5 Natural Household Cleaners You Can Make

These natural household cleaners are easy to make and will help to save the planet, your health and money

By Diane Small

It’s a bit ironic. You go to clean your house, and you think it’s sparkling fresh. But in fact, you’ve just made it worse.

Sure, it smells better. Sure, it looks better. But what you probably just did is get rid of ‘organic’ dirt, whilst covering your home in toxic chemicals. These might give off a pleasant scent, but they can seriously damage the health of your family, pets, and also do harm to the environment.

Why You Should Ditch Chemical Cleaners

A recent study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed that common household cleaning products are seriously toxic.

The study, which was published in Chemosphere, analysed 30 cleaning products. These included:

multipurpose and glass cleaners
air fresheners

laundry detergents

and more.

The study focused on the hundreds of hazardous volatile organic compounds, a.k.a. VOCs, in these products.

Researchers compared common cleaning products to ‘eco friendly’ ones. What they learned was that there were 530 unique VOCs in the 30 products tested.

Of these, 193 VOCs were seriously hazardous. They could cause health issues such as:

respiratory system damage

increased cancer risk
developmental and reproductive impacts

and more.

Harmful Indoors, And Out

The study states that VOCs are found in all kinds of products in your home. I’m talking about scented candles, polyester furnishings, non-organic mattresses, and yes, household cleaners.

VOCs affect the quality of air both indoors and outdoors. But they contaminate indoor air two to five times more than outdoor air. Some estimates put it as high as 10 times more! And that can go on for days, weeks, and even months.

That’s especially true for any products that contain fragrance or perfume.

The study pointed out that VOCs emitted by consumer products can contribute to outdoor air pollution, too. This, of course, adds to existing environmental concerns. In fact, one study from 2018 estimated that half of the VOCs responsible for air pollution stem from consumer products.

“This study is a wake-up call for consumers, researchers and regulators to be more aware of the potential risks associated with the numerous chemicals entering our indoor air,” said Alexis Temkin, Ph.D., a senior toxicologist at EWG.

The good news is that products labelled as being “green” emitted fewer VOCs – about half the number, on average. And any products without fragrance produced the fewest VOCs.

Why It’s Best To Make Your Own Household Cleaners

If you’re wondering why you should learn more about natural household cleaners to make at home, consider this.

Research shows that people working in the cleaning industry have a 50 percent higher risk of developing asthma. They also have a 43 percent higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In particular, women working with cleaning chemicals suffer the most. They also face an increased risk of lung cancer.

But it’s not just women who suffer from chemical cleaning products. Children’s health may also be at risk. Some studies show that higher use of certain indoor cleaners in utero and in infancy is associated with a greater risk of asthma and wheezing in childhood. Pets are also affected, and one reason the number of cats and dogs suffering from increased rates of asthma could well be down to household cleaning products.

While there are plenty of ‘green’ household cleaning brands on the market today, most of them don’t list their ingredients. So, to be sure you’re not harming your family, pet’s, and own health, or harming the planet, why not just make your own?

Here are five basic recipes for making your own household cleaners. In my opinion, they’re pretty much all you need!

5 Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes

1. Glass Cleaner

Ingredients:

Water

Rubbing alcohol
White vinegar

Instructions: Combine one part water with one part rubbing alcohol and add a tablespoon of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake well to mix the ingredients thoroughly.

This homemade glass cleaner is one of the easiest natural household cleaners to make at home. It provides streak-free shine on windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces. Rubbing alcohol and vinegar effectively cut through grease and grime, leaving surfaces sparkling clean.

2. Degreaser/Disinfectant

Ingredients:

Citrus peels (lemon, orange, grapefruit)

White vinegar

Instructions: Fill a jar with citrus peels and cover them with white vinegar. Let it sit for a few weeks in a cool, dark place to infuse. Afterward, strain the liquid and transfer it to a spray bottle for use.

This citrus-infused vinegar solution is one of the most useful natural household cleaners to make at home. It serves as a powerful degreaser and disinfectant. You can use it on your toilet bowl, to remove bathtub rings, and to get grease out of your sink.

The natural acids in citrus fruits offer a lovely scent, too!

3. All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients:

Water
White vinegar
Essential oils (optional)

Instructions: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent if desired. Shake well before each use.

This all-purpose cleaner effectively tackles dirt and grime on various surfaces around the home, including countertops, sinks, and floors. If you eliminate the essential oils, you can use this to clean windows, too. Vinegar’s acidic properties help to disinfect, while water dilutes it for safe and effective cleaning.

4. Wood Polish

Ingredients:

Olive oil
Lemon juice

Instructions: Mix two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice in a bowl. Dip a soft cloth into the mixture and apply it to wooden surfaces, rubbing it gently in circular motions. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then buff the wood with a clean, dry cloth to bring out its natural shine.

Adding lemon juice to olive oil as a wood polish not only amplifies its cleaning power but also imparts a pleasant citrus aroma, leaving your furniture refreshed and rejuvenated. This homemade wood polish both cleans wooden surfaces and also nourishes and restores their natural shine. The olive oil moisturises the wood, while the acidic properties of lemon juice help remove dirt, leaving the wood looking revitalised.

5. Stain Remover

Ingredients:

Baking soda

Water

Instructions: Mix two parts baking soda and one part water to form a paste with a thick consistency. Apply the paste to stained fabrics and scrub gently using a sponge or cloth. Rinse thoroughly with water.

This baking soda scrub is an effective stain remover for fabrics, lifting and absorbing stains such as food spills, grease marks, and sweat stains. Baking soda helps to break down stains while also deodorising fabrics, leaving them fresh and clean.

Do you know of any other natural household cleaners to make at home? Let us know in the comments, below!

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Diane Small

A University of Texas journalism graduate and serious chocolate enthusiast, Diane was a sub-editor at the Houston Chronicle before falling pregnant. Today, she is the proud mom of two kids under the age of three, and freelances for Eluxe in between nappy changes and feedings.