Live Naturally: Natural Cleaning Products You Already Have At Home

Everyone loves a clean home. But nobody likes to clean, for any number of inarguable reasons–the back-breaking work, the time-consuming nature, the harsh smell, and the exposure to potentially harmful cleaning chemicals.

Thankfully, there is a better alternative–to some of that at least. Using natural cleaning supplies to clean your home is, unfortunately, not easier or any less time consuming, but it is safer, especially for children and pets. Cleaning a house naturally works just as well and can be equally encompassing, while also improving indoor air quality and saving money with DIY recipes.

Making the switch to homemade DIY cleaners may seem like more work–with all the ingredients and recipes–but it’s actually very easy. The ingredients needed are readily available (mostly at grocery stores) and typically last a long time.

Here are some of the best and most versatile natural cleaning products:

Baking soda

An open box of baking soda can be used to eliminate odors in the fridge, bathroom, and laundry room, as well as whiten sinks, showers, and tubs.

Beeswax

Skip the oily, store-bought wood cleaners and use natural beeswax to shine and polish your wood furniture.

Cornstarch and Club Soda

Combine these two common household ingredients for a great remedy for lifting stains from carpets and upholstery.

Essential oils

Although chemical-free, pure essential oils can be very strong and should be used with caution. With just a few drops, essential oils add antibacterial power to any cleaning solution as well as a refreshing scent.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Known as a powerful disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide can also be used to clean and disinfect around the house. Mix with baking soda and easily remove mildew from kitchens and bathrooms.

Lemon

There is a reason why so many store-bought cleaning agents smell like lemon–the sweet aroma and cleaning power. Lemon juice can be added to all of your household cleaning recipes for a better smell, but also used raw to remove aromas from counters, cutting boards, and even the garbage disposal.

Olive oil

Olive oil is for more than just cooking–it also a great natural conditioner for wood, especially floors (it’s also good for your skin and hair as well).

Natural Salt

Salt is the natural grit that gives your scrubbing the little extra power it needs to really remove that stubborn, stuck-on grime. Large granular kosher salt works best, but any will do the trick.

White vinegar

White vinegar is the unsung hero of natural cleaning supplies. This acidic liquid disinfects and deodorizes any surface and is safe and popular to use on all your most germ-ridden spots areas around your homes, including counters, doorknobs, and sinks.

Washing soda

Washing soda is a milder alternative to the popular borax. Similar to baking soda, but stronger, washing soda can tackle big cleaning projects like toilets, or when mixed with water, it can be a more comprehensive all-purpose cleaner.

Recipe #1 – Scouring Powder

– 1 cup baking soda
– ½ cup salt (not iodized)
– ½ cup washing soda
– 5 drops lemon essential oil for scent (optional)

Recipe #2 – Natural Air Fresheners

Simmer 1 quart of water and mix with one of these aromatic combinations:

– 1 lemon (sliced), 2 tbsp rosemary, and a splash of vanilla

– 1 lime (sliced) and 1 piece ginger root (chopped)

– 1 lime (sliced) and 2 tbsp thyme

– 1 orange (sliced), 1 tsp cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, and cloves

Recipe #3 – Glass Cleaner

– 2 cups of distilled or filtered water (using tap water risks leaving residue)
– 2 tbsp white vinegar
– 10 drops essential oil (optional, but it helps cancel out the vinegar odor)

Recipe #4 – Wood Dusting Spray

– 1 cup water
– ½ cup white vinegar
– 2 tbsp olive oil

– 10 drops lemon essential oil

– 5 drops cedarwood essential oil

Recipe #5 – Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

– 1 cup Dawn blue dish soap
– 1 cup white vinegar

– 1 cup club soda

* Spray liberally and wait 10 minutes. Then, scrub in circles with a hard brush.

Your home may never be cleaner than the day you move in, but using these natural cleaning products and recipes will get you pretty close. These tips will also come in handy if you need to deep clean your home before you put it on the market. And if your home is just too dirty to clean and you just want to start over with a new one, contact our sales representatives today to learn more about our beautiful, spotlessly clean homes.