These days you’re probably finding yourself cleaning your house a lot more than usual. There’s no need for any unnecessary trips to the store for cleaning supplies.
Here are five natural cleaner recipes with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
Making my own cleaning solutions saves money and keeps our home free from toxins and harsh ingredients harmful to our immune systems.
Look at the ingredient label of your common household cleaner. You’ll see a list of ingredients known to be harmful to our bodies—hormone disruption, cancer, body inflammation, and lowered immune functions.
Here are a list of ingredients to avoid in your cleaning supplies:
BPA, Phthalates, Triclosan, Perfluorinated chemicals (PFC), Perchlorethylene (PERC) Butoxyethanol, Ammonia, Sodium Hydroxide,
When in doubt, use the Think Dirty app to scan any household cleaning products. It will tell you if they are safe or not.
Toxic-Free Cleaning Ingredients
Distilled White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar. This is a great cleaning solution because of its high acidity. It can remove sticky build-up, dissolve soap scum, getting rid of hard water spots, and it kills salmonella and E Coli bacterias!
Baking soda. It’s awesome for absorbing order and removing stains. Plus it is a mild alkali and when mixed with water, removes dirt and grease.
Castile soap. It is gentle and safe for cleaning, (we also use it as our body soap mixed with essential oils). It is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way (cost-effective!)
Hydrogen Peroxide. This disinfects kitchen and bathroom surfaces, removes blood and red wine stains.
Rubbing Alcohol. It disinfects surfaces and safely cleans granite surfaces.
Optional items. Lemon, lime, orange, and melaleuca (tea tree) essential oils.
Cleaning Supplies
Rags. Use an old t-shirt as a reusable cleaning and dusting rag.
Amber glass spray bottles. Glass bottles are the safest if you are using essential oils, (oils will break down in plastic bottles and seep into cleaning mixtures). Glass is best for long term storing your DIY cleaning solutions
Microfiber cloth. G reat for cleaning and shining all surfaces (including phones, tablets, and laptop screens).
Natural Cleaner Recipes
All-Purpose Cleaner
-1/4 C. vinegar
-12 oz. water (3 cups)
-1 tsp castile soap
*10 drops of lemon, lavender, orange, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil for a natural, fresh scent. This is not necessary, but if you are an essential oil user a great bonus ingredient.
Mix all the ingredients in 16 oz. glass spray bottle, to clean any surface in your house.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
-1 C. vinegar
-10 drops of lemon essential oil
Mix in 16 oz. glass spray bottle. Top off with water. Spray toilet and let mixture sit for a few minutes. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. of baking soda then let sit for another 2 minutes. Scrub with toilet brush to eliminate odor and scum from toilet bowl.
Granite Counter Spray
-1/2 C. rubbing alcohol
-1/2 tsp. castile soap
Fill to the top of a 16oz. glass spray bottle with warm water.
Mix and spray onto granite surfaces to make them sparkle. (Note: using a vinegar cleaning solution frequently is not good for granite countertops)
Clean Your Dishwasher
Fill a bowl with 2 cups of vinegar and set it on the top rack of your dishwasher. Run a complete cycle, using hot water. Sprinkle baking soda throughout the bottom of the dishwasher, then run the dishwasher again. This should leave it very clean. For any stubborn spots, grab an old toothbrush & baking soda and scrub for easy removal.
Make Your Own Dish Soap
-1 C. of water
-2 Tbsp. baking soda
-1 C. liquid Castile soap
*30 drops of essential oil (I love lemon, orange or lavender)
-Bring water to a boil and slowly add castile soap. Allow the mixture to cool for ten minutes. Add baking soda and essential oils. Let cool completely and store in a glass container of your choice.
Here is my recipe for natural fruit and veggie wash, to safely wash all your produce when you get home from the store.
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