Homemade Cleaning products

Since I posted "How to make your own laundry soap", I thought why stop there. I have been doing spring cleaning this week and will continue on next week as I'm doing my deep spring cleaning of every nook and cranny in the house. So I thought I would share my recipes with you for those of you who are ready to start your spring cleaning as well.

Since we have a lot of health issues in our home, I try not to use the chemical smelling cleaning products that they offer in the store as it is a little rough on my son. Not that I don't use them at all because I do but I try to go with easier products that he can handle the scents of and that are not so strong smelling as well as still clean great and do the same as the store bought cleaners.

Note: I purchase spray bottles from the dollar store before I get ready to make my cleaning products as well as some plastic containers with lids for others and label the so that I can easily tell which is which when I get ready to clean. Yes, I even have one of those hand held caddy's to hold them all in and go room to room with so I don't have to have my arms full of bottles to clean they are all easy to find and use. I also have my plastic gloves in them, sponges,rags, and anything else I might need so that I won't have to come down from high spots to get what I need I bring it up with me to make things much easier.


Vinegar cleaners:


Window cleaner:

* vinegar
* Water
* spray bottle
* Newspaper or coffee liners

I mix together 1/2 cup of vinegar and the rest of it water in a spray bottle. Spray the window and then wipe with either newspaper or coffee liners for streak free windows.

This also works well for:
* Cleaning out the fridge
* mirrors
* bathroom counter tops
* Plastic containers used for storage



Counter tops and stove top:

I also use this same mixture on my counter tops as well, it cuts through the not so tough spills and things that the kids leave on the dishwasher top or even the stove top.

For tougher spills or grease clean ups:

I have a spray bottle filled with straight white vinegar that I use to cut through the grease and other things that are tougher. I spray it on and wait a few minutes then take a scrubbing sponge and clean it up.

NOTE: Do not use on marble


Baking soda cleaners:


Oven cleaner and shower or tub:

I have a hard time breathing using the Easy off cleaners in the oven. So I have now changed it to using a baking soda paste to clean the oven with.

*Baking Soda
*Vinegar
*Lemon Juice (squeezed from actual lemon)
(You can add some borax for those really tough stains)


I take a plastic container and pour in some baking soda. Then mix in about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and enough vinegar to make a paste. Then I take a sponge and spread the paste on the inside of the stove and leave it for about 10 minutes. Then go back and wash it out, making sure to get all the paste out of the stove. I have to say that it kind of scares me to put something so filled with chemicals like Easy off into something that we cook our food in on a daily basis. How do we know its not really getting into the things we are eating?

NOTE: I do take the dish brush with the scrubber on the back that is hard plastic to get out as much as I can remove before I use the paste.


* This paste also works well on hard water stains, soap scum or other bathroom cleaning.

~ To clean your shower or tub

* Again you will put the paste around the shower, tub, and on the glass shower door. Then leave for about 5-10 minutes, scrub and wash off to have a clean tub or shower.This does clean the tub and the walls as well as the door really well.


* Having problems with slow running drains? Use 1/2 cup to 3/4 cups of baking soda down the drain with just a little vinegar to get it down the drain. Then let it sit 15 minutes and run hot water down the drain to rinse it all away. Safe for the pipes and helps the flow the drain.


~Furniture Polish:

* 1 cup olive oil
* 1/2 cup lemon juice

1. Combine olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl or spray bottle.

2. Use a clean cloth to rub a small amount of the polish into your furniture.

3. Wipe dry with another cloth.

Tips and Warnings:

1) Do not reuse spray bottles that have contained other chemicals

2) Shake before each use to recombine ingredients

3) Cheap olive oil works just as well as more expensive grades

4) Smaller batches can be made, if you prefer to use fresh polish each time you dust – just maintain the ratio found in the recipes


~ Microwave

Use a lemon or Lemon Juice from a fresh lemon to clean your microwave. Lemons are a great cleaning source. You can either take lemon slices and put the juice on the inside of the microwave to clean it or use the lemon juice on a sponge and then scrub clean. Being sure to rinse all the lemon juice out of the microwave and then wash the tray before returning.

These are just some of the cleaning products you can use to get that spring cleaning done and get your house smelling great at the same time. As you can tell none of these use any chemicals in them. They are all natural and safe for pets as well as little ones.