DIY Cleaning Recipes
4 MUST Have DIY Cleaning Ingredients
We get it - you want what’s best for your family’s health; which means you want to keep your home clean, tidy and as germ-free as possible. Whether you want to make your own cleaning products to save money or you like the idea of keeping as many harmful cleaning products away from your family, you will need these four basic items to complete most cleaning recipes you find on the internet.
I grew up in my family’s cleaning business. During the 1970s and 1980s, we encountered a lot of products that were harmful to the user, as well as the environment. “Back in the day” we didn’t have the PPE (personal protection equipment) that we have today. That is, respirators, gloves and goggles existed, it just wasn’t industry standard to wear them as often. Keep in mind, asbestos was still being widely used and smoking cigarettes in public, including airplanes, was deemed acceptable in 1971 when my parents first went into business.
A lot has changed in regards to personal health and safety in the past 50 years (yay!). However, there are still plenty of harsh chemicals in over-the-counter cleaning products. I won’t bash name brands cleaners, because sometimes you need a particular chemical to get a job done. I encourage proper use of chemicals, starting with proper protection of the cleaning technician.
Having said that, you can achieve great results with homemade cleaning agents. You will need these four basic ingredients on hand so you are ready to mix up a solution at a moment’s notice. Many of the recipes we have on this site require one or more of these basic ingredients:
White Vinegar is my personal go-to cleaning agent. It is versatile as a cleaner and deodorizer. My parents introduced me to white vinegar as a way to clean tile floors. It can be used for many, many more things such as stain and odor removal, window cleaning and it is great for descaling coffee makers.
Baking Soda has more uses than just absorbing odors in the fridge. We keep a container in both the refrigerator and the freezer to limit the cross contamination of flavors. Yet, there are many uses that bicarbonate of soda, the fancy name for baking soda, has for cleaning around your home. From your sink, walls and floors.
Arm and Hammer brand has many recommendations for using baking soda.
Salt: Salt is a natural scrubbing agent that can be used to clean grease and stains. Salt is perfect for scouring cast iron pans, without removing a pan’s seasoning. Salt can be used in mixtures to clean laundry, polish metal, freshen toilettes, clean carpet stains, and help remove calcium deposits in the shower.
Castile Soap: Named for the Castile region of Spain, Castile soap is a favorite additive in homemade cleaning recipes because it is plant based as opposed to traditional soap, which is made from animal fat. Allrecipes.com explains that Castile soap is made from vegetable oil, (such as walnut, coconut, and castor oils), is biodegradable and non-toxic.
Bonus Item: Add a few drops of essential oils to boost the cleaning power of your cleaning solution. The manufacturer of doTERRA brand essential oils says the above ingredients are safe to use with essential oils. For a list of essential oils that are ideal for adding to your next cleaning project, see our list here. Also, download the doTERRA ebook, Cleaning with Essential Oils.
I grew up in my family’s cleaning business. During the 1970s and 1980s, we encountered a lot of products that were harmful to the user, as well as the environment. “Back in the day” we didn’t have the PPE (personal protection equipment) that we have today. That is, respirators, gloves and goggles existed, it just wasn’t industry standard to wear them as often. Keep in mind, asbestos was still being widely used and smoking cigarettes in public, including airplanes, was deemed acceptable in 1971 when my parents first went into business.
A lot has changed in regards to personal health and safety in the past 50 years (yay!). However, there are still plenty of harsh chemicals in over-the-counter cleaning products. I won’t bash name brands cleaners, because sometimes you need a particular chemical to get a job done. I encourage proper use of chemicals, starting with proper protection of the cleaning technician.
Having said that, you can achieve great results with homemade cleaning agents. You will need these four basic ingredients on hand so you are ready to mix up a solution at a moment’s notice. Many of the recipes we have on this site require one or more of these basic ingredients:
White Vinegar is my personal go-to cleaning agent. It is versatile as a cleaner and deodorizer. My parents introduced me to white vinegar as a way to clean tile floors. It can be used for many, many more things such as stain and odor removal, window cleaning and it is great for descaling coffee makers.
Baking Soda has more uses than just absorbing odors in the fridge. We keep a container in both the refrigerator and the freezer to limit the cross contamination of flavors. Yet, there are many uses that bicarbonate of soda, the fancy name for baking soda, has for cleaning around your home. From your sink, walls and floors.
Arm and Hammer brand has many recommendations for using baking soda.
Salt: Salt is a natural scrubbing agent that can be used to clean grease and stains. Salt is perfect for scouring cast iron pans, without removing a pan’s seasoning. Salt can be used in mixtures to clean laundry, polish metal, freshen toilettes, clean carpet stains, and help remove calcium deposits in the shower.
Castile Soap: Named for the Castile region of Spain, Castile soap is a favorite additive in homemade cleaning recipes because it is plant based as opposed to traditional soap, which is made from animal fat. Allrecipes.com explains that Castile soap is made from vegetable oil, (such as walnut, coconut, and castor oils), is biodegradable and non-toxic.
Bonus Item: Add a few drops of essential oils to boost the cleaning power of your cleaning solution. The manufacturer of doTERRA brand essential oils says the above ingredients are safe to use with essential oils. For a list of essential oils that are ideal for adding to your next cleaning project, see our list here. Also, download the doTERRA ebook, Cleaning with Essential Oils.