Cleaning your home with natural ingredients is an excellent way to avoid exposure to harsh chemicals. Not only is it better for your health, but using items you likely already have on hand helps save money as well. Here’s an in-depth look at how to clean your entire home using only natural ingredients.
Kitchen
Countertops
Keeping kitchen countertops clean is important to prevent the spread of bacteria that can cause illnesses. Here are some of the best natural cleaners to use:
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White vinegar – Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on counters and wipe clean with a cloth. The acidic vinegar disinfects and cuts through grease.
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Baking soda – Sprinkle baking soda directly on counters and use a damp sponge to scrub. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that lifts dirt and stains without scratching. Rinse clean with water.
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Lemon juice – Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto a cloth and wipe down counters. The acid in the lemon juice cuts through grime and leaves counters sanitized.
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Essential oils – Add a few drops of antimicrobial oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, or lavender to a vinegar cleaning solution. This provides extra disinfecting power and leaves a fresh scent.
Sink
Over time, sinks can collect hard water stains, limescale buildup, and bacteria. Natural ingredients can make sinks shine without harsh chemicals. Here are some options:
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Baking soda – Sprinkle baking soda liberally in the sink and use a damp sponge to scrub stains. The abrasive baking soda power is tough on buildup.
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White vinegar – Pour equal parts vinegar and hot water down the drain to dissolve soap scum and odors in pipes. Let sit 30 minutes then flush with cold water.
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Lemon juice – Cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub the sink basin, removing stains and freshening the scent. Rinse thoroughly after scrubbing.
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Borax – For tough hard water stains, make a paste of borax powder and lemon juice. Apply to stains, let sit 5 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The borax breaks down mineral deposits.
Oven
Oven cleaning can seem like an intimidating task, but natural cleaners simplify the process. Here are the best methods:
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Baking soda – Make a thick baking soda paste with just enough water to form a spreadable consistency. Cover oven surfaces with the paste and let sit overnight before wiping away. Baking soda loosens baked-on grease and food particles.
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White vinegar – Fill a squirt bottle with undiluted white vinegar and spray oven surfaces, the oven door, and racks. Let vinegar sit 15 minutes before wiping away grime with a cloth. For tough spots, sprinkle baking soda on top of the vinegar. The foaming reaction further breaks down grease.
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Lemon juice – Sprinkle coarse sea salt on lemon halves and use to scrub oven racks and surfaces. The salt lifts food particles while the acid in lemon juice cuts through grease. Rinse thoroughly after scrubbing.
Bathrooms
Disinfecting bathrooms from top to bottom is crucial for preventing mold and bacteria growth. Here are natural cleaner recipes for all bathroom surfaces:
Toilet
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Baking soda and vinegar – Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl and spray with white vinegar. Let foam for 10 minutes before scrubbing with a toilet brush and flushing. The combination dissolves grime, cleans bowl surfaces, and freshens odors.
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Essential oil cleaners – Add several drops of tea tree, eucalyptus, or lavender oil to the toilet tank and bowl. These oils have disinfecting and odor removal properties.
Shower/Tub
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Vinegar spray – In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups water with 1 cup white vinegar. Spray tub and shower surfaces and wipe down with a cloth. Vinegar removes soap scum and hard water stains.
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Lemon and baking soda – Sprinkle baking soda in the tub then cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub surfaces. The acidity in lemon juice cuts through grime.
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Essential oil spray – Fill a spray bottle with 2 cups water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and 10 drops each of eucalyptus and tea tree oils for extra disinfecting power. Shake well before each use.
Sink
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Baking soda scrub – Sprinkle baking soda in the sink basin and use a damp cloth to scrub. Baking soda lifts stains while gently scouring. Rinse thoroughly after scrubbing.
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Hydrogen peroxide – For extra disinfecting, spray 3% hydrogen peroxide on sink surfaces. Let bubble for a few minutes before rinsing clean. Be sure to avoid getting in eyes.
Floors
Natural cleaners get floors shining without leaving chemical residue. Here are recipes for various floor types:
Tile/Vinyl
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Vinegar and water – Mix 1 cup white vinegar per gallon of warm water and use to mop floors. The acid in vinegar disinfects tile and vinyl while removing grease buildup.
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Castile soap – Add 1/4 cup castile soap like Dr. Bronner’s to a gallon of warm water. Mop floors with the solution to cut through dirt. Rinse with plain water after mopping.
Wood
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Olive oil and lemon – Mix 2 cups olive oil with the juice of 1 lemon. Dampen a cloth in the solution and wipe wood floors to condition them and leave a shine.
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Vinegar and water – Add 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon water. Damp mop wood floors with the solution to clean and disinfect. Avoid excessive moisture that could damage wood over time.
Carpet
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Baking soda – Sprinkle baking soda liberally on carpeted areas and let sit 20 minutes before vacuum cleaning thoroughly. Baking soda lifts dirt, odors, and absorbs moisture.
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Hydrogen peroxide – Lightly spray carpet stains with 3% hydrogen peroxide before blotting with a clean cloth. Do a spot test first since peroxide can lighten some carpet colors.
By using natural, non-toxic ingredients found in your pantry, you can clean your entire home safely and economically. Avoiding harsh chemicals promotes better indoor air quality as well. With these effective recipes, you can keep your home sparkling clean using only natural ingredients.
