It’s that time of year when the urge to clean and declutter often hits me… it has hit me, but I’ve been too sick to really do anything about it right yet.
Over the past several years, I have been replacing a lot of the store bought cleaners with ‘cleaner’ versions that we can make here at home.
Most of our DIY cleaners involve vinegar and/or rubbing alcohol. On occasion, I do purchase some cleaner concentrates from Amazon that we dilute for all purpose cleaners around the house. I will link those at the bottom of the post.
Home Remedies, Homemade Cleaners, and Miscellaneous Tips and Stuff
We really like to make citrus vinegar to use in our DIY cleaners, as it smells AMAZING! We have found that it can also help to repel flies and other insects. Check out some easy recipes below:
EASY DIY CLEANERS
Please do your own research and testing before using these recipes. They work for us and our home but your home may be different.
Citrus Vinegar
Fill a jar with citrus peels… any kind or combination.
Cover with white vinegar and let sit for 1-2 weeks.
Use in your favorite DIY cleaning recipe.
Basic Cleaner
- 1 c. white or citrus vinegar
- 1 c. water
- A few drops of essential oil, optional
Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe clean. This works well on most surfaces.
All-Purpose Cleaner
- 1 T. baking powder or borax
- ¼ c. white vinegar or citrus infused vinegar
- ¼ t. dish detergent or castile soap
- 3 c. hot water
- A few drops of essential oil, optional
Mix together in a quart jar or a large spray bottle. Spray and wipe clean. You may want to rinse surfaces with a clean damp cloth.
**To add disinfecting properties to any cleaner you can add:
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 3 drops of thyme essential oil
Window Cleaner
- 1 T. white or citrus vinegar
- 3 c. water
- Drop of castile soap or dish detergent, optional
- ¼ c. rubbing alcohol, optional
Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe clean.
Scouring Powder or Carpet Odor Eliminator
- 3-4 c. baking soda
- 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oils
Mix together in a container with a shaker lid for easy use.
For Scrubbing:
Shake onto surface to be scrubbed. Add enough water to make a paste and scrub away.
For Carpets:
Sprinkle on carpets before vacuuming and allow to sit for at least 15-20 minutes before vacuuming.
NOTE:
We prefer to use glass spray bottles to store our cleaners and/or mason jars. We also keep ALL CLEANERS and ESSENTIAL OILS in a LOCKED CABINET for SAFETY. Even though these are generally SAFER than most store-bought cleaners, they can still be DANGEROUS if ingested or improperly used.
ALWAYS be sure to instruct children how cleaners should be responsibly used and where they are to be used. CLEANERS ARE NOT FOR PLAY!
**This post does contain some affiliate and/or referral links to products and/or services that we use. If you happen to click through a link and make a purchase, we may earn a teensy-weensy small commission (at NO EXTRA cost to you) if a purchase is made through these links. These links help to support our family, our blog, and our homeschooling mission. This means that we can keep bringing you great recipes, ideas, and tips for FREE! Click HERE for a full disclaimer. –Thank you!
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