Natural cleaning products became extremely important to me after having kids. They spend so much time on the floor or eating on surfaces cleaned with toxic products. These chemicals linger on their skin and clothing, and accumulate over time in the body. I knew I wanted to minimize my family’s exposure to these chemicals as much as possible, so I began researching DIY household cleaning products. After reading up on each of the below recipes, I eventually combined my favorite mixtures to create tried and true products that I can fully stand behind.
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Purchasing the below items initially may seem like an investment. Consider it an investment into yours and your family’s health. But financially speaking, these items in bulk will last 6 months-1 year, maybe even longer depending on your household and cleaning habits. Additionally, DIY household cleaning products may even be cheaper or at the very least equal in cost. For natural cleaning, all pantries should be equipped with:
- Baking soda
- Distilled white vinegar
- Unscented castile soap
- Distilled water (this will make mixtures last longer)
- Quality essential oils for natural scent (I really love the selection and quality of Plant Therapy; I’ve tested their quality on my instagram before).
All-Purpose Cleaner
About 3 years ago, I began using an all-purpose spray from what I considered to be a natural brand. When I learned about the Think Dirty app, I scanned the barcode. I found out that although relatively safe on the spectrum (scoring a 4/10) it still contains preservatives that cause systemic allergies. It also contains a particular ingredient used as a masking agent that is considered toxic (camphor).
I decided I would start mixing my own natural all-purpose spray to control what was going into the product and save money in the process. My one-time investment of a glass spray bottle was probably the most expensive part of this DIY household cleaning product and will be with me for the long haul. All of the other ingredients are problem items you already own!
To make this all-purpose spray, you will need:
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 1 cup distilled water
- 3 teaspoons unscented castile soap
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil (or your preferred scent! Other oils that pair well with tea tree include lavender, eucalyptus and other citrus oils).
Add all of the above ingredients into the glass spray bottle with a funnel. Shake and clean as you please! You can also use this all over your home, including the kitchen and bathroom. For tough jobs or mildewy spots, spray and let it stand 5-10 minutes. Then sprinkle with baking soda and scrub with a bristle brush or sponge. Be careful when using this on granite or marble countertops, as the acidity of the vinegar could damage it.
Tip: You can always adjust the measurements, just keep a 1:4 ratio of vinegar to water as well as 1:8 ratio of castile soap to water for optimal natural cleaning power.
Glass Cleaner
This is one cleaning product I really overlooked. The brand I was using had “fragrance” on the label. You may be surprised to learn that when this is listed, it could actually be a cocktail of over 100 chemicals! Another reason to ditch anything with this in it? Companies are not legally obligated to disclose any of the chemicals in their “fragrance”.
To make this really simple DIY glass cleaner, grab the following ingredients:
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 2 cups distilled water
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
- 10 drops of peppermint (or your preferred essential oil).
Add all of the above ingredients into the glass spray bottle with a funnel. Shake and clean as you please! A tip for streak-fine shine is to use either a microfiber cloth or newspaper for cleaning windows and glass! My grandma always used newspaper for cleaning the mirrors in her home and it always worked better than paper towels.
Tip: This can be used on stainless steel appliances to leave them looking clean without having to put an elbow into scrubbing away smudges.
Wood Cleaner (and Dusting Spray!)
I used to use a very popular brand of dusting spray to clean my furniture. After finding out that it scored a whopping 8/10 on the Think Dirty app (laden with fragrance, preservatives, and petroleum), I ditched it and made my own diy household cleaning product. I was inhaling these fumes every time I cleaned my furniture, providing all of those endocrine disruptors and carcinogens direct access to my body.
To make this wood cleaner, you will need:
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 2 cup distilled water
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon unscented castile soap
- 10-15 drops lemon or eucalyptus essential oil (or essential oil of your choice).
Add all of the above ingredients into the glass spray bottle with a funnel. Shake and clean as you please! Always test in a small, inconspicuous area first. I have used this on all of the hard furniture surfaces in my home without issues but each piece is different. Be careful when using on real wood flooring, as they are typically sealed differently than wood furniture.
