So it’s the year 2020 (Don’t we love how like 90% of our stories start that way now?) and all the cleaners are gone. And that’s when I thought to myself, “Dang, I don’t even know how to make this stuff on my own…”
Did you have a similar moment?
Now, I fortunately had worked as a housekeeper through college, and had some roommate situations in college that had taught me some things in my house that I could use to clean my house when I ran out of my store-bought cleaners. But I started wondering, how do I do this on my own, and would it be more cost-effective?
The answer is actually yes! And actually as I have researched things over the past two years, making your own cleaner actually eliminates some of those toxins that we maybe don’t always realize are in our cleaners. So today, I’m sharing some of my favorite cleaning recipes!
Multipurpose Cleaner
One of the first cleaners I started making was a multipurpose cleaner. I tried several different recipes from Pinterest, but my favorite homemade multipurpose cleaner is from Classically Cait’s blog:
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 4 TBSP. white vinegar
- 2 C. hot water
- 5-10 drops of essential oils (I use citrus such as lemon, sweet orange, grapefruit, or a citrus blend)
When I am cleaning something more greasy, (like the stove, or spills from food on the counter, I will add about an 1/8 c. dish soap.
Laundry Detergent
Another one we swapped out was laundry detergent. I have played with a few different versions to get a liquid detergent that I like. When I make a batch of laundry detergent I use:
- 14 c. hot water
- 1 c. baking soda (I usually use washing soda for a little extra deodorizing + stain fighting power)
- 1/2 c. Castile soap
- 1/2 c. salt
- 15-20 drops of essential oil
We store this in a glass jar and use about a 3/4-1 cup of the detergent each load.
Floor Cleaner
Looking for a quick mix to mop your floors? I use Frugally Blonde’s recipe. (I scale it down though, because I use a spray mop, rather than a bucket.)
- 2 gallons hot water
- 1 Tbsp. dish soap
- 2 Tbsp. washing soda (it’s very similar to baking soda, so you can use that if you don’t have washing soda on hand)
- 1/3 c. vinegar
- 10 drops essential oil
Bathroom Cleaner
All of us need a good bathroom cleaner right? This one has been really good!
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tbsp. dish soap
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- Juice of 1/2 lemon or 15 drops essential oils
Disposal Bomb `
Another thing I love to do when I am cleaning is take care of that super nasty smell coming from the disposal. When I clean the disposal, I run cold water for a minute, then run the disposal. Then take about a 1/8 cup to 1/4 cup (I eyeball, and don’t actually measure about it) of baking soda, a natural deodorizer. (Did you know that’s why your grandma had that random box of open baking soda in the back of the fridge?) On top of the baking soda, I use about a teaspoon of lemon juice, or a few drops of lemon essential oil. Then I let that sit for about 20 minutes.
After that, I take about a 1/4-1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide and pretend I’m in 2nd grade science again, and let that bubble. I’ll scrub the inside with a scrubby the paste, then rinse and run the disposal again.
Pantry Item Cleaning Tricks
In my college days, I worked as a housekeeper, and had some interesting experiences due to some of my roommates. where I learned some additional cleaning tips with things that are already in your pantry:
- White vinegar makes the best streak free glass cleaner.
- Sprinkle baking soda over carpet after cleaning up vomit gets the smell out.
- Baking soda and vinegar takes care of a smelly shower drain.
- Hydrogen peroxide takes blood out of linens.
- Slice lemons in have and use as a scrubby for hard water stains.
- Simply lighting a match in the bathroom can help with unwanted odors 😉
Tip I’ve Learned
- Plastic bottles tend to deteriorate after multiple uses with essential oils (particularly citrus ones, I LOVE citrus in my cleaners) so glass spray bottles are safer, and more longer lasting.
Happy Cleaning!
Whether you are looking to eliminate some of the toxins in your home, or just trying to have more tools in your belt should your favorite cleaners go out of stock again, it’s always fun to pick up a new skill. I hope this helps as the spring cleaning bug starts to catch up to all of us!
XO,
Cheri
Resources
- Classically Cait, Cruelty Free Cleaners
- I tweaked my laundry soap from Lemon Zest + Basil, Easy Homemade Laundry Detergent for $2.88 a Batch
- Homemade Floor Cleaner, Frugally Blonde