If you’re looking for a more natural and sustainable approach to cleaning your home or can’t reach a supermarket regularly to top up on store bought cleaning supplies, making your own at home may be the most efficient way to clean your home. From a surface cleaner, to a stain remover, to a window cleaner, all of these products can be made from ingredients found in your kitchen pantry.
All-Purpose Surface Spray
A surface cleaner serves an all-purpose role in the home and can be used to clean many surfaces: kitchen and bathroom cupboards, the inside of the fridge/freezer, kitchen and bathroom surfaces, carpet and some appliances. For some surfaces such as a marble or granite, using vinegar in the surface cleaner can wear away at the stone, so we’ve given a recipe using Castile Soap that is a softer mixture and is suitable for all surfaces.
Ingredients
Castile Soap Surface Cleaner
- 2 cups distilled water
- 2 TB castile soap up to 1/4 cup*
- 15 drops lavender essential oil or peppermint or orange
Vinegar Surface Cleaner
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1/2 lemon juiced (optional)
- 15 drops lavender essential oil or peppermint, orange, or lemon
Instructions
- For the castile soap cleaner, pour the water into a 16oz. spray bottle (use a funnel, if needed). Add the castile soap and essential oil. Gentle shake the cleaner. This cleaner may be stored at room temperature.
- For the vinegar cleaner, pour all the ingredients into a 16oz. spray bottle (use a funnel, if needed). Gently shake the cleaner. This cleaner will need to be stored in the fridge between uses due to the fresh lemon juice.
How To Use:
- Gently shake the spray bottle before spraying the cleaner on the desired surface. Spray the cleaner and wipe off the surface with a damp cloth (this is important when using the castile soap cleaner since it can leave a soapy residue if left to dry)! Do not use the vinegar cleaner on marble or granite. The castile soap (avoid the citrus variety) cleaner may be used on sealed marble or granite.
Stain Remover
We’ve all had that moment of panic when something has accidentally spilt on your favourite white shirt, but with a homemade stain remover, there’s no need to worry.
This stain remover works on practically every stain imaginable: food, grease, most grass stains, mud, coffee etc.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Baking Soda
- 4 Tbsp Dish Washing Liquid
- 8 Tbsp Hydrogen Peroxide 3% – this can be bought at your local pharmacy.
How to Use
- Put all of the ingredients in a small jar, put the lid on and shake until combined.
- Apply directly to the stain and rub gently with your finger, a piece of fabric or an old soft bristled bamboo toothbrush.
- Allow stain remover to sit for at least 15 minutes, or up to an hour depending on how bad the stain is. Wash normally and redo the process if necessary.
- Always check your garment for colour fastness before using on your stain, it should not take the colour out of the fabric but do a small test to be sure.
Fabric Softener
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Baking Soda
- 1 Cup White Vinegar
- 1 Cup Hot Water
- 1 Cup Cold Water
How to Use
- Thoroughly dissolve the baking soda in 1 cup hot water, then add 1 cup cold water and the vinegar (this will foam up a little), stir to combine.
- Use 1/4 cup per standard wash.
- Store in a glass jar and shake well before using as it does separate over time.
Hand Sanitiser
If you’re making trips to the supermarket or if you want to protect your hands that little bit more from germs, homemade hand sanitiser is the way to go. It’s easy to make, and includes ingredients that you will likely have at home.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (99 percent)
- ¼ cup of aloe vera gel
- 10 drops of essential oil such as lavender oil or lemon juice
How to Use
- Pour all ingredients into a bowl, ideally one with a pouring spout like a glass measuring container.
- Mix with a spoon and then beat with a whisk to turn the sanitiser into a gel.
- Pour the ingredients into an empty bottle for easy use, and label it “hand sanitiser.”
Glass and Window Cleaner
You don’t have to spend big bucks on a cleaner that may have chemicals you don’t like, and frankly, that doesn’t work any better at getting your windows clean.
Once you make the switch to homemade glass cleaner, you’ll be able to reuse the same spray bottle again and again instead of buying a new bottle every time you run out.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- Spray bottle
How to Use
- Use one cup of rubbing alcohol, one cup of water, and one tablespoon of vinegar per batch.
- Fill the spray bottle and use as a glass cleaner.
- Store in a cool cabinet away from any heat source because the alcohol makes this mixture flammable.
