6 DIY (and Chemical-Free) Household Cleaning Products
Do you know what’s in some of your favorite household cleaning products?
According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, 53% of the cleaners they tested had chemicals that are harmful to lungs. Carcinogens like formaldehyde and chloroform were also found in some popular cleaning products.
The cleaners you use could also be having a negative effect on the air quality in your home.
The thought that you’ve been cleaning harmful chemicals can be alarming. That’s why some people have stopped using traditional household cleaning products and are making their own.
Do you want to have a clean, chemical free house? Read on to learn how to make your own powerful household cleaning products.
The Cleaning Power Of Your Pantry
You may not know this, but your pantry is full of everything you need to clean your home.
A box of baking soda can do more than keep your fridge fresh. Baking soda is a powerful cleaner that also has abrasive properties. It’s great for scrubbing, and for keeping things white and clean.
A thick paste of baking soda and water can be applied to nearly any grimy surface and have it clean in a matter of minutes.
Vinegar and lemons have acidic properties that make them excellent cleansers. Mixing them with water, or just using them on their own, can give you a powerful cleaning solution.
DIY Household Cleaning Products
Making household cleaning products from scratch can be easy when you have the right ingredients. We’re going to share some of our favorite cleaning solutions with you.
These cleaning products are tough, inexpensive to make, and are safe to use around pets.
Are you ready to have a cleaner and healthier home? Try out some of these DIY household cleaners the next time you need to clean.
Simple Essential Oil Cleanser
Do you have an essential oil that you love the scent of? There’s an easy way for you to turn your favorite oil into a cleaning product you can use on almost any surface.
Combine a 3/4 cup of water with 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol. Once you’ve done that, add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil and put in a small squirt of natural dish soap.
Once you’re done, add it to a spray bottle and wipe down surfaces with a clean cloth. The rubbing alcohol and the soap will help disinfect and clean surfaces, and the oil you added will help it smell great.
This cleaning solution will work on most surfaces, but it isn’t recommended for glass.
Degreaser
Degreasers are an essential for any kitchen. A lot of degreasers on the market use harsh chemicals to cut through grime, but luckily there’s an eco-friendly degreaser you can make.
Combine 2 cups of water with 2 generous tablespoons of lemon juice. The acidic nature of the lemon will help cut through grease, and it’ll give the cleanser a citrus scent.
Once you’ve done that, add a tablespoon of baking soda and a 1/2 tablespoon of Dr.Bronner’s Castile Soap. Dr.Bronner’s Castile Soap is an organic soap that’s a powerful cleaner. The baking soda can help scrub grease off of surfaces.
Once you have the ingredients combined, but them in a spray bottle and wipe down surfaces with a cloth. Also feel free to pair this with steel wool for surfaces that need a deep cleaning.
Glass Cleaner
There’s a simple cleaning solution you can make to give your windows a streak-free shine.
Combine 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. For best results, you may want to use an organic vinegar, but regular can work.
After that, add 5 drops of peppermint oil and 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol. The vinegar and alcohol can help strip away grime, and the peppermint oil gives the cleanser a nice scent.
Kitchen Cleaner
There are a variety of household cleaning products you use to clean your kitchen. You may have an arsenal of oven cleaners and surface sprays, but there’s only one thing you need to have a spotless kitchen.
Combine 1/4 cup of natural dish soap with 1/4 cup of baking soda, 3 drops of water, and 5 drops of clove oil. Feel free to add a little more water if you don’t want a thick cleaner, or add less for if you want a highly concentrated solution.
Clove oil is a powerful cleaning tool because it has so many useful properties. This essential oil is anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antiseptic and anti-viral. It can help disinfect kitchen surfaces and cut through build up.
Shower Cleaner
If you want a powerful shower cleaner, all you need is water and white vinegar. Combine 1/4 cup white vinegar with water, add to a spray bottle, then you’re good to go.
White vinegar is a powerful cleaning agent. It’s an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, and even a herbicide.
This cleaning solution can also help give your shower head a good cleaning. If you’re noticing soapy build up, but the solution in a plastic bag, tie it to the shower head, and leave it there for 10 minutes.
Mold and Mildew Cleaner
You don’t need harsh chemicals to get rid of mold and mildew. If you have baking soda and an essential oil, you have everything you need to cleanse your house.
Combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and two drops of tea tree oil. Put your cleaning solution in a spray bottle and spray it liberally.
Tea tree oil is antimicrobial and antiviral, which makes it the perfect oil for cleaning mold and mildew. Feel free to add this powerful essential oils to other cleaning solutions for its disinfecting powers.
Wrapping Up
This post only mentioned a few DIY household cleaning products you can make, but there are plenty more out there. In fact, some of you may have a cleaning solution you like to make.
Do you have a DIY cleaning product you like to use? Tell our readers about it in the comments! And don’t forget to submit your favorite cleaning gifs with our gif uploader.