DIY All Purpose Homemade Cleaners your Hands Will Absolutely Love!
- We are exposed to many harmful chemicals every day.
- You can reduce your exposure.
- Learn how to make a safe DIY All Purpose Homemade Cleaner.
DIY all-purpose homemade cleaner is the way to go. Chemicals are everywhere and they are harmful to us and our families, including our pets. They are harming our environment too. Conventional household cleaners dry out your skin and they are toxic when consumed which is a real concern when you have little ones or pets. You know change is needed.
It goes beyond that too, so many of the chemicals used in all sorts of products are endocrine disruptors, meaning they mess up your hormones. They affect your reproductive system and your thyroid. They place a big burden on your liver which needs to work very hard to get rid of them. After time, they build up because the liver can no longer keep up effectively.
Reducing your exposure as much as possible along with living a healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do for you and your family. These homemade cleaners are non-toxic, eliminate germs and dirt, and are good for the planet too.
Common Ingredients In Homemade Cleaners
You can make easy and cost effective cleaners with a few ingredients that can be used for multiple purposes. Just one thing to keep in mind, I prepared a DIY cleaner at home. I mixed baking soda with vinegar and h2o2 and it boiled and leaked from the bottle so be careful in mixing all these. Not to worry though, I will let you know exactly what you should not mix.
1. Degreasing: Vinegar and lemon
Vinegar might not smell great, but it is great at degreasing. Use it while cleaning your greasy pots, pans, and plates. You can wipe down greasy surfaces with vinegar too. There is no need to dilute the vinegar before using it, just spray it onto the surface, leave it for a bit and then wipe the grease away. You can also use vinegar to get rid of mold. Lemon is also a great degreaser.
2. Foam: Castile Soap
Castile soap is a natural soap made from vegetable oils, originally from olive oil, but now other oils too. Castile soap is great for adding foam and it's so versatile. You can use it on your skin and to clean your home. You can even wash your dishes with Castile soap. It should be diluted with water, a little goes a long way. Never combine it with vinegar or other acidic substances. Castile oil is great for providing the foam that we like with some cleaners, for example, when we wash the dishes. It foams because of the coconut oil content, you can read more about it here.
3. Preservative: Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Tocopherol is found in many nuts and seeds and it naturally preserves the oils in them. The same can be done for your homemade cleaners especially when using Castile soap as a base. It is a great ingredient to add to your homemade personal care products as well for the health of your skin as vitamin E gets rid of bad free radicals. Its antioxidant properties are what makes it an excellent preservative.
4. Disinfecting: Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and Essential Oils
Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a non-toxic disinfectant. In this study, it was combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and results showed that it killed certain bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to get rid of mold when diluted with water. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to treat blocked ears and sinuses, but always dilute it with water first and never use hydrogen peroxide stronger than 3% or 10 volume.
To unblock your ears, dilute it 1 part H2O2 to 4 parts water. Put a few drops into one ear while lying on your side, wait a few minutes then pour the liquid out of your ear. Repeat on the other side. Continue reading below to see which essential oils are antibacterial.
5. Fragrance: Essential oils
There are so many different essential oils that you can choose from, each with their own scent. Adding them to your homemade cleaners make your home smell lovely. Some essential oils even have antibacterial properties and help your cleaners to kill off the few germs that hydrogen peroxide, for example, can't kill. Here are some of the most popular antibacterial essential oils:
- Tea tree
- Oregano
- Basil
- Cinnamon
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Bergamont
The added benefit of the antibacterial essential oils is that not only do they smell great, but they eliminate odors caused by the bacteria too. Essential oils can even be used in homemade body lotions and soaps.
6. Odors: Lemon, Grapefruit Oil, Baking Soda
Nasty odors are easily removed by these ingredients. You can use a few slices of lemon around smelly areas like the cat's litter box or you can put a little sponge soaked with lemon juice into your fridge. Did you know that lemon even removes limescale and rust? Just let some lemon juice sit on the limescale or rust for about half an hour before cleaning it off or boil the kettle with a wedge of lemon in it. Lemon is also a natural remedy to help treat colds and flu, check it out here.
