Many homeowners are concerned about the chemicals in their living spaces. We know that some paints, commercial cleaning products, flooring, and furniture release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect indoor air quality. To help reduce VOCs and keep your home safe and healthy, learn how to make your own cleaning solutions. With just a few simple ingredients, you can mix up homemade cleaning products for your household.
Types of Homemade Cleaning Products
Window and Glass Cleaner
Use a homemade glass cleaner to wipe down mirrors and windows. You’ll only need white vinegar and water. Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and shake well.
First, use a dry cloth to wipe the glass and remove any dust. Then spray the glass with your vinegar-based solution and wipe it clean. If you have an area that’s particularly tough to clean, dip your cloth or paper towel in 100% white vinegar to tackle that area.
Bathroom Cleaners
Dirt and germs often build up in the bathroom, so you need a cleaner that’s strong enough to cut through the grime. Especially if you have hard water in your home, use lemons in your homemade cleanser. The citric acid will help to destroy germs and dirt.
Mix lemon juice with white vinegar, baking soda, and your choice of essential oils. Tea tree oil is an excellent choice for the bathroom. Once you’ve mixed those ingredients, you can clean the shower, the bathroom sink, and the toilet bowl with one cleaner. Always use hot water when cleaning these areas to help with the disinfection process.
Hand Sanitizer
An effective hand sanitizer can be made with simple ingredients that you may already have in your home. You’ll need rubbing alcohol and aloe vera. Use aloe directly from the plant or purchase pure aloe vera gel.
Add 1/3 cup of aloe vera gel to a bowl with 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol and blend well. You can add a drop of your choice of essential oil for a pleasant scent. While hand sanitizer shouldn’t be a replacement for soap and water, it’s a great germ killer to keep on hand.
Dish Soap
Washing greasy dishes is a chore. Thankfully, it’s not as difficult when you use homemade dish soap. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is a compound that can be found on the cleaning aisle of your local grocery store. When mixed with castile soap and essential oils (lemon is a great choice for dish-washing), it is an excellent solution for cutting through grease and grime on dirty dishes.
Use ⅓ cup washing soda, 1 cup castile soap, and 1 cup water. Bring the water to a boil and mix with the washing soda in a glass bowl. When the mixture cools, stir in the castile soap. Store your dish solution in a glass bottle. If pots and pans have a bit of build-up from a past meal, let them soak for a few minutes in hot water. Then, use this dish soap to get your dishes sparkling clean.
Homemade Cleaning Products for the Kitchen
Whether you’re wiping down kitchen countertops, cleaning the refrigerator, or mopping the floors, a strong cleaner that doesn’t release toxins is ideal for your household. For an all-purpose cleaner, use 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 1/2 cups water, and a few drops of tea tree essential oil. Mix well in a spray bottle. Tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties that kill mold and bacteria.
To make a cleaner that’s good for scrubbing stubborn stains on pots and pans, the sink, or the microwave, mix a paste from the following ingredients: 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and a splash of white vinegar to scrub hard-to-clean areas.
When you make cleaning supplies out of natural ingredients, you decrease your carbon footprint and create a healthier home. A lot of store-bought cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause health issues. By making your own cleaning products, you’ll eliminate those concerns and enjoy a sparkling clean home.
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