Learning how to make your own homemade cleaners is a handy and beneficial skill to have. Not only will it save you money, but you’ll also know that what you’re using is all-natural and safe for you and your family. Plus, homemade cleaners are an easy DIY project anyone can learn to make.
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Homemade Cleaners
Most homemade cleaners revolve around a few simple, all-natural ingredients, many of which you probably have on hand already.
White vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, and essential oils go a long way when cleaning your home. It’s a wonder why anyone ever began using the toxic chemicals most people use in their homes today!
So, if you want to start making your own all-natural homemade cleaners that work just as good (if not better) than their store-bought counterparts, grab these ingredients from your pantry and try out the following DIY cleaner recipes for every corner of your home.
Just remember, you can have all of the cleaners in the world, but make sure you are cleaning with some good old fashioned elbow grease too!
Top 3 Ingredients for DIY Homemade Cleaners
Making your own natural cleaners is easy with just 3 main ingredients:
- White vinegar – Removes dirt, grease, soap scum and kills germs. Also deodorizes.
- Baking soda – Deodorizes, cleans, scours, and polishes without scratching. Also great for drain cleaning.
- Dish Detergent – Has a stronger cleaning power to make your cleaners more effective.
Other handy ingredients:
- Hydrogen peroxide – Disinfects and whitens.
- Essential oils – Add antiseptic properties and natural fragrance.
Homemade cleaners save money, avoid chemicals, and are safe for families. They also make an easy DIY project using ingredients you likely have at home already!
All-Natural Cleaning Recipes
I first started making my homemade cleaners to save money. I think making your cleaners is kind of frugality 101! It’s so cheap and easy, not to mention better for your health. Plus, I’ve found that my recipes for homemade cleaners work just as well as those I bought from the store.
Here are some of my recipes for homemade cleaners. If you have special recipes for homemade cleaners you make, make sure to share your recipe in the comments section!
Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
- 1 part vinegar
- 2 parts water
- 10-12 drops of Tea Tree Oil or Lavender Essential Oil or a few drops of your favorite essential oil
Mix everything in a spray bottle and shake. Spray on countertops, tabletops, porcelain, or floors. I even use it to clean the spots on the carpet! Don’t use it on any granite or marble surfaces, as vinegar stains marble.
I usually also add a little grapefruit, lemon, or orange essential oil to cover up the smell of the vinegar.
Homemade Bathroom Cleaner
If you want your bathroom to have a super invigorating, fresh scent, you can clean the entire thing with just a grapefruit and a bit of salt. Here’s how to make a Grapefruit Bathroom Cleaner. You could also make the homemade all-purpose cleaner above and use Grapefruit Essential Oil for a similar effect.
Many citrus juice or oils work well for cleaning bathrooms and removing buildup stains. You can experiment with things like lemon juice if you don’t have grapefruit juice.
Homemade Window or Glass Cleaner
- 1 part vinegar
- 2 parts water
Mix in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on windows, mirrors, glass doors, etc. Try using newspapers to clean windows instead of paper towels for a streak-free shine. If you’re afraid of getting ink on your hands, wear gloves.
Homemade Cleaning Wipes
These Homemade Cleaning Wipes are awesome to keep around all winter for quick cleaning. They are easy to make and disposable, making them excellent for sickness in the home.
Homemade Furniture Polish
- ¼ cup Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Few Drops or Lemon Essential Oil or Orange Essential Oil
Mix in a bowl and use a rag to rub it onto wooden surfaces. Make sure you test on a small area first. To help remove tough water rings, try rubbing a little mayonnaise on it first. Mayonnaise is a great stain remover for spots on wooden furniture.
Homemade Drain Cleaner
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
First, sprinkle a little baking soda down the drain and follow it with the vinegar. The vinegar causes the baking soda to react (or vice versa), and the mixture will foam up, like homemade Drano, except way better for your health, wallet, and environment.
This Homemade Drain Cleaner mixture can also remove stains and smells from the carpet; make sure you test on a small area first.
You can also use this as a Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Just place both items in your toilets bowl and scrub with a toilet cleaning brush.
Homemade Carpet Cleaner
Dingy, spotted carpets? Make some homemade Carpet Cleaner. This can be made with some ingredients you already have under your sink, and it’s so effective as a spot cleaner or an all-over cleaner on carpeting.
Homemade Oven or Gas Grill Cleaner
- 1/4 c. of Baking Soda
- 2 Tablespoons liquiddish detergent
- 1 Tablespoon distilled white vinegar
Mix baking soda and dish detergent. Add distilled white vinegar, just a little bit at a time, to make a runny glue-like texture. Paint or brush onto caked-on greasy surfaces and let sit for 15-30 minutes.
Dip into the water using a brillo or scouring pad and then scrub treated surfaces clean. Rinse with water.
Perk Coffee Maker Cleaner
(for a 12-cup coffee maker)
- 4 cups distilled white vinegar
Put in 4 cups of White distilled vinegar and perk.
After perking, fill the entire decanter with water and reperk to rinse. It cleans amazingly and removes built-up coffee residues!
To clean a regular drip coffee machine, dilute the vinegar with equal water and pour it into the coffee maker. Make sure all old grounds are removed. Then, run the coffee maker as if brewing a regular cup of coffee. Once the cycle is done, dump the pot of vinegar water, rinse it out, and then fill it with water. Pour the water into the coffee maker again and run it once more to clean out any leftover vinegar residue.
Must Have Items To Make Homemade Cleaners
There are a few items that you should have on hand that will almost always be able to make a wide variety of natural cleaning products. Here’s what I recommend.
- Castile Soap
- Washing Soda
- Baking Soda
- Dish Soap
- White Vinegar
More Homemade Cleaners
- Homemade Jewelry Cleaner
- Laundry Detergent
- Homemade Foaming Hand Soap
- Dishwasher Detergent
Where to buy Essential Oils to make Homemade Cleaners
If you’re looking for a wonderful source of oils, I highly recommend Rocky Mountain Oils. After carefully considering all the companies selling essential oils, I’m happy to share that Rocky Mountain Oils has become my main source of oils for many reasons.
What to Clean With
My absolute favorite cleaning cloths are anything from eCloth. I’ve been using their products for several years and have been very happy with their durability and affordable price.
I use them with the homemade cleaner recipes above and not just with water. A few of my favorite products are the Non-Scratch Scrubbing Pads (I use these daily for dishes!), the Glass and Polishing Cloth (my favorite for cleaning the stovetop and other appliances that get streaky), and the Window Cleaning Cloths (streak-free windows!).
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Which homemade cleaners do you already make? Which homemade cleaner will you try first? Do you have any of your own special recipes or tips for making or using homemadecleaners?
Merissa Alink
Merissa has been blogging about andliving the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from theContact Page.
This blog post with DIY Recipes for Homemade Cleaners was initially published on Little House Living in May 2011. It has been updated as of October 2023.
