Did you know 10 pantry staples can create 10 awesome homemade cleaners? Get the recipes for these easy, natural DIY cleaning products.
Hopefully all this de-cluttering is getting you all excited for the deep, deep cleaning that is going to happen soon! I don’t know how it is for you, but with every box of stuff I get rid of I feel like another little load has been lifted off my shoulders. We are still going to take some time in the next week for more weeding and purging, but in the meantime I thought it would be a good idea to also start gathering some of the necessary tools you’ll need to get your space spic & span.
I have always had a bad habit of thinking that more cleaning supplies would result in a cleaner house. At one point we had so many mops and brooms in our broom closet that my husband finally exploded in exasperation: “You do realize that none of them actually clean the floor for you, right?” he snapped.
The thing is, until he said that, I actually thought they might.
As hard as it was to finally accept the sad reality that there are no magic mops, I am happy to report that we are now down to one broom, one dustpan, and one mop in our broom closet, and that is just exactly enough.
A key component of The Big Spring Clean is to STOP bringing in more things, so I am going to challenge you to use the supplies you have on hand as you complete this challenge. If you–like me–have accumulated mass quantities of cleaning supplies, use those up before you run out and buy something new. Using what you already have is about as green & thrifty as you can get.
For anything you do still need, you might be surprised to discover that you probably already have the right ingredients right in your own kitchen or laundry cabinet. I have been amazed to find that a combination of just a few common household products that can tackle almost every cleaning task. In fact I’ve discovered that just 10 different products–most of which I already have on hand–can be combined in 10 different ways to make 10 different awesome, green, & super thrifty cleaners. 10x10x10….how cool is that?
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl to make a paste; use scrub brush or sponge to apply to tub, shower walls, & sinks. (Be sure to test a small area to make sure paste does not scuff tub surface; if so, eliminate the salt from the mixture! Rinse well with water and a wet rag, then dry with a clean rag or old towel.
Turn off flow valve to toilet & flush 1 or 2 times until water is drained. Pour in baking soda, then slowly pour in vinegar, being sure to get vinegar to cover as much of the bowl surface as possible, then add essential oil. The baking soda will react with the vinegar–this is normal! Use your toilet brush to scrub surface & remove any rings or stains. Turn water back on and flush.
Dampen rag & squeeze out excess water. Dip damp rag into furniture polish, the wipe on surface of furniture. Buff off with an old dry towel. Can also be used to polish stainless steel!
Mix vinegar, water, & essential oil together in spray bottle. Spray on glass & use squeegee, crumpled newspaper (Tip: use newspapers that are at least 2 weeks old to avoid black fingers!), or a lint-free rag to get a streak-free shine. Also works well to shine chrome and countertops after you’ve disinfected them.
Whisk all ingredients together well in large bowl, then pour into spray bottle. Spray on, then wipe surface clean with a damp cloth. Can be used to clean and disinfect almost any surface!
Mix ingredients in spray bottle. Mixture will foam up; when it stops bubbling, put on cap and spray stainless steel surface, then wipe clean & dry with lint-free rag. To add extra shine, use furniture polish above.
Mix first three ingredients well & store in airtight container. To use, add 1 tablespoon to each of the 2 compartments in your dishwasher and 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your rinse compartment.
Mix vinegar & baking soda together in bucket; add hot water, Borax, washing soda, & essential oil and mix until all powder is dissolved. Use mop or sponge to wipe down floor; wipe dry with clean dry towel.
This homemade laundry detergent is so cheap and easy to make that you will kick yourself for not trying it until now. Place Ivory soap in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat in the microwave for 2 minutes, until soap turns to foam. Quickly stir foam until it becomes small soap chips, then mix well with borax and washing powder. Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight container. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load. (Tip: This detergent works best in warm or hot water; for cold water washing you may want to first dissolve in 1/4 c. of hot water.)
Add 1/4-1/2 cup vinegar with several drops of your favorite essential oil to the rinse cycle (or simply place in fabric softener compartment of your front load washer.)
So that’s it….10 ingredients mixed up 10 different ways to create 10 different cleaners. Are you psyched yet?
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Do the essential oils leave any residue?
While diy cleaning products is not a new concept, it's gaining more attention these days mostly because of synthetic chemicals and increasing sensitiviy and allergies not to mention what our skin absorbs which people fail to remember that your skin is your largest organ. For an example my daughter is allergic to 8 chemicals that are in everyday life, from silverware that contains nickle, SS alcohol that is in almost all shampoo and personal products, anything with synthetic fragrance like laundry soap, just naming a few. Makes one wonder why so many people have illnesses but don't connect the dots, the one that bothers me the most is the excessive overuse of heavily scented fabric softener people use and put on their little ones and don't think of the long term effects of chemical exposure and what it does to our dna and the respitory diseases that are on the rise, or how it affects other people having to waft in the smell when a little white vinegar is all you need. Thanks for sharing this post even though it's actually old school cleaning it is still the best and safest way to go. My favorite is 16 oz of water, 1 teaspoon citric acid or sour salt, yeah the stuff you can eat, and 1 teaspoon of Mrs Meyers Honeysuckle Dish soap. Thanks
Thanks for the amazing post! Many people nowadays forget about the importance of nature, which is a big mistake. And the cleaning solutions you brought here are completely green and harmless, which is exactly what every household needs. I personally loved the fabric softener idea, I never thought vinegar can be used for that also.
thanks for promoting green products... and this will be very helpful for those who are still trying their footing on green products.
I noticed you use Young Living Essential Oils, I do too, yeah! I was wondering why you choose to use all the above recipes instead of the Thieves Cleaner.
I am sure you have probably addressed it in the comments before, but I didn't see it. The dishwasher detergent left white residue all over the inside of my dishwasher and dishes. It is caked on in a layer that I can chip up with my finger nail, but it is really crusted on there. Any suggestions about why this is happening and what to do to get it off the inside of my dishwasher and dishes?
Great recipes! I'm a beginner in homemade cleaning products and I enjoy making them and then cleaning. I'm in love with the essential oil and now I can use them in my cleaners thanks to your recipes. Thank you for the useful ideas!
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Is there a substitution for borax? And is there a specific reason for using Ivory soap? Or can I use a different soap? Also, what brand essential oils do you use? Sorry for all of the questions. Thanks, Sara
For air freshener, dissolve baking soda in water, then add your essential oils. The baking soda will help neutralize odors in the air/furniture/etc. Be sure to shake well each time you spray.