5 Easy Natural Cleaning Solutions to Make at Home

These natural cleaning solutions make cleaning a breeze.

Here are five natural cleaning solutions that are easy to make, cost next to nothing, and work like a charm. What's more, there's a good chance you'll find what you need to make them in your pantry.

There are several common products in your pantry that deliver potent, natural cleaning power. These products include vinegar, baking soda, and rubbing alcohol.

There's another benefit to using these items to create your own home cleaning solutions:

When you make your own cleaning solutions, you avoid the nasty chemicals in store-bought products. You're using natural cleaning products, instead of exposing your family to complicated chemical concoctions.

If you want to control the scent of these cleaning products, you can.

All you need to do is add essential oils to your cleaning solutions. With the wide variety of essential oils available, you have many options for creating your own custom-scented homemade cleaners.

Some of the more popular essential oils used in homemade cleaners include orange, lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree oil, and lavender.

Add a few drops (or more) of your favorite essential oil to the cleaning mixtures below to customize the scent. You can even add two or more oils to these cleaners.

I think you'll love that these five DIY cleaners are easy to make and will leave your house sparkling clean. Read on to learn more and download a copy of all five cleaning recipes.

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Three Important Safety Tips Before You Begin

• Never mix liquid chlorine bleach cleaners (or powdered chlorine-based cleaners) with ammonia-based cleaners because the mixture creates dangerous fumes.

• Protect your family and your home by labeling your cleaning solutions and listing each ingredient so you'll know what's in the product you're using.

• Keep all cleaning solutions, including natural household cleaners, away from small hands and curious pets.

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#1 Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

This general, all-around cleaner is good for cleaning all sorts of household items, including trash cans, walls, baseboards, doors, cabinets, and plastic outdoor furniture. Simply mix the solution, lightly spray the surface, and wipe clean.

Because vinegar is an acidic cleaner, do not use this mixture on granite or other stone surfaces or stainless steel.

To adapt this cleaner for floors, add one cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water.

What you'll need:

• An empty spray bottle

• 1 part distilled white vinegar

• 1 part water

• [Optional] A few drops of lemon essential oil

#2 Natural Glass Cleaner

Save money with this simple and effective glass cleaner. Just spray and wipe with a lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth and watch your windows sparkle.

Pro tip: To prevent streaking, avoid cleaning windows when they are in direct sunlight or on a hot, sunny day.

You can also add a few drops of essential oils to make this a scented spray.

What you'll need:

• An empty spray bottle

• 2 parts water

• 1 part distilled white vinegar

• 1/2 part 70% rubbing alcohol

#3 Gentle Granite and Marble Cleaner

Here is a safe and gentle cleaner for granite and marble surfaces. There are three secrets to keeping stone countertops beautiful:

First, clean countertops regularly with a soft cloth using a gentle cleaner that won't scratch the surface. Second, remove the cleaner with a clean, damp cloth. Third, wipe dry with a soft and absorbent cloth, such as a microfiber or other lint-free material.

Always use a dry cloth to prevent water marks and leave the surface shiny and clean.

Remember that it's never a good idea to use acidic cleaners on stone surfaces. Acidic products can etch or scratch the surface of the stone.

What you'll need:

• A small bowl

• 1 cup of water

• 1 drop of blue liquid soap (like Dawn)

#4 Squeaky Clean Tub and Shower Scrub

Soap scum and mineral deposits are notoriously difficult to remove.

This powerful but gentle cleaner cuts through soap and mineral residue and offers a slightly abrasive element for added cleaning power. This cleaner is also easy to mix and, despite its name, requires very little scrubbing.

As an added benefit, because this cleaner uses simple, natural ingredients, you won't breathe in a fog of harsh fumes and chemicals while scrubbing your tub or shower.

Start by mixing water, dish soap, and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then, spray the tub or shower walls and floor with the mixture. Next, mix baking soda with a small amount of warm water to form a paste. Use a damp cloth or sponge to spread the paste on shower and tub surfaces.

Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. Then, wipe and rinse thoroughly to remove the mixture.

What you'll need:

• An empty spray bottle

• 1 part water

• 1 part distilled white vinegar

• 1 part blue liquid soap (like Dawn)

• 1 cup baking soda

#5 Like New Stainless Steel Sink Cleaner

The fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to clean your kitchen sink requires just one simple and all-natural product. That product is baking soda. Even with today's rising prices, you can buy a box of baking soda for about one dollar.

Because baking soda is slightly abrasive, using it on the sink removes grime easily. Because it's also a natural deodorizer, pouring baking soda down the drain removes nasty odors in the sink and garbage disposal.

Baking soda works by neutralizing smells, rather than covering them up with chemically-derived scents. So while a store-bought deodorizer might have a fresh scent, that scent results from chemicals added to the product.

Breathing in clean, naturally deodorized air without all those chemicals is a healthier alternative.

What you'll need:

• Baking soda

• Warm water

Do homemade cleaners work?

Yes. Homemade cleaning solutions actually work. In many cases, they work just as well as store-bought solutions and with the added benefit that they are free of harsh chemicals.

Plus, homemade cleaners cost significantly less than store-bought options. Sometimes just pennies per batch.

Like other cleaning products, certain natural cleaners are not suitable for every surface. Always test your cleaning solution on an inconspicuous surface to see if it's safe to use on that surface.

Your Homemade Cleaning Products Shopping List

Need to stock up on items for your homemade cleaning solutions? Just snap this list on your phone (or the one above) and head to the store:

• Distilled white vinegar

• Baking soda

• Blue dish soap (like Dawn)

• 70% rubbing alcohol

• Microfiber cloths

• Sponge(s)

• Soft lint-free cloths

• Spray bottle(s)

• Essential oil(s)

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If you enjoyed this post, keep the momentum going with these Easy Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen.

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