Cleaning is a necessity, whether we like it or not. But the cleaning products most of us use are full of harsh chemicals that aren’t good for us or the planet.
There is plenty of scientific evidence that the conventional cleaning products we use are bad for our environment. So while we clean our homes, we have a negative impact on our environment.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. Did you know that you can make your own natural cleaners using natural ingredients, many of which you probably have in your home right now?
I have made my own DIY cleaners and use them on a regular basis. Not only are they easy to make, do a great job, and are completely free of harmful chemicals, but they’ll also save you money.
So here are my favourite eco-friendly cleaning products recipes for you to make at home to kickstart you green cleaning routine.
What You’ll Need
The good news is that you won’t need many different ingredients to make your green cleaning kit. Most of them are ones that you might even already have in your kitchen cupboards.
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Vinegar
- Table salt
- Citric acid
- Water
- Essential oils (optional)
Let’s look at each ingredient in more detail to see how it can be used as a cleaning ingredient. This will help you to make up your own cleaners, although we will provide you with recipes as well.
Bicarbonate Of Soda
Better known as baking soda, it’s an ingredient you probably have used before for baking. And while it can help make your cake fluffy, it’s also a super ingredient to clean your home.
Thanks to it’s pH level (which is alkaline), it can dissolve dirt particles, including grease and grime. So it can be a natural ingredient to clean your home.
It’s also widely known for it’s odour-neutralising properties. Baking soda has been shown to be able to neutralise odours from decomposing food waste. (Qamaruz-Zaman et al., 2013)
One thing it can’t do is dissolve limescale, because for this an acidic substance is needed, but bicarbonate of soda is alkaline.
Vinegar
This culinary ingredient is the opposite of baking soda when it comes to pH level, which means it will work in different areas. Vinegar has a pH of 2.5, wich means it’s acidic.
Due to its adcidity it works great for removing limescale, one thing bicarbonate soda can’t do, as we have already said.
Vinegar is also often used as a disinfectant, due to it’s ability to kill certain bacteria. Even at low concentrations, it has been shown to be effective at reducing the levels of differnt harmful bacteria. (Zinn and Bockmühl, 2020)
It won’t kill 99.9% of all bacteria, as a commercial disinfectant will, but that isn’t necessary at home anyway. Besides, they also kill benefical bacteria, which can help keeping bad bacteria under control.
Because vinegar and baking soda have opposite pH levels, they should never be mixed, as they will just neutralise each other. Basically, if you mix them, neither of them will do anything.
If you’re now wondering if you can just use the vinegar you use for cooking, the answer is yes. White wine vinegar works great, but generally people use white vinegar, which is distilled, to clean their homes.
White vinegar is, however, harsher, so if you want to clean delicate surfaces, white wine vinegar is actually better.
If you buy white vinegar, make sure it’s made from plant-based sources, as it can be made from petroleum, which isn’t sustainable.
Table Salt
Salt is a mild abrasive, like baking soda, and therefore can be used to remove dirt. While any salt you use for cooking can be used, table salt is the cheapest, so I would recommend using this.
Salt does also have antibacterial properties, which means it can kill bacteria. It does this by causing the bacteria to dehydrate, which is something we have known quite some time. (Rockwell and Ebertz, 1924)
However, this doesn’t mean that it can be used as a disinfectant. Although I have seen some websites suggesting this.
Citric Acid
This substance is what makes lemons sour, and it can be used as a cleaning agent. It works in the same way as vinegar, and can help lift grime and grease from surfaces.
As it’s an acid, it’s also great to remove limescale. It’s my go to ingredient to descale my kettle.
You can buy citric acid or use lemon juice, which contains the substance. But the amount of citric acid contained in lemon juice is a lot lower than if you use pure citric acid.
Water
While water alone isn’t able to get rid of dirt, it can be combined with other ingredients to create a cleaner, or cleaning paste.
What water does do though is wash away the dirt that the other ingredients have lifted or losened. So most or our eco-friendly cleaning products recipes will contain water.
Essential Oils
This is an optional ingredient, as it’s not necessary to get your surfaces clean. However, some people want their home to smell clean as well.
By adding a few drops of essential oils to your cleaners, you can inject a bit of scent. Some essential oils, such as tea tree oil are also said to have antimicrobial properties.
And while essential oils, which are made from plant or animal sources, are generally seen as more environmnetally friendly than synthetic fragrances, they aren’t without an enviornmental impact.
The production of these oils is responsible for habitat loss, endangering certain plant species, and pollution. So essential oils aren’t as sustainable as you might think. (Martz et al., 2023)
Personally, I don’t add them to any cleaners I make. I have learned to accept that clean doesn’t smell. But it’s your decision.
Now that you know what these different ingredients do and how they can act as cleaning agents, you will be able to use them to clean your home.
Here are my favourite recipes for natural cleaners I couldn’t do without, using these ingredients.
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1. DIY All-Purpose Cleaner – The One For Every Occasion
An all-purpose cleaner should be in the cleaning cupboard of every home. There is no need for tens of specialised cleaners, if you have one that can do it all.
I use my all-purpose cleaner in the kitchen, bathroom, to dust, to clean furniture, carpets, and floors. Here is how you can make yours.
You’ll need:
- 500ml spray bottle (I prefer glass bottles but reusable plastic ones will do too)
- 200ml of white vinegar
- 250ml of tap water
- 1 tbsp of citric acid
- Essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
Pour the watere and white vinegar into the bottle, then add the citric acid. Add a few drops of essential oil if you want. Shake gently before every use.
