The Best DIY Natural Cleaning Products

Making your own natural cleaning products at home is a great way to avoid harmful chemicals and save money. Here are the best DIY natural cleaning product recipes I use to clean my entire home.

Why Make Your Own Cleaning Products

There are a few key reasons why I choose to make my own DIY natural cleaning products:

Avoids Toxic Chemicals

Store-bought cleaners often contain toxic chemicals like ammonia, bleach, formaldehyde, and phosphates. Exposure to these chemicals can cause headaches, asthma, and other health issues. Making my own cleaners allows me to control exactly what goes into them.

Cost Effective

Making my own DIY natural cleaners costs a fraction of what I would pay for brand name cleaners at the store. Simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap can be bought in bulk for very cheap.

Customizable

I can customize my homemade cleaners to be just the right strength and scent I prefer. Store-bought cleaners tend to be overpoweringly strong smelly.

Better for the Environment

Harsh chemicals in standard cleaners wash down our drains and pollute waterways. Using natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda makes my cleaners better for the environment.

Non-Toxic for Pets

My homemade cleaners avoid chemicals that could be toxic to my pets. Store-bought cleaners often contain chemicals that can irritate pet’s skin, eyes, and respiratory system.

All-Purpose Cleaner

My go-to all-purpose cleaner is simple, inexpensive, and works great on most surfaces in my home.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon castile soap
• 2 cups water

Instructions

1. Add the vinegar, castile soap, and water to a spray bottle.
2. Shake bottle to combine ingredients.
3. Spray directly on surface and wipe away with damp cloth or paper towel.

This natural cleaner works great on countertops, appliances, windows, mirrors, and other surfaces. The vinegar cuts through grease and grime, while the castile soap helps remove dirt. I like using this affordable cleaner rather than Windex or other brand name glass cleaners.

Disinfecting Cleaner

I use this natural disinfecting cleaner on surfaces that need sanitizing like bathrooms, door knobs, and kitchen surfaces.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons tea tree oil
• 2 cups water
• 1⁄4 cup vinegar

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a spray bottle and shake well to combine.
2. Spray surface generously and let sit for 5 minutes.
3. Wipe away residue with damp cloth.

The natural antibacterial properties of tea tree oil make this an effective disinfecting cleaner. I like using this on bathroom surfaces like counters, sinks, faucets, and toilets in place of harsh bleach cleaners.

DIY Natural Floor Cleaner

This easy DIY floor cleaner leaves my tile, vinyl, and wood floors clean, shiny, and residue free.

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup white vinegar
• 1 gallon warm water
• 5-10 drops essential oil (optional for scent)

Instructions

1. Fill bucket with 1 gallon warm water.
2. Add vinegar and several drops of essential oil (lemon or orange oils have a nice fresh scent).
3. Mop floors as usual and allow to air dry.

The vinegar helps cut through dirt and grime, leaving floors sparkling clean. I’ve found this natural cleaner works better to clean my floors than Swiffer or other disposable floor cleaners. The essential oil leaves a light, fresh scent.

Natural Window and Glass Cleaner

This easy homemade glass cleaner leaves windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces streak-free using ingredients you probably have on hand.

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1⁄4 cup white vinegar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon liquid dish soap

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake to combine.
2. Spray directly on glass surface.
3. Wipe clean with newspaper, coffee filters, or microfiber cloth.

The vinegar in this solution helps remove grime and film from glass while the dish soap cuts through oily smudges. I’ve found this DIY glass cleaner works better than Windex and leaves windows crystal clear without toxic chemicals.

Foaming Bathroom Scrub

This DIY foaming bathroom scrub is designed to clean and disinfect tile, grout, tubs, showers, and other bathroom surfaces.

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup baking soda
• Liquid castile soap
• 10 drops tea tree oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• Water

Instructions

1. Mix the baking soda, 2 teaspoons liquid castile soap, and essential oils in a bowl.
2. Slowly stir in just enough water to form a thick foamy paste.
3. Apply paste to bathroom surface with damp sponge or scrub brush.
4. Let sit 5 minutes then scrub and rinse clean.

The baking soda scrubs away grime, the castile soap foams and lifts dirt, and the tea tree and lemon oils disinfect. This natural scrub works great for cleaning soap scum and hard water stains.

Oven Cleaner Spray

This simple homemade oven cleaner quickly breaks down burnt on grease and food stains without harsh fumes or chemicals.

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1⁄4 cup liquid castile soap
• 2 tablespoons water
• 5 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

1. Mix baking soda, castile soap, water, and lemon oil in a spray bottle.
2. Shake bottle to fully dissolve baking soda.
3. Lightly spray inside oven walls, door, racks, etc. Avoid heating elements.
4. Let sit 20 minutes then wipe away grime with damp cloth.

The baking soda works like a scouring powder to scrub caked on grease while the castile soap helps lift and dissolve it. This is a much safer oven cleaner than Easy-Off which has very harsh fumes.

Drain Cleaner

This simple homemade drain cleaner can clear slow running drains and keep them fresh smelling.

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 5 drops essential oil (optional)

Instructions

1. Pour the baking soda down the drain first.
2. Follow with the vinegar and let fizz for 5-10 minutes.
3. Rinse with hot water.
4. Repeat weekly to keep drains clear.

The combination of baking soda and vinegar creates a fizzy chemical reaction that helps break up gunk, grease, and grime clogging drains. The optional essential oil leaves a fresh clean scent. I use this method to keep my bathroom and kitchen sinks running freely.

Natural Carpet Cleaner

This simple DIY carpet cleaner lifts dirt, stains, and odors from carpets leaving them fresh without harsh chemicals.

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup liquid castile soap
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 1⁄2 cup white vinegar
• 2 gallons hot water

Instructions

1. Mix castile soap, baking soda, and vinegar into 2 gallons hot water in bucket.
2. Use carpet cleaning machine to apply solution and extract dirt according to manufacturer’s directions.
3. Allow carpet to fully dry before walking on it after cleaning.

The castile soap in this solution lifts dirt from carpets while the baking soda works like a scouring powder to remove stains. Vinegar helps neutralize odors and brighten the carpet fibers. This cleaner has worked well at removing spots and stains from my carpets.

Making my own natural DIY cleaners has been a game changer allowing me to deep clean my entire home without using harsh chemicals. They keep my home clean, save me money, and give me peace of mind knowing exactly what’s in the products I’m using. I encourage you to try making your own to avoid toxins and take control over what goes into your cleaners.