There is nothing better than cleaning your home with all-natural, homemade cleaners, especially when you find a recipe that works well. I started making my own household cleaning products about four years ago when I learned the hazards of toxic cleaning products and the harmful health effects they can cause.
Making my own cleaning products is quick, easy and inexpensive. Non-toxic cleaners also clean better than most of the products I have bought in the past.
One ingredient that I absolutely LOVE to clean with is vinegar. I use it to clean just about everything! Vinegar can be found in any foodstore. In fact, you can find a gallon-sized jug of it at the grocery store for less than $4. White vinegar cleans my floors, deodorizes rooms, and softens my fabrics in the laundry. The best thing about vinegar is it is a natural disinfectant . When cleaning with vinegr, the smell usually goes away after the vinegar dries.
An all-purpose cleaning spray that I heavily rely on to clean my home with contains vinegar. In a 32 ounce spray bottle, add 15 drops of tea tree oil and then fill the bottle halfway with white vinegar and halfway with water. Swirl it around to blend the ingredients. Grab your color coded microfiber cloths and you are ready to clean! Use this all-purpose cleaner on cabinets, countertops, in bathrooms, and on germ-ridden areas like computer keyboards, TV remotes, light switches and doorknobs. It cleans like a charm! I actually make two of these cleaners and keep one upstairs and one downstairs for easier access.
Baking Soda is another great ingredient to use when it comes to cleaning your home. Not only do I use baking soda to clean my bathrooms, but I also use it as a deodorizer. I usually make up a big batch of the powder by pouring a whole box of baking soda into a bowl and adding about 1 drop of pure lavender essential oil for every two ounces of baking soda. With a fork, I mix the baking soda and oil until all the lumps are smoothed out. I pour the mixture into old Parmesan Cheese shakers and let them sit for 24 hours before I use them (this helps the lavender scent soak in). This powder will freshen up rugs, carpets, and upholstry. It also absorbs and deodorizes spills and potty-training accidents. You can also use it to clean grime stains out of your toilet, sink and bathtub.
The wonderful thing about homemade cleaning products is the versatility. The same powder can dry a spill or scrub a toilet, the same spray can wipe off the table before dinner or clean the corners around the toilet and sink. Many of the ingredients, like vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil, are relatively inexpensive too! I trust these ingredients in my home every day because they’re safe, effective, and simple.
Make the change to homemade natural cleaning products, and tell us what you think!
