own or buy non-toxic products.
The conventional cleaning products on store shelves are often toxic and are making us and the earth sick. Many are made with harmful chemicals that can cause cancer, asthma, reproductive/developmental issues, allergies, burns and poisonings. Their labels can be confusing and misleading. The good news is that there are safer products you can buy (see the EWG website on the Resources page), or you can easily make your own!
I've been on a mission to replace conventional cleaners with safer, greener ones. I began with easy things such as not buying Windex and instead mixing white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Bam! Money saved and no more toxic chemicals. Then I replaced toxic kitchen, bathroom, and floor cleaners with simple DIY cleaners that are better for me, Franny, and the earth.
If you are ready to give it a try, I promise you it's easy, and you can get started with stuff you already have in your kitchen or pantry. Go GREEN when it comes to where you eat, sleep, and play 💚
Use the recipes below to make your own, or look up non-toxic products on my Resources page.
Here is a starter kit of tools and ingredients to have on hand for a naturally fresh and clean home. 🧼🧹
Baking soda
Lemons
Salt
White vinegar
Alcohol (Isopropyl/Rubbing or Ethanol)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Liquid pure castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner's Rose Hemp or Lavender)
Essential oils (100% pure, organic)
Spray bottle
Cotton rags or towels (replaces single-use paper towels)
Mop with removable washable cotton covers
All Purpose Cleaner
Use for kitchen and bathroom surfaces, including stone & tile, stainless steel, painted wood, doorknobs & light switches. Also great for painted walls, most wood, spot cleaning carpets and upholstery, outdoor furniture, and other large household objects.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of water
1 tbsp of pure castile soap
STEPS
Add water and castile soap to a spray bottle. Shake well before using.
Spray onto counters, sinks, faucets, tubs, showers, toilets, etc. Wipe clean with a cotton rag or towel.
Scouring Powder
Use for srubbing sinks, tubs, showers, toilets, and other hard surfaces that need extra scouring. Spot test to be sure the surface is scratch resistant.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups baking soda
10 drops lemon or lavender essential oil (optional)
STEPS
Store in a glass jar if adding essential oil.
Sprinkle on surface to clean and scrub using a damp cloth.
Bleach Alternative
INGREDIENTS
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp hydrogen peroxide
1 tbsp liquid castile soap
1 gallon of VERY hot water
STEPS
Mix ingredients together in a bucket or sink.
Put your clothing items into the bucket and let soak for 15-20 minutes.
Move the clothes around in the water when it's cool enough and then let them sit for a couple of hours.
Ring them out under cool running water and hang them to dry in the sun.
Drain Cleaner
One of the easiest ways to remedy minor clogs is with baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and hot water.
Remove the strainer or stopper on the sink or bathtub.
Loosen clogs by running hot water down the drain for two to three minutes.
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar.
Cover the drain and let the cleaning solution sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
Pour hot water down the drain (or boiling water if your water doesn't get very hot).
Bathroom Cleaner
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup pure castile soap
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus or peppermint oil
2 cups water
STEPS
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.
Spray on all surfaces and wipe clean with a damp cotton rag or towel.
Toilet & Shower Scrub
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup baking soda
2-3 tbsp hydrogen peroxide
2-3 tbsp pure castile soap
STEPS
Mix ingredients in a small bowl. The mixture should become a thick paste.
Dip a rag into the mixture and rub onto the shower/tub in a circular motion. Cover the entire surface that you want to scrub.
Let sit for 10-20 minutes depending on stains and then wash off with water.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Use this formula for quick cleanup.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup white vinegar
10 drops tea tree essential oil
STEPS
Combine all ingredients.
Immediately pour it all into toilet bowl.
Swipe with toilet brush and flush.
Toilet Bowl Overnight
Use this formula for mineral buildup or stains.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid powder or lemon juice
1 cup vinegar
10 drops pine or lavender essential oil
5 drops lemon or lime essential oil
STEPS
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Immediately pour into toilet bowl.
Let sit overnight. In the morning, just flush.
Glass & Mirror Spray
INGREDIENTS
1 cup warm water
1 cup white vinegar
10 drops lemon or lime essential oil (optional)
STEPS
Add water and vinegar to a spray bottle and shake well before using.
Floor Cleaner
INGREDIENTS
1 cup white vinegar
4-8 drops essential oil (pine, sweet orange, lemon, lavender)
1 gallon hot water
STEPS
Mix white vinegar, essential oil and hot water in a bucket or sink.
Dunk the cotton mop cover into the water and wring out completely.
Damp mop a section of floor at a time, rinsing and wringing out the mop cover after each section.
Throw the mop cover in the washing machine to have ready for next time.
Carpet Deodorizer
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of baking soda
10 to 20 drops essential oil (optional)
STEPS
Mix into a bowl and sprinkle on carpet. Brush it in for deeper odors.
Let it sit 20 minutes and then vacuum it out. It not only deodorizes your carpet, but also your vacuum canister.
Yoga Mat Spray
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup white vinegar (or witch hazel)
3 drops tea tree oil
1-3 drops lavender essential oil
1 cup water
STEPS
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.
Simply spritz and air dry or spray until wet and wipe with a clean cotton cloth.
Alcohol Room Spray
INGREDIENTS
1 cup rubbing alcohol or unflavored vodka
1 cup water
20 drops of essential oil such as lavender, bergamont, vanilla, lemon, rose or jasmine (optional)
STEPS
Add ingredients to a spray bottle.
Shake well before spritzing.
Vinegar Room Spray
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 cup water
20 drops of essential oil such as lavender, bergamont, vanilla, lemon, rose or jasmine (optional)
STEPS
Add ingredients to a spray bottle.
Shake well before spritzing.
Odor Absorber
INGREDIENTS
1 cup baking soda
20 drops of essential oil such as lavender, bergamont, vanilla, lemon, rose or jasmine (optional)
STEPS
Mix baking soda and essential oil in a glass jar or other glass container..
Place in the room you want to freshen and let it sit for a week or more.
Simmering Potpourri
INGREDIENTS
3-4 dehydrated orange slices
2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2-3 cinnamon sticks
2-3 teaspoon whole cloves
2-3 star anise
4 cups water
STEPS
Add all ingredients into a slow cooker or stovetop pan.
Cook for as long as required on high in the slow cooker or low on the stovetop.
Once activated, the mix can be stored in the fridge for up to 5-7 days and reheated again and again.
There are so many uses for lemons around our homes. They really are the natural magic bullet.
Shine up metal pots and pans, and faucets
Remove stains from marble countertops
Descale coffee makers and tea kettles
Remove stains from dishes and storage containers
Kill bacteria on cutting boards and wooden utensils
Clean and remove odors from microwave
Deodorize the garbage disposal
Get rid of yellow underarm stains
Remove rust or mildew stains from fabrics
Brighten whites in your laundry
Freshen air
Keep away bugs
Make glass sparkle
Remove tough toilet bowl stains
Make your own furniture polish
Salvage hardened paint brushes
To see details, go to the full article in The Spruce.