How to Make Your Own Cleaning Products
There are many reasons to start making your own cleaning products at home, whether you’re trying to create a chemical-free environment, you’re looking to save some money, or you just don’t want to make that extra trip to the store. And really, there’s no reason not to go the DIY route when it’s so easy! Most homemade cleaning products use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and they only take a few minutes to throw together. Some of the most common ingredients include baking soda, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, borax, and various essential oils. To help you get started, we’ve looked around and found five simple recipes for common household cleaning products that you can use to replace your chemical detergents and cleaners:
All-Purpose Cleaner
2 cups water
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
¼ cup lemon juice
Mix the ingredients together and use for everything from cleaning glass to wiping down counters. Makes sure to store this cleaner in a dark container to prevent the hydrogen peroxide from deteriorating!
Liquid Soap Nuts Laundry Detergent
Makes ~2.5 cups, equivalent to 40 loads in an HE machine or 20 loads in a standard machine
1 cup of Eco Nuts brand soap nuts
4 cups water
½ cup vinegar
- Combine all the ingredients into a large pot and bring it to a low boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium low and allow it simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and mash the nuts with a slotted spoon.
- Uncover the mixture and simmer on low for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the heat and strain the mixture into a clean bowl. Let cool.
- Store in a watertight jar for short-term storage, or freeze in ice cube trays for long-term storage.
To Use:
Use 1 tablespoon per load for an HE machine or 2 tablespoons for a standard machine.
Homemade Liquid Dish Soap
½ cup liquid castile soap
1/8 cup water
4 drops essential oil in the scent of your choice
1 teaspoon vinegar
Mix all of the ingredients together and store in a recycled soap bottle.
Non-Toxic Disinfectant
2 cups water
3 tablespoons liquid castile soap
30 drops tea tree oil
Mix all the ingredients together and store in a spray bottle.
Homemade Air-Freshener
¾ teaspoon lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon sweet orange essential oil
½ teaspoon lemon essential oil
Fill a spray bottle with water and mix in the essential oils. Shake it to blend thoroughly, and again before each use.
There are so many other DIY cleaning products you can make in the comfort of your home. Let us know what concoctions you create, if not these!
