Don’t want to use chemical-laden cleaning products in your home? Many people can react badly to certain substances, especially if they have sensitive skin, asthma or young children in the house. Why not have a go at making your own homemade cleaning products? None of the mixtures listed below contain any abrasive or harmful chemicals, and can be put together using items you probably already have laying around in your cupboards.
You’re going to need some empty plastic spray bottles to store your mixtures in, and luckily, we’ve got plenty here at Ideon!
All-Purpose Cleaner
This handy little all-purpose cleaner mixture is perfect for wiping down surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom… and anywhere else in the house!
What you’ll need:
- 120ml of white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 10 drops of lemon (or tea tree) oil
To make this homemade all-purpose cleaner, simply throughly mix together the vinegar and essential oil in a bottle that has a trigger spray cap, before adding the baking soda and combining well. Top up the bottle with water and give it a good shake to make sure that all the ingredients are combined. To use, just spray your surfaces with the mix and wipe down with a cloth.
Find the full guide on Natural Living Ideas.
Carpet Stain Remover
We’ve all accidentally split something on our carpets… whether it be red wine, ketchup or tea, this easy DIY carpet remover is able to get your floors squeaky clean once again!
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Nylon (or similar) scrub brush
- Vacuum cleaner
To remove your carpet stain, you need to first cover the stain with a coating of baking soda. Take a spray bottle and combine equal measures of white vinegar and water. Spray this mixture on top of your layer of baking soda until it is fully doused. The baking soda will then start to fizz and foam. Leave this for around 3 hours, then take a nylon brush and gently brush the mixture into your carpet so that it can penetrate through the layers. Leave overnight to dry. In the morning, you should be left wth a chalky stain on your carpet, which you can hoover up with your vacuum cleaner. If any of the stain is still underneath, scrub with a clean cloth to remove.
Find the full guide on Money Crashers.
Glass Cleaner
Get your windows sparkling clean (and smelling fresh!) with this citrus-y spray.
What you’ll need:
- 470ml of water
- 120ml of white (or cider) vinegar
- 60ml of rubbing alcohol (that has around 70% concentration)
- 1 or 2 drops of orange essential oil (optional)
Simply combine all the ingredients above in a spray bottle, spray onto your windows and wipe off with a clean cloth. Don’t clean your windows if the sun is shining directly onto them, as the mixture can dry too quickly and leave streaks.
Find the full guide at Good Housekeeping.
Kitchen & Bathroom Cleaner
Kitchens and bathrooms are the 2 rooms in the house that get dirty the quickest, so you need powerful homemade cleaning products to tackle them. Step forward this 2-ingredient kitchen and bathroom cleaner…
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
Pour baking powder into a small bowl, then add hydrogen peroxide until it forms a smooth paste. Use a sponge to rub the mixture onto the surface and then wipe clean.
Find the full guide on One Good Thing.
Wood Polish
Finally, we have a fabulous wood polish that can also double up as a dusting spray.
- 180ml of water
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of vodka (or white vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of liquid glycerin (optional)
- 30-40 drops of essential oil (clove, orange, lemon, etc)
- 1/4 of a teaspoon of xanthan gum
- 1/2 a teaspoon of emulsifying wax
Use a blender to combine the water, olive oil, vinegar, glycerin and essentials oil. Whilst the blender is still on, add the xanthan gum and emulsifying wax and keep blending for about 15 more seconds. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and use a cloth to polish your surfaces. This mixture is safe to use for 3 months.
Find the full guide at Nourishing Joy.
