Before we get started, everyone is bound to have a whole host of cleaning products under their sink already. While the recipes for homemade cleaners in this article involve mixing up this and that in a bottle, don’t ever mix cleaning products you buy at the store. Ammonia and chlorine bleach – or any bleach, for that matter – produces extremely dangerous gasses that can seriously harm you and your loved ones. Rather than just reading the warning labels and hope for the best, never mix cleaning products. Even less volatile reactions can be bad for you and bad for whatever you’re trying to clean.
That said, it’s easy to run out of your favorite grime stoppers when you get caught up in the joys of spring cleaning. Luckily for you – and your wallet – some of the things sitting in your pantry can work just as well, if not better! Next time you’re hurting for some help, try mixing up one of these easy homemade cleaners that do the trick and save you some cash.
1) Homemade Glass Cleaners
- 2 Cups water
- 1/2 Cup white vinegar
- 1/4 Cup 70% rubbing alcohol
- A couple of drops of your favorite citrus oil (optional)
This easy glass cleaner can be whipped up in a hurry and funneled into any old (and clean) spray bottle you may have lying around. The vinegar works wonders to clean off dusty and speckled glass surfaces, and adding your favorite essential oil adds a pleasant aroma that usually isn’t pleasant with harsh chemical cleaners. Just be sure not to clean windows on hot, sunny days – This mixture will leave some pretty dry, stubborn streaks if it dries too quickly. If you’re cleaning mirrors, spray onto a towel first like always.
2) All-in-One Herbal Cleaners
- 1 1/2 Cups water
- 1 1/2 Cups white vinegar
- Lemon rind
- Herb sprigs such as lavender, thyme, or rosemary
Mix these ingredients, pour them into a spray bottle, and shake it vigorously. After infusing with the herbs for a week in a cool, dark place (like under the sink!), you will have a powerful acid cleaner that can tackle hard water stains, garbage cans, wall stains, and much more. The fresh scent will last a long time, to boot. Just be careful not to use it on granite, as the acid can scour the stone and deface it permanently.
3) Turbo Charged Dish Soap
- 1/4 Cup dish soap
- 1/4 Cup baking soda
- A few drops of your favorite essential oil
- A few drops of water
Mix everything in a bowl and take the gritty side of a kitchen sponge, and you’ve got yourself a cleaning solution that can cut through grease like a hot knife through butter. It works on dishes, kitchen surfaces, ovens, and more. Scrub deep and hard and wash clean with a wet washcloth, and you’ll be amazed not only at how clean it gets but how well the scented oil penetrates the surface thanks to the baking soda.
4) Natural Mold and Mildew Buster
- 2 Cups water
- 2 Teaspoons tea tree oil
- 1/4 Cup baking soda
- Pinch of fine lemon zest
Combine the water, oil, and lemon zest in a 24-ounce spray bottle, shake vigorously, and let it sit for a bit to infuse. Spray down moldy areas until they’re good and soaked through, allowing the tea tree oil to run roughshod over the mold’s root systems for a total of 24 hours. Now take the baking soda and pour it into a small bowl. Spray with the tea tree solution until a paste forms. Apply the paste to the moldy areas and scrub clean with a toothbrush. The mold won’t be able to hold on, and it’ll smell wonderful for a good while.
In Conclusion
You might have noticed a pattern here – Vinegar and baking soda go a long way to safely clean surfaces – Though if you mix them, you might get more bubbles than you bargained for. Essential oils, herbs, and citrus peels can also go a long way with good old H2O to make some fresh-smelling cleaners on a budget. As long as you’ve got some spare spray bottles, you should give these home remedies a try – Who knows? It might convert you away from harsh chemicals for good!