DIY Cleaning Recipes for Your Entire Home

DIY Cleaning Recipes for Your Entire Home – Angie Cruise Blog

DIY Cleaning Recipes for Your Entire Home

If you’re looking for a way to clean up your spring cleaning routine, these DIY cleaning recipes might be just what you need!

It’s that time of year again!  Have you started your spring cleaning? I know a lot of people hate it, but I personally love taking the time to organize and clean. There is something so refreshing about purging the old and bringing in the new. It’s such a satisfying feeling to sit down at the end of the day (or week, I won’t judge) and know that all of the forgotten areas of the house have been given attention. Since I’m a “crunchy mom” by nature, I don’t use any standard cleaning products during this process.  If you’re looking for a way to clean up your routine, you might want to try some of my DIY cleaning recipes that I use around the house!  These all get used heavily during my spring cleaning spree.  I love that these cleaners are able to disinfect and clean my house while still smelling amazing.

Why I Use Homemade Cleaners

There are many reasons to switch to green cleaners in your house.  One of the biggest reasons people want to make their own cleaners is so that they can eliminate toxins in the home.  I know I personally love knowing everything that goes into my cleaners.  I have kids that help clean, and knowing they aren’t touching or breathing in harsh chemicals is a huge plus for me.

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Some Interesting Facts on Conventional Cleaners

I mentioned before that the main reason I make our own household cleaners is to know exactly what is in them.  But, what if we talk for a minute about what is in conventional cleaners at the store? In reality, that was a far more motivating factor for me in the beginning.

Chemical levels can be up to 70 times higher

your home than outside it.  Did you know that?

Over 100 chemicals commonly found in homes have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, headaches, skin reactions, chronic fatigue, joint pain, asthma, and chest pains.

Conventional air fresheners contain hormone-disrupting pthalates and cancer-causing ingredients such as formeldahyde and benzene.

The chemicals found in conventional cleaners have been known to cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.  They can also irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system!

Unsafe storage and handling of household cleaning products can result in childhood poisoning.

Here is some further reading on conventional cleaners, if you want to find out more.

8 Hidden Toxins: What’s Lurking in Your Cleaning Products?

EWG’s List of Most Harmful Cleaning Products

How Toxic are Your Household Cleaning Supplies?

WHO: Children and Poisoning

Medline Plus: Indoor Air Pollution

Basic Ingredients Needed for DIY Cleaners

If you’re new to green cleaning and DIY cleaners, it can be a bit overwhelming.  I thought I’d give a rundown on what I use in my home to help you get started.

There are a few basic ingredients you’ll want to stock up on to make your own cleaners.    If it’s too overwhelming, try starting small.  Replace one cleaner at a time, and before you know it, you’ll have a whole cabinet of DIY cleaners!  Some things you’ll need to get started are:

baking soda (from the grocery store)

White Distilled Vinegar

Glass Spray Bottles

The number one reason I hear people turn away from DIY cleaning is the cost, but if you look at this list, the cost is so much less than what you would spend on cleaners at the store!  Quality essential oils do cost more, but in most of my recipes, you only need a few drops at a time.  If all you’re using them for is cleaning, they’ll last you a really long time.

DIY Cleaning Recipes – Plus Free Printable Recipe Cards!

To help you get started, I put together a list of my favorite recipes for DIY cleaners.  With these recipes, you’ll be able to clean every room in your house without using any toxic chemicals!  If you just want to replace one cleaner at a time, I recommend starting with the all-purpose cleaner.  It’s easy to make, and will make the biggest impact on your cleaning routine.

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

If you didn’t already know, I’m a big fan of Thieves household cleaner.  It is a concentrated cleaner using a variety of essential oils and no synthetic ingredients.  It cleans so well, and lasts a long time.  A combination of this cleaner and water (the dilution ratios are on the bottle) is my go-to cleaner for counters, tables, and other hard surfaces.  One bottle of this cleaner lasts me several months, so it ends up being a lot cheaper than buying cleaners from the store, too.

If you don’t want to use the Thieves cleaner, you can also make your own using  this simple recipe below:

essential oils (Lemon, Tea Tree, or Citrus all work really well)

When I make a cleaner like this, I generally use a 50-50 ratio of water and vinegar, and then add about 5 drops of my favorite oil for additional cleaning purposes, and a better smell.

Another favorite all purpose cleaner I’ve recently stumbled upon is

They’re plant and mineral based and free of harmful preservatives, and

tested on animals.

Air Freshener Recipe

Everyone loves to have a good smelling home.  It’s one of the things I worried about most when I started removing toxins from my house! I had nothing to fear, though.  When I’m not diffusing oils, I can still freshen the air in my house by using a simple air freshener.  To make your own, you will need:

8 oz glass spray bottle

10 drops essential oils

{Citrus Fresh, Purification, Peace and Calming, Joy, or Thieves are my favorites}

Simply mix all of these ingredients in the bottle, shake well, and spray anywhere you need it!

Window Cleaner Recipe

I don’t use a special window cleaner regularly. To be honest, I usually just use my all purpose cleaner and a lint-free towel.  However, sometimes I do take the time to make a cleaner specifically for glass, and it really helps with the streaking. You’ll need:

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

5-10 drops lemon essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a glass spray bottle, shake well, and spray onto a glass surface.  Be sure to use a lint-free towel to clean!

Carpet Deodorizer Recipe

Do you use those canisters of carpet freshener when you vacuum? That used to be my favorite way to freshen a room.  Since I have animals, I’d always get the ones that claim to deter fleas.  When I actually stopped to read the label, I realized it said to remove animals from the room while it sits for 20 minutes.  Umm…why do I want to use something I can’t have around my animals? What if my vacuum doesn’t get it all up? Why would I want to risk my animals getting sick when all I’m trying to do is clean and prevent fleas?

That’s the moment I discovered how easy it is to make my own carpet deodorizer.  All you need is a box of baking soda and your favorite essential oils! For fleas, I like to use a combination of lavender and cedarwood, as it’s been shown to deter fleas.  As a bonus, it smells amazing!

Dusting Spray Recipe

If you’ve got a lot of wood furniture to dust, you’ve got to try this recipe! For a quick dusting, I just use microfiber cloths, but when I want to condition my furniture and let it shine, this is a great DIY cleaner to have on hand.