Homemade cleaning formulas are some of the easiest “recipes” you will ever make! Many DIY cleaning formulas work as well, or better than, commercially made cleaning products. Here are some homemade cleaning products for the kitchen, bath – the entire home! Try these 15 DIY cleaning formulas to make yourself and use in your home.
15 DIY Cleaning Formulas to Make and Use at Home
When you are making homemade cleaners that use essential oils, keep in mind that any brand of 100% pure essential oil will do. It doesn’t need to be “therapeutic grade” oil since there is no actual therapeutic rating for essential oils. Until there is a grading system that actually can clarify what “therapeutics grade” means, any oil that is 100% pure essential oil should be a high enough standard for DIY cleaning formulas.
● Lemon Essential Oil is perfect for cleaning recipes since it has natural disinfecting properties. It works well with vinegar because the strong scent can overpower the vinegar scent giving you the squeaky clean smell that we have all grown accustom to.
● Tea tree oil (also known as Melaleuca) is another great addition to homemade cleaning recipes. Tea tree has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties making it a perfect addition to any homemade cleaner that needs to disinfect as well. Uses for Tea Tree Oil.
● Orange Essential Oil like lemon oil and tea tree oil is has antiseptic properties. It has also been shown to have some anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Orange Essential Oil is perfect for natural cleaning since it works well as a degreaser and has been shown to stop the growth of bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella. Since citrus oils also can lift moods and help energize, you’ll be giving your mental health a boost as you clean!
● Lavender Essential Oil Lavender isn’t just for sleep. It can also help soothe cuts and burns, help clear up acne and is antiseptic, antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial. This makes it perfect for your after dinner cleaning!
These oils are all great for cleaning! Included in the DIY cleaning formulas below are these essential oils:
Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipe
This homemade all-purpose cleaner is wonderful for cutting through grease and disinfecting where you need it. Use it in your kitchen counters, sink, cutting boards and more.
Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Materials Needed:
● ½ cup White Vinegar
● 8-10 drops Orange Essential Oil
● 5 drops Tea Tree Oil
● 1 TBSP Castile Liquid Soap
● Water
Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Directions:
● Combine the vinegar and essential oils in a spray bottle and shake well.
● Add the Castile Liquid Soap and shake again.
● Top the bottle off with water and use like your normal cleaner.
● To print the Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipe, click here.
Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
The rubbing alcohol in this Homemade Glass Cleaner recipe should keep your windows streak free, but if you do find yourself with a few stray streaks, clean them again using newspaper instead of a paper towel or cleaning rag.
Homemade Glass Cleaner Materials Needed:
● 1 cup White Vinegar
● 1 cup Rubbing Alcohol
● 8-10 drops Lemon Essential Oil
● 2-3 drops Tea Tree Oil
Homemade Glass Cleaner Directions:
● Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.
● Spray windows well and wipe clean with a lint free cloth (or paper towels) to use.
● To print the Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe, click here.
Homemade Floor Cleaner
Another recipe using rubbing alcohol to prevent any streaking, this homemade floor cleaner is a powerful degreaser. This formula has disinfectant properties to help disinfect your floors while you clean them.
Homemade Floor Cleaner Materials Needed:
● 1 ½ cups Water
● 1 ½ cup White Vinegar
● ¾ cup Rubbing Alcohol
● 10 drops Tea Tree Oil
● 10 drops Orange Essential Oil
● 1 TBSP Castile Liquid Soap
Homemade Floor Cleaner Directions:
● Combine water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol and essential oils in a bottle.
● Shake well to combine.
● Add Castile Liquid Soap and shake again.
● To use, spray directly onto your floor and mop normally.
● To print the Homemade Floor Cleaner Recipe, click here.
Homemade Disinfectant Spray
If you’re in need of a homemade disinfectant spray, they’re super quick to whip up. This one is perfect for using in your evening cleaning since it uses lavender oil which has a relaxing effect and may help you sleep better.
Homemade Disinfectant Spray Materials Needed:
● 1 cup Water
● 1 cup White Vinegar
● ½ cup Vodka
● 8-10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Homemade Disinfectant Spray Directions:
● Boil and cool your water.
● Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle.
● When you use your Homemade Disinfectant Spray, allow it to sit (on the counter, bathroom fixture, etc) for 5 – 10 minutes before wiping the surface.
● As a side note, because this has no soap in it, it does not work very well as an actual cleaner.
● For tough jobs, use the all-purpose cleaner listed above.
● To print the Homemade Disinfectant Spray Recipe, click here.
Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner
A homemade toilet bowl cleaner is quite possibly easiest of all of the homemade cleaning recipes. Use it to clean all of the toilets in your home to help keep clean.
Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Materials:
● ¾ cup Baking Soda
● 1 cup White Vinegar
● 10-15 drops Tea Tree Oil
Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Directions:
● Pour the baking soda directly into the toilet bowl then add the tea tree oil.
● Add the the vinegar.
● Your toilet bowl will fizz up from the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. Let your toilet sit for 5-10 minutes then clean with your toilet brush.
● Flush when clean.
● If you need a cleaner for the outside of the toilet bowl and the rest of your bathroom, the all-purpose cleaning spray or the disinfectant spray above will work wonders! Use the all-purpose spray to clean, followed by a quick rinse with the disinfectant spray.
● To print the Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe, click here.
Note: essential oils are what is known as “hot” because they are so concentrated. Try to avoid getting them on your hands or they could burn you when not diluted. The ones in this post shouldn’t cause too many issues though unless you have very sensitive skin.
Green cleaning your home is entirely possible when you use all natural ingredients, including essential oils.
● To print the 15 DIY Cleaning Formulas to Make and Use at Home recipes and directions, click here. Note: these are all the listed formulas. If you only want one particular formula, click the “to print” below that formula.
Here are the rest of the 15 DIY Cleaning Formulas to Make and Use at Home:
● Carpet Cleaner Deodorizer
● Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
● Homemade Cleaning and Sanitizing Spray
● Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
● Homemade Goo Gone
● Homemade Natural Disinfectant Wipes
● Homemade Shower Scrub
● Make Your Own Disinfectant
● Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
● How to Make Toilet Fizzies
Note: None of this is meant as medical advice. I am not a doctor, and do not play one on the internet. Please consult a physician if you have any questions about using essential oils so your doctor can better explain to you the benefits, possible side effects, and any warnings about essential oils.
Enjoy cleaning tips? You will want to read these cleaning tips and tricks:
● Essential Oils Laundry Guide – Use these essential oils to remove stains, brighten fabrics, remove odors, disinfect and add fragrance to your laundry.
● 10 Things in Your Kitchen You Are Probably Not Cleaning Correctly – 10 Tips and tricks as well as great instructions for cleaning things in your kitchen – which will not only help limit the potential for nasty bacteria but will leave everything looking and smelling wonderfully fresh. These cleaning solutions will help you deep clean your kitchen one step at a time!
● 10 Tips For Hiring a House Cleaning Service – I’ve had a cleaning service for over 10 years now, both at home in New York and in our other residences in Utah and Florida. I’ve learned a lot about the dos and don’s of hiring a cleaning service, and what to expect once you have hired one. These are my tips on what you should know and consider before hiring someone to clean your home!
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Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
Thanks for sharing these. I have most of these items already I just need to follow your directions and make the cleaners. #HomeMattersParty