In the kitchen
All-purpose cleaner
In a spray bottle, mix 1-½ cups water, ½ cup of vinegar, and 10 drops each of lavender, lemon, and grapefruit essential oils. Use this to clean just about anything from kitchen countertops, cupboard fronts, and appliances to sinks, tubs, and toilets.
Grease remover
In a spray bottle, combine a cup of distilled white vinegar, a couple of drops of mild dish detergent or pure castile soap, and a few drops of citrus essential oil. Shake well, and spray it on the greasy dishes, stovetop, microwave, or other surfaces, then wipe with a microfiber cloth.
For super-duper greasy messes, make a baking soda and water paste, slather it on, let it dry, then remove it with a damp microfiber cloth.
Stainless steel cleaner
For filthy, greasy stainless steel, dip a microfiber cloth in rubbing alcohol, and scrub it down in the direction of the grain. To make your stainless steel gleam, dip a microfiber cloth in a bit of olive oil, and wipe with the grain to remove fingerprints and watermarks and hide scratches.
Oven cleaner
Make a thick paste of baking soda, coarse salt, and vinegar. Add a few drops of mild dish soap. Slather the sides, floor, and roof oven with the paste, and let it sit overnight. Scrub it with a warm, damp sponge, and rinse. Give it a spray-down with straight white vinegar, and wipe one last time with a microfiber cloth.
Microwave cleaner
Grab a bowl and fill it with ¼ of white vinegar and a cup of tap water. Heat the liquid for five minutes in your microwave and allow it to cool slightly. Dip a microfiber cloth in the mixture to clean up stains.
Garbage disposal cleaner
General cleaning/maintenance. To keep your disposal from stinking in the first place, get into the habit of eating citrus fruits, and toss the peels into the disposal after. The rough peels and their essential oils will help loosen and remove stinky gunk from the blades and make it smell delightful.
Intensive cleaning. For more intense cleaning, pour a half-cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by a half-cup of vinegar — pour slowly. Put the stopper over the drain hole, and let the concoction fizz for five minutes. Remove the stopper, and run the disposal with the hot water running.
For more convenient disposal cleaning, try making these garbage disposal bombs, and store them under your sink in a big glass jar.
Whole house
Disinfectant
Put 70% isopropyl alcohol, aka rubbing alcohol, undiluted into a spray bottle. Spray it anywhere that needs disinfecting — let it sit on the surface for 10 minutes, and wipe away with a microfiber cloth. Rubbing alcohol kills bacteria and viruses, including the coronavirus.
Carpet and upholstery cleaner
General cleaning: To draw out odors and moisture, sprinkle your carpet or upholstery liberally with baking soda, let it sit for a few hours — ideally overnight. Vacuum thoroughly.
Light stains. Mix a teaspoon of mild, clear dish soap with one cup of warm water in a bowl. If the stain is wet, dab it dry, then soak it in a small amount of the soap mixture. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then dab and repeat until the stain is gone.
Heavy stains (wine, dog poo). For more stubborn stains, try using straight baking soda followed by a mixture of two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and one tablespoon of dish soap. If the stain is wet, blot it until it’s as dry as possible. Sprinkle the baking soda onto the stain, and let it sit for 10 minutes, then add the hydrogen peroxide mixture to the stain. Let the whole concoction sit on the stain for five minutes, then blot dry. Repeat as necessary until the stain has lifted.
Hardwood floor cleaner
Many conventional hardwood floor cleaners contain waxes, silicones, and oils that are terrible for your wood floors, leaving behind dulling residues and making them difficult to re-coat down the road. The best way to clean your wood floors is with a damp microfiber mop. The microfiber traps dirt and bacteria and leaves your floors shiny and clean. For really dirty wood floors, mix two tablespoons of mild dish soap in a gallon of warm water, and damp-mop with it.
Glass cleaner
The surprising key to streak-free glass cleaner is cornstarch. Whisk four tablespoons of cornstarch into a bowl containing a cup of hot water and a cup of rubbing alcohol. Pour into a spray bottle, and use it on mirrors, windows, glass stovetops, and other glass items. For best results, wipe the glass with a microfiber cloth.
Air freshener
Skip the poisonous plug-ins and freshen your air naturally with an essential oil diffuser, or make your own room spray with your favorite essential oils. Simply fill a spray bottle with equal parts distilled water and witch hazel. Add 20 to 30 drops of your favorite essential oils and shake to combine. Spritz around the room and add more essential oils if you want a stronger spray.
Bathroom & laundry
Toilet cleaner
Use the DIY all-purpose cleaner for the toilet, or mix a cup of baking soda with 15 drops each of tea tree oil and lemon or orange essential oil. Sprinkle in the bowl, let it sit for a half-hour, then scrub as usual.
Mold remover
Vinegar kills 82 percent of mold species, so it’s a great addition to your collection of natural cleaners. In the bathroom, basement, or wherever else you find mold, spray the offender with full-strength distilled vinegar. Let it sit for an hour, then wipe. To prevent mold growth, spray the area with vinegar every few days.
Calcium buildup remover
Vinegar comes to the rescue again, this time helping you get rid of the mineral buildup on your showerhead and other water fixtures. If you can remove the fixture, submerge it in a bowl or bucket of white vinegar. If you can’t remove it, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and immerse your showerhead in the bag. Use string to secure the bag to the showerhead.
Laundry detergent
Making your own effective laundry detergent would be far more work and expense than it’s worth. Instead, invest in a high quality, all-natural detergent that’s powered by enzymes and non-toxic to the environment.
Dryer sheets
Instead of using conventional dryer sheets that are packed with chemicals and synthetic fragrances, get yourself some wool dryer balls, and toss three or four in the dryer with your clothes. They’ll help reduce wrinkles and static, and they’ll also help separate your clothes as they tumble so they dry faster — meaning less energy use. If you like scented laundry, just add drops of essential oils to the dryer balls, which will soak them up and distribute them to your clothes.
Keeping your home clean doesn’t mean you have to use harmful chemicals. It’s easier than ever to find simple and healthy cleaning hacks to get your home spick and span on a budget with eco-friendly products.