Grapefruit oil also removes odors, you can add a few drops to water and wipe your fridge down, and rinse your bin with it. You can even add it to vinegar to remove mold, it will neutralize the smell of the vinegar. Put some baking soda in the bottom of your bin or put some into a little tub and put it under the sink or even in your fridge.
You can also sprinkle some in your shoes and let it sit overnight before removing it. Pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the drain and add hot water to eliminate odors and minor blockages. Baking soda can also help you to get rid of H.Pylori, a bacteria that is a source of intestinal discomfort for many.
7. Stains: Vinegar, Lemon Juice, and Hydrogen Peroxide
Spraying vinegar, lemon juice, or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 to be diluted in water first) onto the stain before washing the item helps to get rid of that stain. Lemon juice and hydrogen should only be used on whites. You can also add vinegar to your washing machine for the wash cycle. This helps to remove stains and gets rid of any lingering odors and is safe for even colored clothing.
Homemade Cleaner Recipes
1. Toilet
Ingredients: 1/2 Cup of baking soda 2 Tbsp of hydrogen peroxide 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil (or any other essential oil that you like the smell of)
Method:
- Add all the ingredients together and mix.
- Put the mixture in the toilet bowl and let it sit for a bit.
- Scrub thoroughly with a toilet brush and then flush.
2. Wooden floors
Ingredients: 4 L (about a gallon) of warm water 1/2 cup of vinegar 2-5 drops of essential oil of your choice
Method:
- Mix them together in a bucket.
- Mop as you usually would.
Remember not to wet the floor too much to prevent warping. This mixture dries quickly. Use a soft mop or a microfibre cloth to prevent scratching the wood.
3. Marble Surfaces
Ingredients: 2 Cups of water 1 Tsp of Castile soap 2-5 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional) 1 Table spoonHimalyan pink salt
Method:
- Put the water into a spray bottle (BPA free).
- Add the Castile soap and essential oil.
- Close the bottle and swirl around to mix.
- Clean as per normal.
Important: Never use abrasive liquids like vinegar or lemon juice on marble. Always use a soft cloth to prevent scratching.
4. Stains on Light Colored Marble:
Ingredients: 1 Cup of water 1 Tsp hydrogen peroxide
Method:
- Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle
- Spray onto the stain. You may need to let it sit for up to a half an hour.
- Wipe off with a soft cloth.
5. Stains on Dark Marble:
Ingredients: Acetone Cotton ball
Method: Put some acetone on the cotton ball and rub away the stain.
DIY All-Purpose Cleaner
As you saw, hydrogen peroxide is a very versatile natural product. It’s great for disinfecting and getting rid of mold and dirt. It does all this without exposing you and your family to chemicals and can be used all over the house.
Ingredients:
500 ml Hydrogen Peroxide (3% or 10 volume) 1 tsp essential oil (antibacterial is preferable)
Method:
1. Mix them together in a spray bottle to use. You can even combine different essential oils in half or quarter teaspoon measures to suit your fragrance preference. Important: 3% (10 volume) hydrogen peroxide is very diluted already and is fine to use without diluting for household cleaning. The exception is for mopping since you need hot water. Use 1.5-2L of hot water and mix in the same amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can also use 3.5 L of hot water with 1 cup of 35% (130 volume) hydrogen peroxide.
Never Mix These Ingredients
- Vinegar and Castile soap
- Vinegar and baking soda
- Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide
Ready-Made Natural Cleaning Products
If you do not have the time to make your own or just prefer to buy ready-made products instead
Conclusion
- Vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, essential oils, and Castile soap make effective cleaners around the home.
- Vinegar, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide clean disinfect, remove stains and degrease.
- Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice remove odors.
- Castile soap is great for multiple purposes, even washing the dishes.
- Essential oils provide fragrance and have antibacterial properties.
Have you ever tried to make a DIY household cleaner? What is your favorite recipe?
