How I clean my entire home with natural (and affordable!) ingredients.
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The summer after I graduated college, my (future) husband and I moved into our first real adult apartment near his work downtown. After moving between sparse dorms and squeezing into studio apartments for four years while we scrapped by to get our degrees, we were excited to do ALL of the things we thought adults should do.
Buy a ridiculously large TV we don't need? ✓
Upgrade our Ikea bookshelf to a nicer Ikea bookshelf? ✓
Buy a bar cart and a week's salary worth of liquor and wine? ✓✓✓✓
Fancy velvet hangers? ✓
But it (of course) didn't stop there. The need to keep up with the millennial Jones' extended to my lifelong passion of keeping my home clean.
I bought a very nice vacuum cleaner, a carpet cleaner, and an extendable duster to get the cobwebs in the vaulted ceilings. These were all somewhat responsible purchases that I still stand behind and still use everyday... but then I walked down the cleaning supplies aisle at my local grocery store. Oops.
The cleaning magic of delicious smelling, single-purpose cleaners got my attention and I filled my cart with bottles of product I was convinced would make my grown-up apartment look and smell better.
Here's a small summary of what I used to have under my sink:
All-purpose and glass cleaner $3.50
Wood cleaner $3.99
Wood polish $4.99
Daily shower spray $2.99
Foaming shower spray $3.99
Fabric Freshener Spray $6.99
Stain Remover $3.09
Total: $29.54
A few months later, reality hit.
I couldn't find ANYTHING.
I was always out of something I needed and never remembered to put it on my grocery list. The bottles weren't making it back into the cabinets and the wood cleaner spilled all over the carpet.
Some of the products didn't even work. (Looking at you, expensive Fabric Freshener.)
So I made some important cuts by saying goodbye to the wood cleaner and wood polish, and decided to make the rest of my cleaning supplies at home.
Here are my 4 tried and true favorite (and most used) homemade cleaning products that anyone can make—including my husband who hates following directions. (Score!)
1. Fabric/Air Refreshing Spray
I started with this super easy spray out of frustration. I shelled out some serious cash on a product that didn't work and smelled TERRIBLE. I was sour.
What you need:
16-32 oz. spray bottle
3 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (or unflavored vodka)
30 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional) I use 10 drops lavender, 10 drops rosemary, 5 drops eucalyptus, and 5 drops peppermint
Add all ingredients to your spray bottle and shake to mix. Spray on fabrics that need a quick, errr, freshening or just in the air for a pleasant scent. I use this daily on my fabric couch, chairs, and bed to keep everything smelling fresh and clean in-between washes.
Why it works:
A lot of the gross and stale scents that set into the fabrics in our homes come from bacteria and germs—it's actually the same science behind why our armpits stink. The rubbing alcohol is the main bacteria fighting component in this DIY cleanser, but adding antibacterial essential oils (like tea tree, eucalyptus, grapefruit, cinnamon, or thyme) can serve as a wonderful added boost.
2. Stain Remover
My first step towards an economical and eco-friendly home was the purchase of beautiful, photoshoot worthy white unpaper towels. I was so full of hope. I was saving money on paper towels, washing them with my white bath towels, and I was reducing my carbon footprint.
And then I went through two bottles of stain remover in one month. My white towels were difficult to clean and turning out to be more expensive than I anticipated.
What you need:
32. oz. spray bottle
2 cup water
2 cup Castile soap
2 cup Hydrogen Peroxide
30 drops citrus essential oil, like lemon, orange, or citronella (optional, but recommended)
Add all ingredients to your spray bottle and shake to mix before treating stains.
For colors:
Spray on stain and let soak for 10-15 minutes before laundering as normal.
For whites:
For heavy stains, you can let the spray sit for up to 48 hours. (But I have definitely gone a lot longer with no negative consequences so far.) Hydrogen peroxide can have a lightening effect, so letting the solution sit on fabric for an extended amount fo time is only safe for pure white fabrics.
Why it works:
The superstar in this solution is the hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down the color in the stain and has a bleaching effect. Castile soap is base and helps cancel out some of the acidity of the hydrogen peroxide, making it more safe for colors. If you intend to primarily use this solution for colored clothing, try adding an extra 1/4 cup of Castile soap. Citrus essential oils can help "loosen" a stain, but in this recipe, the added oil will provide an extra powerful clean and make your laundry smell amazing.
3. All-Purpose Cleaner (Great for glass, too!)
Countertops, windows, natural wooden table, painted bookshelf? This is what I use. Because of the vinegar in here, this all-purpose cleaner is, unfortunately, not suitable for granite, marble, natural stone, or stainless steel.
What you need:
16 oz. spray bottle
1 cup water
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 rubbing alcohol (or unflavored vodka)
25 drops of your favorite clear essential oil (optional) I use 10 drops tea tree, 10 drops lavender, 5 drops peppermint
Add all ingredients to your spray bottle. Spray directly onto surface and wipe down as normal. If using on an unsealed surface, test in inconspicuous spot first.
Why it works:
The combination of vinegar and rubbing alcohol disinfect surfaces in your home and remove any built-up residue. By diluting with water, this solution is gentle enough to simply wipe off without following up with a wet sponge or towel. A homemade all-purpose cleaner that doesn't require a rinse? Yes, please.
4. Daily Shower Cleaner
There are very few things I dislike more than cleaning the shower. (Cleaning baseboards?) This solution is safe for tile, but not suitable for granite, marble, or natural stone.
What you need:
32 oz. spray bottle
3 cups water
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol (or unflavored vodka)
1/4 cup vinegar (or 1 tbsp. rinse agent)
Add all ingredients to your spray bottle. Spray on all surfaces after shower. No need to rinse.
Why it works:
Once again, rubbing alcohol and vinegar are disinfecting and removing built-up residue (soap scum, ew) while the hydrogen peroxide is providing a deeper clean. By diluting with water, this solution is gentle enough to not rinse.