Before I had kids, I never really thought about the types of cleaners I used, and using homemade cleaners never crossed my mind. I figured the worse it smelled and the more chemicals it had in it, the better job it did at killing all the germs.
Then I had my oldest and before I knew it, he was crawling all over the floor and putting every object he could find in his mouth. Suddenly the chemical-based cleaners didn’t seem like such a great idea anymore. All I could picture was all that stuff going into his little body and messing things up.
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Since then I’ve tried to be more conscious of what’s in the cleaners I use. I’ll admit to still using some of my old standbys, especially in spots with plenty of germs (hey toilet, I’m looking at you), but in the areas I know my kids will have a lot of contact with (kitchen counters, the living room floor, etc.), I try to keep things as natural as possible.
Sometimes that means buying natural cleaners, like Mrs. Meyers, Seventh Generation, or Method, and sometimes it means making my own. I’ve made my own laundry soap, grout cleaner, and all-purpose cleaner, but my list of homemade cleaners has been pretty small.
Until now.
I just got a new glass spray bottle from Grove Collaborative and they also sent me 19 DIY recipes to share with you. I haven’t decided which one to try first, but I’m leaning towards the stain remover since my kids are good at making stains and I’m bad at getting them out. If it was still cold out, I’d totally be doing the car de-icer.
Have you heard of Grove Collaborative? They’re an online company that sells natural products for home and body. Their brands include Mrs. Meyers, Yes to, Method, and more, and their prices are comparable, and often cheaper, than the big stores like Amazon or Target. If you sign up now, you’ll get a $10 credit and a free Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap.
19 Natural Homemade Cleaners You’ll Feel Good About Using
Alright, now let’s get to the cleaners! (I suppose some aren’t exactly cleaners, but they’re great ways to use your new spray bottle, so I’ll keep them here.)
Cleaning
1. All purpose cleaner: Mix 1 cup water with 1 cup distilled vinegar and 10-15 drops of essential oil. Shake and start cleaning!
2. Air freshener: Mix water with a few drops of any of your favorite essential oils and spritz away to refresh your home.
3. Glass cleaner: Mix ¼ cup rubbing alcohol, ¼ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 tbs cornstarch, 2 cups warm water and 10-15 essential oil drops. Spray directly onto the glass surface and wipe clean.
4. Wood polish: Combine 1 tbs olive oil, 1 tsp distilled white vinegar, and 2 cups warm water in the bottle. Spray mixture onto varnished wood and wipe with a soft cloth.
5. Shower spray: Combine ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup lemon juice, 3 tbs salt, 3 tbs castile soap, ½ cup vinegar, and 10 drops essential oil (optional) in spray bottle. Shake and start cleaning.
Laundry
6. Wrinkle releaser: Mix 2 cups water with 1 tbs white vinegar and 1 tsp fabric softener. Shake to combine and mist onto clothing as you iron.
7. Stain remover: Mix 2 parts water, 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part washing soda. Spray on clothes, let sit for 5 minutes, launder, and be stain free.
Gardening
8. Weed repellant: Get rid of weeds poking through the concrete by spraying them with undiluted white vinegar.
9. Watering can: Water your succulents!
Beauty/Personal Care
10. Facial toner: Combine raw, unfiltered apple cider with water (you can add essential oils or brewed herbal tea too!) and gently spray onto your skin. Tip: The amount of vinegar will vary based on your skin type.
11. Insect repellent: Mix 2 tbs witch hazel, 2 tbs olive oil, ½ tsp vodka, 100 drops of essential oils (lemon, cedarwood, lavender, or rosemary recommended). Shake well and apply.
12. Detangler: Bring 2 cups of water to a simmer. Combine the water and ½ cup conditioner in the spray bottle. Apply to the ends of your hair. Leave in or rinse out.
13. Hair Moisturizer: Fill the bottle with water, your favorite essential oil, and a little conditioner to create a light moisturizing mask. Spray it on your hair before bed.
14. Baby wipe spray: Place a drop of olive oil and a few drops of baby shampoo into water. This creates a gentle mixture to replace your baby wipes.
15. Heat Reliever: Need to cool down on a warm day? Fill your spray bottle with water for refreshing relief!
Kitchen
16. Produce wash: Mix 1 part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray on produce, let sit for 1-3 minutes, rinse, enjoy!
17. Non-stick spray: Fill the bottle with oil to grease your pans and cookie sheets.
18. Flavor enhancer: Fill the bottle with your favorite thin sauce (lemon juice, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar) and subtly add flavor to your favorite foods!
Misc.
19. Car de-icer: Fill your bottle ⅓ of the way with water and fill the rest with rubbing alcohol — this will melt this ice away, just be sure to turn on the windshield wipers a few times.
Kristen says
Wow this is EXACTLY what I needed! though I’m a bit scared that this will be a time suck. Great offer!