15 DIY Cleaner Recipes for Your Home
Explore these easy DIY cleaner recipes for your home. They use natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda, your best friends in eco-friendly cleaning.
Using DIY cleaner recipes instead of purchasing chemical mixes is a great first step to living a simple life. Simple living is about making life less complicated and more meaningful by focusing on what’s really important.
Create your own cleaners and discover a healthier, more eco-friendly way to take care of your home. It’s a simple, rewarding activity that connects you with the basics!
Are Homemade Cleaning Solutions Effective?
Yes, DIY cleaner recipes are effective.
Most of these alternatives are made with common ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils – cost effective items with properties that tackle dirt, grime, and bacteria effectively.
The best thing about exploring these DIY cleaner recipes is that you can customize them based on your specific cleaning needs and personal preferences.
Isn’t it amazing that you can use your favorite scents in every solution and enjoy the pleasant smell that lingers in every room?!
DIY Cleaner Recipes for Your Home
Let’s look at a few favorites that are easy to make and work great!
1. Grout cleaner
Grout is so hard to clean because it’s porous, meaning it absorbs moisture and dirt. The result? Stains and mold growth.
This homemade solution is one of the best grout cleaners around, made with baking soda, castile soap, and essential oils.
You can clean your grout once every one to two months to keep it looking fresh and prevent the buildup of grime and mold.
2. Lemon and Peppermint Non-Toxic Glass Cleaner
Using homemade mixtures to clean your windows can work wonders, often avoiding the issues that lead to streaks or films left by commercial cleaners.
This DIY glass cleaner only requires fresh lemon juice, peppermint essential oil, cornstarch, and water.
If you want, you can replace peppermint oil with another essential oil. For example, lavender or citrus oils like orange or lemon can also offer pleasant aromas and additional cleaning benefits.
3. All-Purpose Surface Cleaner
All-purpose surface cleaners are versatile cleaning agents you can use throughout your home on multiple surfaces.
The vinegar-based cleaner combines distilled water, vinegar, and optionally, essential oils and Sal Suds for enhanced cleaning.
Mix the ingredients directly in a spray bottle, and you’re set. You can use it on kitchen countertops, bathroom sinks, and more!
Daily cleaning might be necessary to maintain hygiene in high-use areas like dining tables and bathroom sinks. In less frequently used surfaces, cleaning once a week could suffice.
4. Citric Acid Toilet Cleaner
Citric acid is a natural compound found in citrus fruits and is known for its ability to break down dirt, grime, and mineral buildup.
Its acidic nature makes it effective for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, including toilets.
It can dissolve stains and kill bacteria without the use of harsh chemicals.
The good news is that you can easily make your own citric acid-based cleaner.
Even if you don’t have citrus fruits, you can buy citric acid at many grocery stores. It’s sold as a powdered substance and can be used as a direct ingredient in homemade cleaners.
5. Outdoor Window Cleaner
Cleaning outdoor windows can feel like a big chore, especially since they’re exposed to the elements. They are prone to tough dirt, grime, and water spots that are hard to remove.
Thankfully, hard-to-remove stains don’t require expensive cleaning solutions.
This homemade window cleaner is made with just water, vinegar, and a bit of dish soap. It’s safe for various windows and can also be used on other glass surfaces outdoors.
6. Granite Cleaner
Granite is a popular and durable natural stone often used in homes for countertops, flooring, and bathroom surfaces. While beautiful and sturdy, granite can be challenging to clean without damaging its surface.
Keep your granite surfaces clean and shiny with this DIY cleaning solution.
You only need rubbing alcohol (or vodka), dish detergent, water, and a few drops of essential oil for fragrance. Simply mix these ingredients in a spray bottle.
7. Wood Cleaner
Using the wrong cleaning solutions on wooden surfaces can damage your furniture and wooden finishes. Harsh chemicals can strip away the natural oils, leading to dryness, discoloration, or even warping of the wood.
If you’re looking for an affordable and gentle cleaner for wood, try this homemade option.
Mix equal parts of olive oil and vinegar in a jar, then apply it with a clean cloth to nourish and clean wooden surfaces. The natural combo of olive oil and vinegar not only cleans but also leaves wooden surfaces shiny.
8. Natural Disinfectant Spray
Disinfectant sprays are designed to kill germs and bacteria on surfaces. There are tons of options available in the market!
