How to make safe, effective, inexpensive products with ingredients you probably already have at home.

In the process of cleaning your home, you may be inadvertently contaminating it. Many of the cleaning products sold in stores contain toxic chemicals and fragrances that are unhealthy for you and your family. To add insult to injury, many of those same products are also over-priced, as their main ingredient is water. So, how can we effectively, safely and more inexpensively clean our homes? Simple: Make your own cleaning products! The recipes below include ingredients you probably already have in your home, and they are safe and highly effective (I say this as a self-described clean freak!). To store them, I repurposed old spray bottles/glass containers, but you can also find spray bottles at your local paint shop or hardware store. I labeled each product using labeling stickers and a permanent white marker I got from Amazon. I have to say, they do make the cleaners look nicer.

Notes: 

• Many of these recipes call for distilled water because tap water contains minerals which can cause streaking or hard water stains. You can find bottles of distilled water in most grocery stores.
• Many of the recipes also call for white vinegar, as it is a highly effective disinfectant and is non-toxic. Yes, vinegar smells unpleasant, but the scent will dissipate! In the meantime, open a window, or else your house will smell a bit like a salad until the scent subsides.
  

Multi-Purpose Cleaning Sprays:

Two Options for Non-Porous Surfaces and Floors (Except Wood)

Option 1:

Ingredients:

• Distilled water 
• White vinegar 
• ½ teaspoon dish soap (such as Seventh Generation)
• A few drops of an essential oil of your choice (optional for scent)

Directions:

Mix 1 part water and 1 part vinegar together in a spray bottle. Add soap and oil (if using). Shake gently. Spray on surfaces and wipe clean.

Option 2:

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup of distilled water 
• ⅓ cup of castile soap – Dr. Bronner’s is great and comes in various scents.
• A few drops of an essential oil of your choice (optional for scent if you buy something other than Dr. Bronner’s)

Directions:

Mix water and castile soap together in a spray bottle. Add essential oil, if you choose. Shake gently. Spray on surfaces and wipe clean.

Dusting Spray (For Wood Furniture):

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of distilled water 
• ¼ cup of white vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• A few drops of an essential oil of your choice (optional for scent)

Directions: 

Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle. Gently shake. Spray on cloth and wipe down wood surfaces.

Window Cleaner:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of distilled water 
• ½ cup of rubbing alcohol
• ½ cup of white vinegar 
• ½ teaspoon of dish soap (Seventh Generation is a non-toxic brand) optional (to cut grease) 

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and apply to any glass surface. Wipe clean.

Bathroom Cleaners

Sink/Bathtub/Toilet Cleaner:

Ingredients:

• Distilled water 
• White vinegar 
• Baking Soda

Directions:

• In a spray bottle, mix 1 part of distilled water with 1 part white vinegar. This may be used to disinfect the toilet, bathtub and bathroom/kitchen sink.

• Sprinkle baking soda on your tub, bathroom sink and in your toilet to use as a scrub. 

Daily Shower Spray (No Rinse):

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of distilled water 
• 1 Tablespoon of rinse aid (ECOS or Seventh Generation make non-toxic options)
• 1 teaspoon of dish soap (Seventh Generation is a non-toxic brand)
• ½ cup of rubbing alcohol
• ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide

Directions: 

Mix all ingredients together in a dark colored/opaque spray bottle (peroxide loses its effectiveness when exposed to light). Spay over your tub/shower curtain/glass doors after each shower. There is no need to rinse.

Laundry:

Stain Removers:

Ingredients:

• Baking soda
• Dish soap (Seventh Generation is a non-toxic brand)
• Hydrogen peroxide (in a dark colored/opaque) spray bottle 
• White vinegar in a spray bottle
• Clean toothbrush/small brush

Directions:

These ingredients should be kept separate until you are ready to apply them to a stain. When it’s time to treat a stain, follow the instructions below. Tip: Don’t heat dry any item of clothing until after you are sure the stain was successfully removed in the wash. Heat from the dryer will set stains.

Blood or Makeup: Hydrogen peroxide might work alone. If not, apply some peroxide and then some dish soap and rub in using the toothbrush. Rinse and wash cold.

Oil: Use a mixture of dish soap and baking soda to make a paste. Massage in with the toothbrush and let it sit for at least an hour. Wash warm/hot.

Grass: Vinegar may do the trick on its own. If not, add baking soda and a bit of dish soap to the stain and massage in gently with the toothbrush. Let it sit for an hour. Rise cold, wash as usual.

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