DIY natural cleaners

DIY natural cleaners

Make some natural cleaners from common household products you may have on-hand.

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(Do not mix the cleaner and disinfectant in the same bottle.)

Step 1) Cleaner

  • 16-oz spray bottle
  • 2 cups Water
  • 4 Tbsp of Castile Soap (or other soap)
  • Optional: Up to 20 drops of essential oil (Tea Tree, Lavender, Citrus)
  1. Add water to a 16-ounce spray bottle.
  2. Add soap and essential oil drops.
  3. Screw on the lid and tilt side-to-side to mix.

Step 2) Disinfectant

  • 16-oz spray bottle
  • 1 cup vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or vodka
  • 1 cup water
  • Optional: up to 20 drops of essential oil or use infused vinegar or vodka

Mix vinegar, water, and essential oil in a 16-ounce bottle. Allow the surface to remain wet for up to three minutes, then wipe dry with a cloth. To make a Super-Disinfectant, spray a third time with a different type of disinfectant. Good for cutting boards!

This soap is safe and works well for HE washers. This recipe makes about 45 detergent tablets.

  • 1 1/4 cups Borax
  • 1 1/4 cups Washing Soda
  • 1 1/4 cups grated Laundry Soap (from a Castile soap bar or Fels Naptha) *1/2 bar= about 3/4 cup powdered
  • 1 mold, such as an ice cube tray, if making tablets
  • Optional: 1 ¼ cup oxygen bleach powder (such as Oxiclean)
  1. Grate (or pulverize) soap bar into a fine powder. Use a food processor if necessary. This helps the soap dissolve.
  2. Mix the borax, washing soda and laundry soap. This can also go through the food processor. The powder can be used as is: 1-4 Tbsp per load. 

Making the tablets:

  1. Add 1/2 – 3/4 cup water to the powder mix. 
  2. Pack it into a mold. Ice cube trays hold about 1 Tbsp each. Pack tightly with fingers. 
  3. Let dry overnight.

Use 1 Tbsp for front load machines, and up to 4 for extra large loads. Works best with warm water.

  • 2 oz spray bottle
  • 2 tsp Epsom salt
  • Essential oils
  • Distilled water
  1. Add 2 tsp of Epsom salt to the bottle.
  2. Add up to 20 drops of essential oils.
  3. Fill the bottle with distilled water. 
  4. Shake well before each use and spray.
  • 2 cups warm water
  • ¼ cup rubbing alcohol
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  1. Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle. 
  2. Use as you would any glass cleaner. 
  3. Clean with soap first if necessary. Tip: Invest in a squeegee. It is a great tool for cleaning windows. A razor blade is a good tool for scraping off dirt or paint before cleaning.
  • 1 ⅔ cups baking soda
  • ½ cup liquid soap
  • 2 Tbsp vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • Optional - a few drops essential oil (lavender is nice)

Mix soda and soap. Add water, then add vinegar, oil. Store in a squirt-top bottle and use immediately. Rinse thoroughly to avoid leaving a residue.

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup H2O (optional)
  • ⅛ cup vinegar
  • 2 tsp lemon juice or a few drops of essential oil (lemon or orange)

Shake well, apply with soft cloth, rubbing until tackiness disappears.

  • ¼ cup vinegar
  • 1 cup H2O
  1. Boil for 5 minutes and let cool.
  2. Dip cloth in solution & wipe sides down.
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tsp tea tree oil

Spray & scrub.

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup vinegar

Spray, let stand for 5 minutes and scrub.

(not for self-cleaning ovens - try on racks)

  • Equal parts salt, baking soda, water

Mix, spread, leave overnight, wipe. Use soap to clean and rinse.

  • ½ cup baking soda
  • ½ c vinegar
  1. Pour baking soda into the drain. 
  2. Follow with vinegar. Plug drain. 
  3. Wait 15 minutes. 
  4. Pour 1 qt boiling water into drain

Rub with plain bar soap (no moisturizers)

  • Or - hydrogen peroxide
  • Or - rubbing alcohol
  • ½ cream of tartar
  • 3 - 4 Tbsp vegetable oil-based liquid soap
  • Combine to make a frosting-like mixture
  • Add 15 drops of essential oil (optional)

Scoop the mixture onto a sponge and scrub the bathtub, sinks, Formica countertops or shower.

Cut orange peels into small pieces. Add to the glass jar. Cover with vinegar/alcohol/vodka and seal in a jar. Let sit for 4 - 6 weeks. Orange peels can be put in the garbage disposal to deodorize.

Use hydrogen peroxide. Use vodka on deodorant stains.