Last week I wrote about commercial cleaning products and the dangers they pose to our health and I promised to share some super simple recipes for DIY household cleaners. My home has been chemical free for about a year and a half now and I definitely do not miss the toxic fumes. And I can’t say that I’ve even missed any of the products as I’ve gotten by with everything home-made. For most of these recipes you’ll only need 3 ingredients. And as I like all my products to be safe, most are simply put – edible.
Vinegar
Vinegar has a high acid content which makes it a great tackle for bacterial microorganisms. It cuts through grease, mildew and food stains and gives a streak-free result for glass.
Baking soda
Apart from having the ability to raise baked goods, sodium bicarbonate is also a helpful stain remover. Aside from surface and stain cleaning I also use it on my teeth and hair. It’s an odour neutralising agent.
Lemon
This citrus fruit packs more than a flavour. Lemon juice is a natural bleach alternative, deodoriser and mild disinfectant.
Multipurpose cleaner
- citrus peels
- vinegar
- water
- (optional) essential oil of choice
Whenever you use a citrus fruit like lemon or orange, keep the peels and collect them into a jar in your freezer. Once it’s full, top the peels with white vinegar and leave the jar out for 2 weeks. Then pour the liquid into a spray bottle and fill it up with water. You can add lavender or any other essential oil that you fancy.
*Note: I suggest not using this on marble or any other surfaces that absorb food/colour easily as it may stain.
Glass cleaner
- vinegar
- water
or - soap
- water
Mix 2 parts vinegar with 1 part of lukewarm or room temperature water or grate some castile soap into the water and wait to dilute. Pour into spray bottle and wipe with newspaper – clean as a whistle!
Faucets and hardware
- vinegar
- salt
Dilute 1 part salt in 2 parts of vinegar and use solution to clean calcium build up on your taps and shower.
Toilet
- vinegar
- baking soda
You can use the above multipurpose spray for the everyday wipe on your toilet but if there are stronger methods needed just shake baking soda into your toilet bowl and more to the bottom so it’s all covered. Then pour about half a litre of vinegar on top and leave through the night if possible. The chemical reaction of bubbling is the same as toilet bombs. Scrub with brush and repeat if necessary.
Stains
- baking soda
- vinegar
If the all-round spray is not strong enough and you need to tackle some tougher stains like in my case, red wine on a white wall, make a paste from baking soda and vinegar and leave for 15 minutes or so, then rub with a clean cloth.
Fabric softener & dishwasher
- vinegar
- (optional) essential oil of choice
That’s it. Just pour it into the rinse slot in your machine and voila! The clothes may smell like vinegar when you take them out but it will evaporate once the fabric dries out.
Fabric stains
- baking soda
- lemon juice
Make a paste and apply on stain before putting the garment into the wash.
Upholstery
- vinegar
- baking soda
Spray stain with vinegar and sprinkle baking soda so it covers the stain. Rub it in with the back of a spoon or your fingers. Leave until dry and hoover up the baking soda.
Garbage disposal
- lemon
- salt
- ice cubes
Get rid of the foul food smell by throwing in lemon peels, some salt and ice and press the button. Be gone smell!
Floors
- vinegar
- water
- (optional) essential oil of choice
Dilute a cup of vinegar in a litre of water and use on laminated floors. Or one cup of vinegar in half a litre of water to clean tiles.
*Note: do not use vinegar on hardwood floors as it may damage the finishing.
Pots & pans
- baking soda
- hot water
- dish soap
Soak greasy pans in hot soapy water first and then sprinkle with baking soda and scrub to break though the grime.
Drain
- baking soda
- vinegar
Similarly to the toilet bowl, pour equal part of first baking soda and then vinegar into the drain, leave for half an hour or longer and pour over with boiling water.
It’s best to use a high-quality microfibre cloth for cleaning surfaces. Check the label for a guarantee of durability at high temperature washes. A dry microfibre cloth is positively charged and easily picks up dust while a wet cloth uses it’s tiny pores to clean stains and bacteria.
So use up or give away the dangerous chemicals that lurk under your basin and give some of these DIY cleaners a shot. Your health will thank you for it.
Disclaimer: All natural and vegan scrubbers pictured are from GreenUP box – a sustainable zero waste bimonthly product box – which you can get here.