How To Use:
Spray on and wipe clean. Can be used on pretty much everything, but don’t use on stone surfaces, such as marble or granite. Wooden surfaces and stainless steel are also better not cleaned with this all-purpose cleaner, as it could damage them.
I use this cleaner in the kitchen, the bathroom, to dust, on mirrors and windows, outside furniture, to clean the inside of the car, and to get stains off my carpets. The vinegary smell will dissapear after a few moments.
It’s also a great limscale remover. I use it for taps, sinks, and shower screens. For a bad buildup, spray and leave for 5 to 10 mintues, then wipe with a cloth. It’s great to get rid of limescale and soap scum.
To use it as a floor cleaner, you can either spray the floor and then mop or triple the ingredients and mix in a bucket and mop as normal.
2. Natural Stain Remover
Stains happen, whether you have kids, pets, a husband, wife or partner. In these cases it’s good to have a natural stain remover to hand. This one is my favourite and I use it a lot (I have pets and a husband).
You’ll Need:
- 1 tbsp of bicarbonate of soda
- Tap water
- A little bowl, a spoon, and a damp cloth
Instructions:
Put the baking soda in the bowl and add a little bit of tap water. You only want a tiny amount to create a paste. It’s better to add too little at first than too much. You want a thick paste.
How to use:
Smear the paste on the stain and leave for around 10 minutes. Then rubb it away with a damp cloth, or for clothes wash them as usual.
It also works a treat on burnt on food in pans and roasting trays. I use this stain remover all the time and love that it’s absolutely natural and won’t harm the environment.
3. Refresher Spray
As part of my sustainable laundry routine, I wash my clothes less often. If I only wear a garment once, I don’t add it to my laundry basket, unless I’ve been sweating. Instead, I refresh it with a natural refresher spray.
This allows me to make it wearable again without having to wash it. The spray also works on upholstery, such as sofas or chairs.
You’ll Need:
- A 500ml spray bottle
- 1 tbsp of bicarbonate of soda
- 500ml of water
- Essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
Add the bicarbonate of soda to the bottle and fill up with the water. Add a few drops of essential oil if you want. Shake before use.
How To Use:
Shake the bottle and spray what you want to refresh. As it dries, the baking soda will use it’s odour-neutralising powers to get rid of any smells. Even the smell of sweat will disapear from your clothes.
Traces of the dried bicarbonate soda might stay behind, so I shake the clothes, ideally outside to get rid of them. For sofas or chairs, I use the vacuum to get rid of any powder.
I also use it to freshen up the cat beds, regularly between washing them. This is one of my favourite natural cleaning products.
4. Cleaner Paste For Tough Dirt
When the bicarbonate soda paste isn’t strong enough, I make up this stronger cleaner paste. It’s still totally natural and without chemicals, but a bit stronger to get rid of the most stubborn dirt.
You’ll Need:
- 30g of bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 tbsp of table salt
- A bit of tap water
- A bowl and spoon
Instructions:
In the bolw mix the baking soda with the salt. Then add a bit of water, just enough to make a paste.
How To Use:
Apply on the dirt, wether this is on fabrics or dishes and make sure everything is covered. Leave for a few hours, or even overnight. Then use a damp cloth or compostable sponge and scrub.
Wash away with plenty of water. For clothes, wash as normal in your washing machine.
This is also a great homemade cleaner paste to get your oven clean. You might need to make more, though. Double or even triple the amounts, depending on how much you think you’ll need.
Distribute the paste in your oven, but not on the heating elements or the bits that are self-cleaning (if your oven has these).
Leave overnight, then scrub with a damp cloth. Finally rinse well with clean water. It’s the best homemade cleaner to get your oven sparkling I’ve tried.
5. Kettle Descaler
We live in a very hard water area, which means our kettle gets limescale buildup, which stops it from working properly. By descaling our kettle regularly, we can extend its life, which isn’t just better for the environment, but also saves us money.
You’ll Need:
- 2 tbsp of citric acid or the juice of 4 lemons
- A kettle full of tap water
How To Use:
Add the citric acid or lemon juice to the empty kettle. Fill the kettle with water to the max, then switch it on to boil the water. Leave for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how bad the limescale buildup is.
Empty the kettle and rinse well and you’re ready for your next cup of tea. I descale our kettle in this way every other week and it works a treat. My husband thought I bought a new kettle, because it was suddenly so much quieter. But all I did was descale it.
6. Drain Cleaner
Keeping your drains clean can prevent them from starting to smell. And with this natural cleaning recipe you can maintain your drains without the use of harsh and harmful chemicals.
You’ll need:
- 120ml of white vinegar
- A kettle full of boiling water
How To Use:
When doing it for the first time, pour the vinegar down the drain and leave overnight. The next day, pour a full kettle of boiling water down. Any vinegar smell will soon disapeare.
Aftr the frist time, leave 10 to 15 minutes before pouring down the boiling water. I do this once a month, to prevent any buildup that might cause bad odours.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products Recipes Don’t Have To Be A Faff
As you can see making natural cleaning products isn’t difficult. Hopefully my favourite recipes have given you some inspiration to make your own.
One thing I love about making my own cleaners is that I can make just the amount I need. Like with the stain remover paste. How often have you bought a specialist cleaner and then only used it once or twice.
You end up having to throw it away because it went out of date. Making your own cleaners means you can prevent such waste.
And if making your own just isn’t your thing, or your busy life gets in the way, switch to eco-friendly cleaning products instead. We have tried and reviewed many of them and you can find them in our article about the best sustainable cleaners in the UK.
