Tired of harsh chemicals lurking under your sink? Switching to natural cleaners is a game-changer. Not only do they protect your family from toxins, but they’re also budget-friendly and kinder to the planet. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the recipes of 12 effective homemade natural cleaners to tackle every corner of your home, from gleaming floors to sparkling toilets. Let’s dive in!

1. Natural Floor Cleaning Solution

This floor cleaner works well on floors made of tile, laminate or vinyl (not hardwood) and is residue-free when cleaning. Follow these directions to make it correctly: 

Directions: 

Simply mix 1 gallon of warm water, 1 1⁄2 cups of white vinegar, which is a great natural disinfectant, 1 teaspoon of some kind of natural dish soap, preferably soapberry, and 5–10 drops of lemon essential oil for scent in a bucket. After preparing this solution, mop the floor normally. 

Trick: The vinegar neutralizes odors while the dish soap displaces all the dirt and grime without scrubbing.

2. Mold and Mildew Buster

Combat stubborn bathroom mold with two powerful cleaners that you can prepare at home with common pantry items. 

Cleaner Version – 1 (Spray & Wait):

Mix 2 cups of vinegar with 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil, a natural antifungal. Spray on affected areas and let sit for 24 hours before wiping. Perfect for shower corners or grout lines.

Cleaner Version 2 ( Scrub & Rinse ):

Mix ½ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol, ½ teaspoon of tea tree oil, and ¼ cup of water into a paste. Scrub and or apply with a scraper onto the mildew. Let it sit for 15 minutes. After that, rinse it with warm water.

Bonus: This is excellent for small, scrubbable surfaces.

3. All-Purpose Home Cleaner

For a multi-surface spray that works on dust, grease and grime, use the following recipe and prepare a DIY cleaner that works wonders. It is perfect for countertops, appliances and doorknobs. 

Recipe: 

In a small bowl or cup, combine together ¾ cup of water, 1 teaspoon natural dish soap, 1 ¼ cups rubbing alcohol (try to get the kind for disinfecting), and 10 drops of essential oil (lavender, or peppermint is nice). Pour this into your spray bottle and shake it up! Wait 2 minutes, and spray the mixture all over the surfaces. Wait for another 2 minutes and wipe off the surfaces with a damp cloth. 

4. Sparkling Sink Scrub

If you’re tired of seeing a dirty sink, give the following cleaner a try (recipe is written below). This cleaner is a great, gentle abrasive, safe for stainless steel and porcelain, and works so well on dull sinks. 

Recipe: 

Combine 2 cups of baking soda, plus, 10 drops each of clove essential oil and lemon essential oil (antibacterial and fresh), and 1 tablespoon of castile soap. 

Store in a jar, sprinkle on the sink, scrub with a sponge, and rinse off. 

5. Eco-Friendly Laundry Liquid

If you are worried about all the nasty toxic ingredients found in regular detergent, you will absolutely love this gentle and soft laundry liquid.

Just dissolve 1 cup of salt in 4 cups of boiling water, then stir in 1.5 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of Sal Suds or castile soap, and optional lemon essential oil. Once it cools down, use ¼ cup of it in each load of laundry.

Bonus: This “detergent” is safe for sensitive skin too!

6. Kitchen Power Scrub

For a squeaky clean kitchen scrub, mix ½ cup of dish soap, 1 teaspoon of water, and 5 drops of clove essential oil and ¼ cup of baking soda and prepare a paste. Apply to stovetops or pans, allow to sit for 5 minutes, scrub and rinse. It will remove all the grease and food stains from your countertops, stove and other surfaces. 

7. DIY Dishwasher Pods & Rinse Aid

If you’re looking for a perfect DIY dishwasher pod, then look no further. Here is a an accurate recipe of DIY dishwasher pod and rinse aid which is not only cost effective but more efficient than a plastic pod.

Pods:

Mix 1 cup each of washing soda, baking soda, and salt, then add 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Press the mixture into an ice cube tray and allow to dry overnight, then use one pod per washing cycle.

Rinse Aid:

Fill the rinse compartment of your dishwasher with distilled white vinegar to prevent spots and streaks.

8. Deep-Clean Tile and Grout Formula

If you want to turn your dingy grout back to bright white, try one of these cleaners.

Cleaner – 1 (paste): Mix: 2 parts baking soda, 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part dish soap into a paste. Take an old toothbrush and scrub the grout lines, rinse, and enjoy the bright white.

Cleaner – 2 (liquid): Mix: 4 cups hot water, ¼ cup each of baking soda, rubbing alcohol and lemon juice. Spray over tiles, let sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe clean.

9. Natural Disinfecting Spray

Here’s a quick recipe for a gentle yet powerful disinfecting spray for high touch surfaces.

Just combine ½ cup vinegar and 1½ cup of water, 1 teaspoon olive oil (to condition surfaces) and 10 drops of lemon essential oil and of lavender essential oil in a bottle. 

Simply spray on the area like doorknobs, or on your child’s toys, let it set for 10 minutes, then wipe it clean. 

10. Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner

Here is a quick recipe of glass cleaner that can give you streak-free windows without ammonia.  Mix 2 cups water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (which helps it dry faster), and 1 tablespoon corn starch (corn starch helps with streaks) in a bottle. Shake well and spray on the windows and mirrors. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll get crystal clear windows. 

11. Grease-Busting Surface Spray

If you’re looking for a FAST way to spray the grease off your stove-top and range hood and achieve your satisfaction in 10 minutes, here is the transition. 

To start, take a new spray bottle and add two cups of water. After that, add one tablespoon baking soda. After that, add two tablespoons fresh lemon juice; it’s a natural degreaser and also smells nice and fresh. Then lastly, add ½ teaspoon liquid Castile soap, and mix it really well; Castile soap is a very mild detergent. Now cap it and shake it all together. Spray the area thoroughly and after 5 minutes, wipe it away.  

12. Fresh Toilet Cleanser

If you want a fresh toilet all the time, stop using chemical-filled expensive toilet cleaners and prepare your own DIY cleaner instead. 

Pods:

Combine 1 cup baking soda, ½ cup citric acid, 1–2 teaspoons castile soap, and 10 drops of essential oil. Press the mixture into silicone molds, dry, then drop one pod in the toilet bowl weekly.

Liquid:

Mix: 2 cups of water, ½ cup baking soda, ½ cup citric acid, ½ cup castile soap, and essential oils. Shake well and squirt under the rim of the toilet, scrub, and flush.

Conclusion:

By switching to homemade natural cleaners, you will have fewer potentially harmful chemicals in your home. The 12 effective homemade natural cleaners mentioned above show you that vinegar, baking soda, lemon, Castile soap and essential oils can clean just as well as commercially-made/labeled products.

These available, biodegradable, and non-toxic solutions are much safer for your family, your pets, and the health of the planet. Additionally, they are less expensive and reduce the plastic waste from commercially made cleaning products. 

Don’t you want to try them out? No worries, you can share your favorite recipe with a friend, or make one up today. Your home (and the planet) will be grateful!