Why make your own cleaning products?
Try some all-natural homemade recipes for your cleaning products this spring. Many of the ingredients in these chemical-free cleaning products are things you probably already have around the house. Even if you don’t, they are easy to find and pronounce, unlike the many chemicals you find in most commercial cleaning products.
Disinfectants in commercial products kill all bacteria- good and bad. Additionally, using antibiotic products can create pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics, so they get stronger and stronger, eventually becoming “superbugs.” Using gentle, all-natural homemade cleaning products means you don’t have to worry about superbugs or the toxicity of such products around kids or pets.
Homemade Natural Cleaning Recipes
All-Purpose Vinegar Cleaning Spray (adapted from Good Girl Gone Green)
- 3 parts filtered water
- 1 part vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar)
- 5-7 drops essential oil of your choice
Add to a spray bottle and fill up with more water if necessary. Avoid using a plastic spray bottle, as essential oils and acidic ingredients like vinegar might break down the plastic and leech chemicals into your spray. Try screwing a spray bottle top onto a leftover glass bottle, such as the empty vinegar bottle.
Natural Scouring Powder
- 2 parts baking soda
- 1 part salt
- 1 part borax (optional)
- 3-5 drops essential oil of your choice
Put dry ingredients into a jar and shake well to combine. Add drops of essential oil one at a time, stirring between each drop. If you want, punch holes in a jar lid to make a shaker top, otherwise, simply sprinkle where it is needed. Use a wet sponge, cloth, or scrub brush to clean any surface, such as in bathrooms, where there is discoloration. If you use borax, use caution around eyes and eating surfaces.
Stain Removing and Brightening Solution
Copyright newlivinghouston on flickr- 1 part hydrogen peroxide (diluted to 3%)
- 2 parts water
Use for anything that needs brightening, and change the proportions as necessary. For soaking clothing stains, you can use 3% hydrogen peroxide without any additional water. For cleaning floors, add a cup or two of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of hot water, and wash without wiping. Hydrogen peroxide is a non-toxic disinfectant that is also unscented! Soak toothbrush heads in hydrogen peroxide from time to time to disinfect them and extend the life of your toothbrush.