Why make your own cleaning products?
SAVE MONEY
If you have an initial upfront investment of $30 to purchase the supplies to make your cleaning products, and the supplies last you for 12 months, that’s like paying around $2.50 per month for all of your cleaners. If you only use baking soda and vinegar, it’s going to be significantly less than this.
If you typically buy commercial cleaners on sale, I’d say there’s a good chance you are purchasing an average of 4 cleaners of some sort each month, at around $2-3 per cleaner. At this rate, you could easily save $100+ per year.
Now obviously, your situation might be completely different. If you’re typically only buying cheap cleaners by pairing coupons with sales, it might not save you any money at all to make your own cleaners. However, you will for sure be using fewer chemicals in your home and you will also not have to worry about chasing down deals and pairing them with sales.
LESS CHEMICALS IN YOUR HOME
We use a wide array of scents, soaps, detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, scourers, polishes, and specialized cleaners for bathrooms, glass, drains, and ovens to keep our homes sparkling and sweet smelling.
But while the chemicals in cleaners foam, bleach, and disinfect to make our dishes, bathtubs and counter tops gleaming and germ-free, many also contribute to indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested, and can be harmful if inhaled or touched. In fact, some cleaners are among the most toxic products found in the home.
New research reveals almost one in five (18.9 per cent) Australians report chemical sensitivity, with more than one-third (6.5 per cent) medically diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), suffering health problems from exposure to common chemical products.
Cleaning ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose. Some cause acute or immediate hazards such as skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer.
NATURAL CLEANING PRODUCTS ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
After bubbly cleaning liquids disappear down our drains, they are treated along with sewage and other waste water at municipal treatment plants, then discharged into nearby waterways. Most ingredients in chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances during treatment or soon afterward.
Others, however, do not, threatening water quality or fish and other wildlife.
Natural Homemade Cleaning Products are Easy to Make with A Few Basic Ingredients
BAKING SODA
Baking soda works as a mild abrasive, helping to gently scrub things that need to be scrubbed, but not scratched. Baking soda also works well to remove smelly odors, making it a prime candidate for a bathroom and kitchen cleaner. Baking soda also works to removes stains, and can be used to help soften
VINEGAR
Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle of your washing machine. Vinegar makes a great all-purpose cleaner. Mopping with vinegar is an inexpensive way to keep your floors clean. Vinegar is a great stain remover. Vinegar carefully combined with baking soda, makes a great foaming toilet cleaner.
LEMONS AND LEMON JUICE
Lemons can be great for scrubbing copper bottom pots. The juice works to clean and shine the pans. Lemon juice is a natural bleach, especially when combined with the sun. Lemon juice is a natural degreaser, which comes in handy with dishes.
CASTILE SOAP
Castile soap is an oil based soap, that can be used to clean almost anything in your home. Diluted liquid castile soap can be used as an all-purpose cleaner. Liquid castile soap is an excellent degreaser.
WASHING SODA
Washing soda is a highly alkaline chemical compound that can be used to remove stubborn stains from laundry. It also has numerous uses around the house, and it is used in a range of industrial applications as well. Washing soda should not be confused with washing powder, which is a powdered soap used as a detergent; it is also not the same thing as baking soda, although the two compounds are closely related.
Essential oils can be used for their fragrance, anti-microbial properties and to boost cleaning power. Some good oils for cleaning are lavender, citrus, tea tree, purification and thieves blends.
DIY Natural Cleaner Recipes
ALL PURPOSE CLEANER
Great for kitchen, floors, bathrooms, and more.
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap
- 6-8 drops of essential oils
Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle.
BATHROOM CLEANER (ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANER)
- 1-2 cups distilled water
- 1-2 tablespoons liquid castile soap
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle.
CARPET FRESH
- 1 cup baking soda
- 10 drops essential oils Use any oils that you would like. I usually use citrus fresh, or purification blends.
Mix the oils and baking soda, let this mixture sit overnight. Sprinkle on carpet, vacuum up. I usually leave this on the carpet for one hour.
ESSENTIAL OIL ROOM SPRAY
- 1 teaspoon vodka
- 2 tablespoons filtered water
- 5-10 drops of essential oils
Mix all ingredients in a glass spray bottle, shake before use.
LAUNDRY SOAP
- 1 cup Washing Soda
- 1 cup table salt
- 1 cup bicarbonate of soda
- 1 cup Pure Soap Flakes
- 20 drops Lavender oil (optional)
- 20 drops Geranium oil (optional)
Place all dry ingredients in a container and add oils. Mix and you’re done! Use 1-1.5 scoops per wash and depending on load size and grubbiness.
Here are some combinations that would work just as well instead:
- Rosemary and Geranium
- Sweet Orange and Lemon
- Mandarin and Lemon
- Peppermint and Eucalyptus
- Geranium and Sweet Orange
- Lavender and Rose
- Lavender and Bergamot
- Rosemary and Lemon.
Let me know if you have a favorite combination that you like. Perhaps three different oils would work well together!
IMPORTANT: Use caution with certain essential oils for babies, young children, those with skin problems or pregnant ladies. You could still use the recipe but add NO oils at all if in doubt.
