Cleaning your home using natural products isn’t any harder than using harsh chemicals. It actually makes the air inside your house cleaner and is much safer, especially for kids. We’ve completely switched to natural cleaning products and our home is as clean as ever. This way, I don’t need to worry if the kids decide to taste test the floor!
One of the best things about natural cleaning products is that they’re safe for kids to use. It’s great to get them involved in cleaning early.
Switching to homemade cleaners might seem like extra work, but it’s really straightforward. The ingredients are easy to find and last a long time. Here are the natural cleaning ingredients I always keep handy, along with some simple, budget-friendly recipes to help you get started:
– Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner: Just four ingredients and thirty seconds to mix. You can even customize the scent with essential oils.
– Glass Cleaner: Skip the bright blue stuff; just use vinegar and water to tackle dirt and leave glass streak-free.
– Tile Grout Cleaner: Combine 1 part water with 3 parts baking soda to create a paste. Apply it, let it sit, scrub with a toothbrush, and wipe off with a sponge.
– Cookware Cleaner: Use a mix of sea salt or coarse salt with a bit of lemon juice to scrub. Baking soda and water paste works well on stained mugs and cutting boards too.
– Fabric Softener: Mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water, adding 1/4 to 1/3 cup to the final rinse cycle.
– Toilet Cleaner: Use white vinegar all around the top of the bowl, then scrub.
– Wood Dusting Spray: Helps remove dust while nourishing the wood.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about natural cleaning through trial and error. To make things easier, I’ve compiled my top 19 tips for easy natural cleaning, so you can skip the learning curve.
Here are some ideas:
– Clean your oven with a paste of baking soda and water. Apply it, leave for a few hours, then wipe off.
– Instead of pricey magic erasers, buy melamine sponges in bulk to save money.
– Microfiber is a money saver too. I use antibacterial microfiber cloths and a microfiber mop daily. Now I can clean the whole house with just water! I keep color-coded cloths for different rooms. Say goodbye to chemicals and hello to savings.
– To tackle soap scum on tubs, make a scouring powder with 2 parts baking soda, 1 part salt, and 1 part borax.
– For a fresh-smelling cleaner, fill a jar with citrus peels and pour undiluted vinegar over them; use it to mop or disinfect surfaces after straining.
– Use checklists for each room to clean efficiently or assign tasks to your kids for thorough cleaning.
– For cleaning dishwashers, place a bowl of vinegar on the top rack and run a hot cycle.
– To combat garbage disposal odors, try these tricks: simmer water with natural ingredients or use vinegar and baking soda.
– Make your own laundry soap cheaply and effectively. It’s budget-friendly and lasts for months.
– If you’re dealing with potty training accidents, use hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap for stain removal on mattresses.
– Clean a shower head by soaking it in vinegar.
– Use a mix of Dawn dish soap, baking soda, and club soda to clean car upholstery stains.
– Dump baking soda and vinegar in toilets for cleaning without scrubbing.
Say no to plastic spray bottles; repurpose glass bottles for an eco-friendly alternative. Since discovering microfiber for windows, I’ve ditched the chemicals. It’s just water, and my windows are spotless!
There are some great store-bought green cleaners out there too. Here are a few I’ve liked over the years:
Interested in more natural cleaning ideas? Here are some additional tips and recipes:
Do you have any favorite natural cleaning tips? Share your thoughts!