Homemade Cleaning Products

So, a while back, when I was going about my dusting business, I was cleaning and ran out of my wood duster (Pledge).  Well, this was an issue, because I was not about to go out just to get wood duster, and I was not going to skip dusting my house.  So, I figured hey I’ll ask Google what to do, which is pretty much my answer for everything.  And what do you know, I found all sorts of recipes for homemade dusting spray.  I mixed up a batch of an option, that I had all of the ingredients for, and got back to my dusting business.  Guess what?  I liked the new dusting spray better than Pledge.

I know you’re on the edge of your seat right now, this is pretty intense stuff.  I decided that once my other store bought cleaning products ran out, I would find recipes for homemade cleaners for those as well.

If you don’t know where I am going with this, I’ll help you out… I’m going to tell you all about my new cleaning supplies and give you their recipes.

Before you get jazzed about making your own cleaners, you’ll need some spray bottles.  I got a couple different types.

I found both of these options at Target.  The few above were $1.50 each in the gardening section and the 3 below were $3 each in the cleaning supplies area.  Now that we have the spray bottles covered, we can start getting crazy with some recipes.

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Let’s start with good ol’ glass cleaner, which is my substitute for my old go to, Windex.

Glass Cleaner

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup water (I used distilled, since our tap water is pretty hard)
2. 1/4 cup white vinegar
3. 2-3 drops dish soap
4. Spray bottleDirections:

• Pour all ingredients into spray bottle.
• Shake.

Congratulations, you have made glass cleaner!  I use this spray for all of my windows and mirrors, works just as well as Windex.  I made 3 batches, one for each bathroom and one for the kitchen/rest of the house.  Since one of my spray bottles was a bit larger, I just doubled the recipe.

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Multi-Purpose Spray

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup water (I used distilled)
2. 1 cup white vinegar
3. 10 drops essential oils
4. Spray bottle

Directions:

• Pour all ingredients into spray bottle.
• Shake.

You’re simply amazing, because you just created an all natural multi-purpose spray! For the essential oils, I used eucalyptus, because I had some on hand. Most recipes I found used lemon oil.  Any essential oil will work, so use whatcha got.  I use this spray for almost anything: kitchen counters, fridge shelves, my desk (which is not wood), the sink or spills on the floor.  Pretty much anything, hence the name multi-purpose.

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 Dusting Spray

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup water (distilled for me)
2. 1 cup white vinegar
3. 1 tbsp olive oil
4. Spray bottle

Directions:

• Pour all ingredients in spray bottle.
• Shake.

Huzzah!  Another one down.  The olive oil kinda catches you off guard with this one, but it makes sense. It gives it the oily consistency that attracts the dust.  I use this on all of my wood surfaces.

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 Bathroom Cleaner

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2 cup water (distilled, if you prefer)
2. 1 cup white vinegar
3. 1/4 cup lemon juice
4. 1 tbsp dish soap
5. 2 tsp baking soda
6. Spray bottle

Directions:

• Add baking soda to spray bottle FIRST.
• Next, add vinegar to spray bottle slowly.  Let things fizzle out if needed.
• Once bubbles have subsided, add water.
• Add lemon juice and dish soap last.

This seems to be the trickiest concoction of the bunch.  You might want to use a larger spray bottle. I found that since my bottle was smaller, it overflowed when I added the vinegar.  You’ll want to mix this one over a sink, just in case.  I made 2 batches, one for each of my bathrooms.  I use it for my bathroom counters and my tub.

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 Shower Cleaner

Ingredients:

1. Approximately 1/4 cup dish soap
2. Approximately 1/4 cup white vinegar
3. Refillable dish scrubber

Directions:

• Fill wand half with vinegar and half with the dish soap.
• Shake her up.

This one is ridiculously convenient.  I just wet my shower walls down and then scrub away.  It works just as well, if not better, than my old cleaner (aka Scrubbing Bubbles).

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Now that you have a plethora of homemade cleaning products, you’re going to want to label them.  You don’t want to be spraying that bathroom cleaner on your wood surfaces, not that you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.  For my labeling pleasure, I used washy tape and a sharpie marker.  Easy peasy.

What do you know?  Those are some fancy labeled bottles!

The clear spray bottles live in my kitchen…

And for the bathroom, my more colorful trio…   

I think the best part about all of this is how much cheaper these options are.  They last much longer and if you haven’t noticed, they mostly consist of water (free) and vinegar (cheap).

Oh yea, they also can’t harm my Charlie Bean, if he decides to take a taste of the kitchen counter or toilet bowl, whatever floats his doggy boat.

Try these!  You won’t be disappointed.