Using fewer chemicals inside your home will help improve your indoor air quality and lower your environmental footprint at the same time. The best part is that there are many recipes you can make with just a few natural ingredients.

DIY Home Cleaning Essentials

First, here are some basic ingredients that are commonly used to make natural home cleaners. Keep your cupboard stocked so that you always have some on-hand when you need them.
• Baking soda: Mild abrasive good for scouring surfaces and a highly effective deodorizer.
• White vinegar: Mild acid good for removing stains, inhibiting mould, cleaning soap scum and dissolving scale.
• Borax: Naturally occurring alkaline mineral salt effective for cleaning grease and oil.
• Essential oils: Oils like lemongrass, lavender, tea tree, lemon, and eucalyptus will give any cleaner a lovely scent.
• Liquid Castile soap: Biodegradable soap made of vegetable oils.
• Rubbing alcohol: Highly effective disinfectant great for cleaning surfaces.

Simple Natural Home Cleaning Recipes

If you’ve got the above ingredients and you are interested in making your own DIY home cleaners, then here are four recipes great for basic home cleaning tasks that you can try.

1. All-purpose cleaner

When you need to wipe down surfaces in the kitchen or the bathroom, this all-purpose cleaner will do the trick while leaving the space smelling clean and fresh.

Ingredients
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Castile soap
• 20 drops essential oil
• Extra baking soda

Add all of the liquid ingredients together in a spray bottle and shake to incorporate. Then, spray on a surface and wipe with a sponge or cloth. For extra cleaning power, sprinkle baking soda on the surface first.

2. Heavy-duty cleaner

Sometimes, you need a cleaner that is tougher on stains and buildup. For that, just include Borax in your cleaning solution.

Ingredients
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Castile soap
• 20 drops essential oil
• 1 teaspoon Borax

Combine the Borax, Castile soap, and vinegar in a bowl. Slowly add water and stir until the solution is fully mixed, then use a funnel to pour into a spray bottle and finish off with your favourite essential oils.

3. Window and mirror cleaner

Get your home’s glass surfaces sparkling and enjoy a clear reflection in the mirror or a clear view of the outside through your windows with this streak-free solution.

Ingredients
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
• Few drops essential oil

Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake, and spray onto any glass surface in your home. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe for best results.

4. Cleaning wipes

Cleaning wipes are handy to have around when you need to quickly wipe down a surface or clean up a spill. Store-bought cleaning wipes create a lot of waste, but you can easily make your own reusable ones!

Ingredients
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• About 20 drops of your favourite essential oils
• 20 squares of cloth
• Container large enough to accommodate the wipes

Combine liquid ingredients in a bowl. Fold up your pieces of cloth, put them in the container, and pour the mixture over the top. Close the lid, and they will be ready to use when you need them.

Reducing your reliance on chemical cleaners is a lot easier than you might have thought. Enjoy a clean, fresh, and healthy home by skipping the chemicals and making your own simple cleaners from natural ingredients.