Refresh Fabric Spray
When my husband, Gio, and I bought our home, we decided on a beautiful dark grey sectional for our living room. I absolutely love the look and comfort of it! But after 5 years, 2 kids, and 1 very active miniature pinscher, my beautiful couch has become another cleaning burden for me. We’ve spot cleaned, washed entire cushions, and had it professionally cleaned. In between all of this maintenance, I use a fabric spray to keep it smelling nice.
In keeping true to the theme of this post, my fabric spray was of course just another product full of toxins. The brand I was using scored 9/10 on the Think Dirty app. Highlights include diethylene glycol (neurotoxin); quaternary ammonium cationic softeners, or “quats” (linked with reproductive harm); and fragrance (which we already know is a toxic cocktail).
To make this DIY fabric refresh spray, you’ll need the following:
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 2 cups distilled water
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 10-15 drops lavender essential oil (or essential oil of your choice).
Add all of the above ingredients into the glass spray bottle with a funnel. Shake and spray as you please! Always test in a small, inconspicuous area first. I have been using this for months now and haven’t had any issues. This can also be used to refresh throw pillows, stuffed animals, and area rugs!
Tip: For small, hard to wash fabric items like stuffed animals and pillows, throw them in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes; this kills dust mites! I do this at least once a month.
Fruit and Veggie Spray
Confession: I’ve actually never used anything other than water to clean my produce. And by clean, I mean run it under tap water for 3-5 seconds before eating. What I found out after doing research was hard to ignore for someone as type A as myself. Before you open that pack of strawberries or grab that spinach to eat at home, it’s been touched by who knows how many dirty hands. Thoroughly cleaning your produce before eating gets all of the debris off, including parasites and bacteria.
To make this natural produce wash, grab the following items:
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 cups distilled water
Add all of the above ingredients into the glass spray bottle with a funnel. Shake and spray your produce; let it sit for up to 5 minutes. As opposed to spraying, soaking is best for leafy greens. Let your greens soak for the same amount of time and make sure they are covered completely! Rinse all produce after cleaning and let them dry completely before storing.
Tip: Using produce storage containers has significantly extended the life of my fruits and veggies. Just make sure they are completely dry before storing to prevent mold.
Stain Remover Spray
Stain remover sprays can contain ingredients that cause allergies, reproductive harm, and even cancer. According to healthychild.org, if your current stain remover spray contains anionic or nonionic surfactants, alcohol ethoxylate, fabric-brightening agents, fragrance, and/or dye, DITCH IT! Instead, opt for a natural stain remover spray with a few ingredients you already own.
To make this stain remover spray, gather the following ingredients:
- 16-ounce amber glass bottle
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 1/2 cup vegetable glycerin
- 1/2 cup castile soap
- 2 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 40 drops of lemon essential oil
Place each ingredient in the bottle and shake before use. Spray on the stain and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Use a brush to agitate the stain. If any sign of the stain remains, throw the item in the washing machine with washing soda. Note: This recipe should be stored in a glass amber bottle and stored in a dry/cool place to preserve the hydrogen peroxide.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been cleaning with store bought products and haven’t turned the bottle around, you may be surprised by what you find. There are a few clean brands that you could buy; however, it is cheaper to DIY and you can control the ingredients. There’s also something so satisfying about cleaning with homemade, natural products scented with quality essential oils. Trust me, once you go natural, you’ll never go back. As always my friends, read your labels and know your ingredients!
FREEBIE | Now that you have all of these new DIY household cleaning product recipes, you’ll need some labels to dress up your bottles! Just sign up for our email list to stay up-to-date and get instant access to 6 SVG cleaning product labels:
- All-Purpose Cleaner
- Glass Cleaner
- Wood Cleaner
- Produce Spray
- Refresh Spray
- Stain Spray
I go through soooo much Fabreze in an attempt to refresh our couches and bedding (dog mom life). I’m excited to try your refresh spray recommendation!
Let me know how you like it!