But if you’re looking for a safe alternative to avoid harsh chemicals in your home, homemade disinfectant sprays are the way to go.
Natural disinfectant sprays use ingredients like vinegar and essential oils, which have antimicrobial properties.
You can safely use it on most surfaces that frequently come into contact with hands, such as doorknobs, countertops, and light switches.
It’s best to use the spray regularly, depending on the area’s traffic — daily for high-use areas and weekly for others.
9. Laundry Stain Remover
A laundry stain remover is a go-to solution for getting rid of stubborn stains on your clothes, helping them look fresh and last longer.
This DIY stain remover is effective and simple to make, using only baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and blue Dawn dish soap.
Mix these ingredients together and apply to stains before washing.
Don’t worry, these natural solutions can be safely used on a variety of fabrics, like cotton, silk and wool!
10. Hard Water Stain Remover
Hard water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. When water evaporates from glass shower doors, it leaves these minerals behind, forming hard water stains.
These stains can make glass look cloudy and are tough to clean because the minerals bond strongly with the surface.
That’s why removing hard water stains often requires specific cleaning solutions to break down and remove these mineral deposits effectively.
This solution uses white vinegar and Bar Keepers Friend to keep shower doors clear and stain-free. Use it regularly, depending on water hardness and stain buildup.
11. Carpet Deodorizer
A carpet deodorizer is a great way to keep your carpets smelling fresh and clean.
Here’s a simple DIY recipe! Mix baking soda with a few drops of essential oil like Purification, which is great for neutralizing odors.
Shake the mixture in a jar and let it sit before use. Sprinkle it on the carpet, wait at least 10 minutes or overnight for stronger odors, then vacuum.
12. Shower Head Cleaner
We often forget to clean our shower heads because they’re high up, and the buildup isn’t always visible.
But, it’s so important to clean them regularly to get rid of the hard water minerals and bacteria that can block the water flow.
Well, cleaning doesn’t have to be complicated! Simply mix baking soda and white vinegar in a bag, then secure it around the shower head so it’s submerged in the mixture.
Let it soak for a few hours or overnight to break down the mineral deposits. After soaking, remove the bag and rinse the shower head with water.
13. Oven Cleaner With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Cleaning the oven can feel overwhelming because of all the tough, baked-on messes.
The process can also be tricky, especially because you often have to take out the racks and deal with all the different parts.
It adds an extra step but is necessary for a thorough cleaning.
Now, what solution should you use to clean it? Make a paste using baking soda and water, apply it inside the oven, and leave it overnight. In the morning, wipe it down and spray with vinegar to remove any residue.
14. DIY Antibacterial Cleaning Wipes
Antibacterial cleaning wipes are a handy solution for quickly disinfecting surfaces.
They’re popular both for home use and as a portable option when traveling. What most people don’t know is that they can be made at home!
Make DIY antibacterial wipes with water, rubbing alcohol (or vinegar), liquid detergent, and a few drops of lavender oil.
Mix these ingredients, submerge microfiber cloths, and store them in an airtight jar. Beyond appliances, these wipes can be used on dining tables, chairs, desks, and plastic or metal outdoor furniture.
15. Homemade Dusting Spray
Dusting sprays are cleaning solutions used to remove dust and allergens from surfaces in your home.
Use them to make your space look cleaner and to protect their finish. Making your own at home is quite straightforward.
This recipe only requires water, castile soap, lemon essential oil, and a glass spray bottle. Mix these ingredients in a spray bottle, then spray directly onto surfaces or a cloth before wiping down surfaces.
You can use dusting sprays on most hard surfaces, like wooden furniture, shelves, electronics, and baseboards. They’re also safe for cleaning glass, metal, and plastic items.
More and more people are choosing to make their own cleaning products because they want safer, greener options for their homes.
By doing so, they can control the ingredients and avoid substances harmful to their families and pets.
Exploring these DIY cleaner recipes is also a fun, rewarding way to take care of your space. You’ll be amazed at how effective and satisfying it can be!
More Simple Cleaning Hacks:
- Daily Chores to Keep House Clean
- How to Spring Clean Your House in a Day
- Gradual Decluttering – Secret to Live Clutter Free
Find this article over at the Homestead blog Hop!
