We’ve gone over some of the more natural and non-toxic cleaning products to use instead of the silent killers (extreme?  I think not…) currently hanging out in our broom closets, but there is actually one further step hardcore Organic Beauties can take in naturalizing their homes… Make your own cleaning solutions, that are so safe you could eat them (well, maybe not ALL of them…)!  Naturally!  From ingredients you probably already have in your home!  This is some super exciting stuff….

Here’s what you’ll need:
Baking Soda
Vinegar (white, distilled)
Lemons
A good quality, natural dish soap or detergent (I like Mrs. Meyers)
Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil
A variety of essential oils, like lavender, citrus, or rosemary (optional)
Some spray bottles and glass jars

Now that you’ve collected your ingredients, let’s get started!

All-Purpose Cleaner:
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 baking soda
1/2 gallon water

Mix ingredients together and pour intp a spray bottle.  Use on countertops, bathroom fixtures, anywhere!

Window and Glass Cleaner:
3 tbsp vinegar
1/2 tsp liquid detergent or dish soap
2 cups water

Mix ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle.  Use anywhere you would use a traditional glass cleaner!

Soft Scrub Cleaner:
1/2 cup baking powder
Enough liquid detergent or dish soap to make a paste

Store paste in a sealed jar and use to scrub your stove, bathtub

OR

Cut a lemon in half and dip in baking soda.  Use the lemon to scrub tough surfaces, especially areas with soap scum or grime.  Works like a charm!

Furniture Polish:
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp olive oil

Mix ingredients together in a jar, and use to polish any wood pieces!  Seal in the jar and store indefinitely.

Carpet Cleaner
3 cups vinegar
3 cups water

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle, and use as a spot cleaner on any tough carpet stains!

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

Mix ingredients together into a spray or squirt bottle.  Spray on inside rim of toilet and let sit for 10 minutes, then clean with a brush.

Wood Floor Cleaner:
2 cups olive oil or vegetable oil
2 cups vinegar

Mix ingredients together, squirt sparingly onto the floor and rub in well with a mop or cloth. Afterwards, I like to wipe the area with a clean towel, to prevent the floor from being too slippery.

Vinyl or Linoleum Floor Cleaner:
1 cup vinegar
1 gallon warm water
A few drops of olive oil or any essential oils

Mix ingredients together in a mop bucket, and clean floor as usual!

So.. notice any common themes here??  You got it.. pretty much anything can be accomplished with a little baking soda, vinegar, or oil, all completely safe and non-toxic ingredients!  If the vinegary smell has you jonesing for your old cleaners with fragrances that mask their chemical ingredients, try adding some essential oils you like to the above solutions.  Play around until you find a smell you like!

Not only will using homemade, natural cleaning products make your home safer for you, your family, and your pets, but you will safe tons of money on cleaning supplies!  Now that sounds like a win-win.

{Photo: Pinterest}

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