We all have vices in life—things we spend money our money on, freely, without thinking too hard.
Starbucks. Lululemon. Whole Foods hot bar lunches. Butter coffee. Good wine. Yoga, Spin class or CrossFit. And House Cleaners.
Oh I love me a good house cleaning!
However, those things add up, and one of my challenges as of late in my life has been this thing called: Minimalism.
Doing more with less. Ridding of clutter and unnecessary things. Simplifying.
From revamping my closet—selling and donating over half the clothes I never wear, to grocery shopping in smaller chunks 2 to 3 times per week just for what I need (instead an overwhelming amount at once that may go bad), to…giving up the House Cleaner, in favor of DIM (Doing-It-Myself).
While I am a tidy person, DEEP cleaning has never been my thing—until now.
This weekend, I pulled up my sleeves to get down and dirty with grime in a holistic and natural way—detoxifying my home and cleaning the crumbs, germs and soil up with these 8 Simple Homemade Household Cleaning Products (that will keep your space CLEAN and YOU healthy).
Why homemade natural products?!
Thousands of toxic chemicals in our products and environment are a highly un-spoken trigger to many of the chronic diseases and health conditions we experience in modern day.
From cancer, to asthma, allergies, gut imbalances, metabolic dysfunction, toxic overload, and inflammatory conditions (heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure), food and exercise are not the only lifestyle factors that impact our health.
Unfortunately, most of us have no clue of everything we face. In fact, ONLY 7 percent of cleaning products adequately disclosed their contents (ebw.org)
Get this:
Formaldehyde—a known carcinogen—is commonly used to preserve cleaning supplies
Anything you inhale—from air fresheners, to laundry detergent, Fabric softener and dryer sheets—are directly connected to allergies and asthma
Anti-bacterial products actually spur development of MORE bacteria and drug-resistant superbugs (i.e. making us more susceptible to disease)
In other words: You don’t have to eat these chemicals in order for them to effect you.
ENTER: DIY Cleaners.
Super simple.
8 Simple Homemade Household Cleaning Products
Here are my go-tos:
Shopping List:
- Baking Soda
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Castile Soap (like Bronner’s)
- Essential Oil(s) of choice: Tea Tree, Peppermint, Orange
KITCHEN
- All Purpose Spray
Ingredients
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon castile soap
- 3-4 drops essential oil
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Tile & Grout Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 6 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Directions
- Mix water with baking soda into a paste.
- Apply to grout and let sit, scrub with toothbrush, remove with sponge. (May also lay out baking soda, then spritz with Hydrogen Peroxide and scrub).
- Floor Cleaner
Ingredients
- White Vinegar
- Oranges or Lemon
Directions
- Fill a jar with (organic) citrus peels and pour undiluted white vinegar over them.
- Leave for a few days (up to 2 weeks) and strain out the vinegar to use as a natural cleaner.
- Break out the Swiffer or rag and scrub, scrub, scrub.
- Other Option: Mix1 cup vinegar in a gallon of water.
- Oven Cleaning
Ingredients
- Baking Soda
- Water
Directions
- Spray water over the bottom of the oven and dump lots of baking soda (1/4-1/2 inch think) and then spray with more water to make a paste.
- Leave overnight, then, the next day, scrape out all the baking soda mixture and use a wire brush or dish scrubber to scrub any tough spots. After all the baking soda has been wiped off, a vinegar and water rinse will leave a spot free shine.
BATHROOM
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups white vinegar
Directions
- Use undiluted white vinegar, pour around the top of the toilet bowl, scrub until clean.
- Sink & Shower Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup castile soap
- 3-4 drops essential oil
Directions
- Place the baking soda in a bowl. Slowly add the soap until the mixture gets thick. Add in a few drops of an antibacterial essential oil.
- Drain-O
Ingredients
- ½ baking soda
- ½ cup white vinegar
- Hot water
Directions
- Pour the baking soda down the clogged drain. Follow with vinegar. Allow to fizz for about 10 minutes. Then pour a kettle full of boiling hot water down the drain. Repeat with more water if necessary.
- Natural Windex
Ingredients
- White vinegar
- Newspaper
Directions
- Spritz white vinegar on mirror and wipe with newspaper.
If you want more info on the products you use specifically, check out the Environmental Working Group’s website for all the dirt on over 2,000 cleaning products.