There are a lot of good reasons to limit your daily exposure to chemicals: allergic reactions, onset of disease, hormonal changes, and long-term damage. This is why it’s so unsettling every time you get around to cleaning the house and begin spraying and slathering your home with toxic substances.
It’s certainly easier to mindlessly pick up that familiar bottle of cleaning product at the supermarket, but you should know that there’s a better way. Not only do DIY natural cleaning products save your family from dangerous chemicals, but they’re cheap to make and often more effective too.
To help you get started, here are a few natural cleaning product recipes to try for yourself.
Toilet Cleaner
No one enjoys scrubbing the household toilet, but the job becomes a bit less treacherous when you use all-natural products. This recipe is great if it’s been a little while since you last did a thorough scrub.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 1/4 cup vinegar
Directions:
- Pour all ingredients into toilet.
- Scrub with a brush until you see those hard-working fizzy bubbles.
- Allow to sit for about 30 minutes and then flush.
- Pouring undiluted white vinegar around the top of toilet bowl and scrubbing will do the trick if you clean your toilet frequently.
All-Purpose Surface Cleaner
We have countless surfaces in our homes, and they get dirty and grimy with regular use every single day. Here’s an easy all-purpose cleaner recipe to use instead of the ones packed with unpronounceable ingredients. The lemon oil in this recipe is useful for its disinfectant properties.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 2 tbsp. baking soda
- 10 drops lemon oil
Directions:
- Mix all 3 ingredients into a spray bottle.
- Fill the remainder of the bottle with warm water.
- Shake the mixture and spray onto surfaces before wiping with a clean cloth.
If you’re pressed for time or would rather leave the mixing to the professionals, try Seagate Olive Leaf Surface Cleaner, which is a 100% all-natural approach to washing away germs without the use of chemicals or other harmful ingredients. It’s great for cell phones, baby cribs, household appliances, pet bowls, children’s toys, and other places you’d rather keep chemicals far away from.
Glass Cleaner
No one likes to look outside through a dirty window, and with this recipe, you won’t be spraying “dirty” chemicals around to clean it. This is also a great DIY recipe for the smudged mirrors in your home.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1 tsp. natural liquid soap
- 2 cups water
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake.
- Spray onto glass and use scrubber side of a kitchen sponge for stuck-on gunk.
- Then use a cotton cleaning cloth to polish for a smooth finish.
Fabric Softener
Keeping your favorite clothes soft and comfy has never been easier than when you swap out your store-bought fabric softener for this DIY version. Try it next time you do a load of laundry.
Ingredients:
- 1 part vinegar
- 2 parts water
Directions:
- Start doing your laundry as usual.
- Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of this mixture to the washer during the final rinse cycle.
- Save the remaining mixutre
Mold & Mildew Remover
Mold and mildew tend to build up in moist conditions, so keep an eye on your kitchen and bathroom for signs of it. Skip the harsh chemicals to fight mold and mildew and use this recipe instead.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 teaspoons tea tree oil
Directions:
- Combine water and tea tree oil in a spray bottle and shake.
- Spray the mixture onto mold and mildew-affected areas and allow to sit for up to 24 hours.
- For serious cases, then put baking soda in a bowl and spray with mixture to create a paste.
- Apply paste with a brush, scrub, and rinse with clean water.