Cleaning is a necessity, especially when little fingers are all over the house. After a hard afternoon of deep cleaning your home, the smell of chemicals that fill the air may be overpowering!
Instead of filling the air and surfaces with chemicals, these quick cleaning solutions are all natural and will leave the air fresh and clean! You should have most of these ingredients already in your cupboards and those you do not have are easy to pick up online or at your natural grocer. We’ve outlined the staples, and pulled together seven of our favorite cleaning recipes.
Cleaning Staples
Vinegar
Your white vinegar isn’t just for dying eggs! This common household liquid is a great bleach alternative and while not a full disinfectant, will clean up most messes without trouble.
Baking Soda
Usually used in cooking, baking soda is both non-toxic and abrasive. This go to cleaning tool can be used stand alone with just water! Baking soda is not a disinfectant so make sure anything that could leave bacteria behind (like chicken on a cutting board) is cleaned with something else as well.
Lemons
Most store bought cleansers use lemon as a scent because lemon is the first all natural cleanser. Used alone, half a lemon can clean up wooden cutting boards, and the juice is perfect for using with salt as a scrub.
Borax
Borax is a chemical, but it’s also all natural. Also known as Sodium tetraborate, this classic cleaning product has been used in households as a stand alone product for over a hundred years. It can soften clothing, assists with the cleaning of carpets, and is even a natural pesticide when placed outside!
7 Natural Cleaning Recipes
All Purpose Cleaner
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups water
Mix together and pour into a spray bottle. If friends and family have allergies or asthma, this easy to combine cleaning solution will clean without filling the air and surfaces with chemicals. This solution is great for kitchen counters, bathrooms and showers.
Lemon Degreaser
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- ½ tsp natural dish soap
Mix together and pour into a spray bottle. Use a soft cloth or paper towel for cleaning.
Lemon juice is a natural disinfectant and baking soda is a gentle abrasive. The dish soap help lifts away any grease. This all cleaning solution is perfect for mixing up and using to clean a glass topped stove.
Laundry Detergent
- 1 bar of grated soap (Dr. Bronner’s is amazing!)
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax
- 20 drops of essential oil (optional)
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight jar. Use 2 tablespoons per load.
Glass Cleaner
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
Mix together and pour into a spray bottle. You may need to shake the bottle in between uses to prevent the elements from separating. This quick combination works perfectly for removing dirt off mirrors and windows – if you find the smell is too strong, add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil.
Spot Remover
- Baking soda
- ‘All Purpose Cleaner’ bottle using the recipe above
- Old towels/rags
As with all carpet stains, combating the stain sooner will help prevent it from setting into the carpet’s fibers.
Sprinkle baking soda onto the stain. Spray thoroughly with the all purpose cleaner and allow the stain to fizz. Blot the stain heavily with towels. Avoid scrubbing as this may counteract the cleaning process.
Scouring Powder
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/2 cup borax
Mix with water and use elbow grease to remove even the toughest soap scum. All of these ingredients will dry out your hands, so use cleaning gloves. This solution is perfect for bathtubs and showers.
Oven Cleaner
- 1 teaspoon Borax
- 2 tablespoons natural dishwashing soap
- 2 cups hot water
Mix together and spray in the oven. Leave to sit for half an hour and then wipe off. You may need to apply multiple times for stubborn spills.
Photo Credits: Shalomama, Pixabay, Pexels, Three if by Bike, M01o229, Rberteig
