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In order to make your own cleaning products, there is a set of key ingredients to always have at hand. With these 7 ingredients, you can make dozens of all natural cleaning products from an all-purpose spray to a hardwood floor polish!
Why make all natural cleaning products?
I truly believe that if people knew how easy, effective, and affordable homemade cleaners were, most everyone would do it. Here are a few reasons why:
1. It saves you money
If you have ever paid any attention to the natural cleaning products available to us on our store shelves, you’ve likely noticed that as soon as something is labeled as “healthy” or “non-toxic” the price skyrockets.
But a lot of the time, you can make effective, non-toxic cleaners at home for less than the cost of the cheaper, standard cleaners, let alone the healthy stuff.
Here’s a quick comparison for you:
26oz bottles of all-purpose spray cleaner at our local Walmart that are branded as being healthier, plant-based, or organic are between $4-$6.
If I were to buy the ingredients needed to make the same size bottle of an all natural, homemade all-purpose spray from the same Walmart, it would cost about 83 cents. AND that’s using the organic essential lemon oil they have in stock.
Even if I were to make a much stronger solution using rubbing alcohol and Castile soap in the spray. It would still only cost me about $1.33.
2. It’s healthier
One of the easiest ways to quickly remove a large amount of toxins from your home is to make all natural cleaning products. In fact, most of the ingredients you’ll find sitting in your pantry.
Conventional cleaners are filled with ingredients that can cause skin irritations, breathing problems, hormone disruptors, and of course, the catastrophic effects if ingested (hello, poison control). And yet we choose to douse our homes, dishes, and clothes in these things.
But with homemade products, there is little to worry about. You still want to keep your littlest ones away from ingesting them, but cleaning with them will not cause any harm. In fact, many essential oils used in natural cleaning products have health benefits which we will get into later in this post.
3. It’s easy and effective
Homemade cleaners are not second class to store-bought, and they are super simple to make. In fact, you can make a bottle of liquid hand soap in 5 minutes and with 3 ingredients that is just as effective in removing germs as any you will buy in the store.
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Key Ingredients For All Natural Cleaning Products
Build your household cleaning arsenal with these 7 ingredients.
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant. Its acidic quality helps to break down stains, mildew, grease, and will even dispel unwanted odors. Whether white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, this is a primary ingredient in many household cleaners.
Some people dislike the smell of vinegar in their house when using it to clean. Ways to lessen or improve the smell are using apple cider vinegar in place of some of the white vinegar, infusing the vinegar with citrus peels, rosemary, or pine needles, or adding more essential oil to your solutions.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the more you use it, the more you’re used to it. Many people who stick with vinegar products come to like the smell of it. Also, remember that your home will not perpetually smell like vinegar. The smell wears off rather quickly.
2. Lemon
Lemon has many benefits in cleaning products. You will often want to use it in an essential oil form, or you can even make a milder homemade lemon oil. Just be sure to increase the amount you use to make up for the loss of potency. Lemon oil can eliminate germs, bleach, disinfect, and even purify your air!
3. Castile Soap
Castile soap is a concentrated, vegetable based soap that is gentle on your skin and safe for children. This item may look pricier than regular, off-the-shelf soaps, but because it is concentrated it is always watered down, making it much more affordable than it seems. This item is an essential in our home for not only cleaning, but also skincare. Dr. Bronner’s is a well-known and trusted organic brand if you want to jump into using this power ingredient.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda bleaches and deodorizes tough stains, making it a great item to use in your homemade laundry detergent. It is a safer alternative to harsh chemicals with a wide range of uses around the house (and kitchen).
5. Essential Oils
Essential oils are not just there to smell nice. Many also have antiviral, antibacterial, or anti-fungal properties that really bump up your cleaners to the next level. Some great ones to include in your arsenal are:
- tea tree oil (antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal)
- eucalyptus oil (great for seasonal allergies and mold)
- lavender oil (antibacterial)
- cinnamon oil (antibacterial and antiseptic)
- Pine oil (antibacterial, antifungal, kills pathogens and yeast spores)
6. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a more powerful disinfectant for when you need something with a bit more kick to it. It will kill bacteria and germs and cut through buildup. I like to use a vinegar solution for everyday cleaning and a stronger solution with rubbing alcohol at least once a week. Just be sure to keep this one out of reach from the kids.
7. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is wonderful for spot cleaning stains on fabrics. It is also a disinfectant that deodorizes. Like rubbing alcohol, this one should be kept out of reach from children.
Start making your own all natural cleaning products today!
With so many of these ingredients already in your home, there is no reason to wait. Start making your own all natural cleaning products today! You can start simply, perhaps with only an all-purpose spray cleaner. But the key is to START.
Once you have made an item or two and cultivated a habit of refilling it, you will realize just how easy and doable it is.
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Have you started making your own products? We would love to hear about it in the comments below!
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