Make Your Own Green Cleaning Supplies

Making your own green cleaning supplies is a great way to avoid harmful chemicals and save money. With just a few simple ingredients from your pantry, you can make effective cleaners that are safe for your family and the environment.

Why Make Your Own Green Cleaners

There are several benefits to making your own green cleaning products:

• Avoid toxic chemicals – Many conventional cleaners contain ingredients like ammonia, bleach, and synthetic fragrances that can irritate eyes, skin, and lungs. DIY cleaners use natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils that are much gentler.

• Reduce plastic waste – Store-bought cleaners come in disposable plastic bottles. Making your own allows you to reuse glass containers and reduce single-use plastics.

• Save money – Homemade cleaners cost a fraction of what you’d pay at the store. With just a few inexpensive ingredients, you can make unlimited batches.

• Control ingredients – When you make it yourself, you know exactly what’s going into the product. You can avoid preservatives, dyes, and undisclosed “fragrance” chemicals.

• Customize scents – Commercial cleaners tend to rely on synthetic fragrances. Making your own allows you to pick natural essential oils with lovely scents.

Supplies You’ll Need

Making DIY cleaners is simple with ingredients you likely already have:

• White vinegar – cuts grease, removes odors, disinfects
• Baking soda – deodorizes, scours, polishes
• Lemon juice – cuts grease, brightens, freshens
• Water – dilutes and dissolves ingredients
• Essential oils – add natural scents
• Castile soap – removes dirt from surfaces
• Hydrogen peroxide – disinfects
• Borax – deodorizes, cleans, and shines

You’ll also need reusable spray bottles, rags, and glass containers to hold your homemade solutions.

All-Purpose Cleaner

My go-to all-purpose cleaner tackles most jobs around the house. It cuts through grease, removes sticky residue, and makes surfaces sparkle:

Ingredients:

• 1⁄2 cup vinegar
• 1⁄4 cup baking soda
• 1⁄2 tsp castile soap
• 1⁄2 tsp lemon essential oil
• 2 cups hot water

Instructions:

1. Add the vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap to a glass spray bottle. Let foam subside.
2. Add the lemon oil and hot water. Shake gently to mix.
3. Spray on surface and wipe clean with a damp rag.

For heavy duty cleaning, let solution sit for 5 minutes before wiping.

Disinfecting Cleaner

This powerful disinfectant kills germs using natural ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 1⁄2 cup vinegar
• 1⁄4 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil
• 1⁄4 tsp liquid castile soap
• 2 cups water

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a glass spray bottle. Shake gently.
2. Spray surface until thoroughly wet. Let sit for 5 minutes.
3. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Shake before each use. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 month.

Glass and Window Cleaner

Get streak-free windows and mirrors with this easy homemade solution:

Ingredients:

• 1⁄4 cup vinegar
• 1 tbsp rubbing alcohol
• 2 cups water
• 5 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a spray bottle. Shake to mix.
2. Lightly spray glass surface and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

For super shiny windows, follow with a dry microfiber cloth.

Drain Unclogger

This DIY drain cleaner breaks up gunk and leaves pipes fresh:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar
• 5 drops tea tree oil
• 2 cups hot water

Instructions:

1. Pour the baking soda down the drain. Follow with the vinegar. Let fizz for 5 minutes.
2. Add the tea tree oil and hot water. Let sit for 15 minutes.
3. Flush drain thoroughly with cold water.

For prevention, pour 1⁄4 cup baking soda + 1 cup vinegar down drains monthly.

The next time you need to tidy up, don’t waste money on toxic chemical cleaners. Make your own inexpensive, effective green cleaning solutions instead. With just a few simple ingredients, you can clean your whole home in a safe, eco-friendly way.