3 Recipes to Make Your Own All-Natural, Multipurpose Cleaners
Did you know that May is National Clean Air Month ? With California’s coronavirus-prompted stay-at-home order meaning fewer vehicles on the road, improved air quality has been a surprise benefit for the environment. There are also ways you can improve the air quality in your home. One easy and economical way is to create homemade, natural, multipurpose cleaners.
Using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry or cupboard, you can concoct a chemical-free cleaner perfect for every surface in your home. Here are three recipes perfect for cleaning windows, your kitchen and bathroom, and even clothing.
Window Cleaner
When it comes to all-natural cleaners, vinegar is the ideal solution for people looking to save money and protect the environment because it is completely non-toxic . Vinegar is also great at dissolving soap scum, deodorizing, and disinfecting, making it a great component in this glass cleaner recipe.
To two cups of water, add 1/2 cup of white or apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70 percent concentration), and one to two drops of orange essential oil (optional) for a refreshing scent. Pour into a spray bottle and use it on all your mirrored and glass surfaces.
Kitchen and Bath Cleaner
In addition to vinegar, the acidity of lemons makes this yellow citrus a great ingredient to include in any all-natural cleaning solution. When combined with other common household agents like baking soda, table salt, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and hot water, this little fruit packs a cleaning punch.
Use lemon juice and the rind in this kitchen and bathroom surface cleaner for a great-smelling, chemical-free cleaner. Simply combine 1/4 cup white vinegar, two tablespoons baking soda, four cups hot water, and the juice and rind of 1/2 a lemon. Stir until well dissolved and allow to cool. Remove the rind and pour into a spray bottle. Whatever you do, though, do not use this or other acidic cleaners on granite countertops.
Stain Remover
Another environmentally friendly cleaning product you likely have in one of your cupboards is hydrogen peroxide. Typically used as an antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide is also great for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces . It is also a great ingredient in a homemade laundry stain remover.
To make scrubbing that pesky ring around the collar even easier, mix two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with two tablespoons of baking soda and two tablespoons of dish soap. Mix it up and add about two tablespoons of water, making sure it’s thin enough to spray through a spray bottle. After color testing the fabric, rub into stains with a laundry brush and let soak for at least 15 minutes.
By making your own all-natural cleaners using items already in your pantry, you can improve your home’s air quality while also shining up your windows, cleaning bathroom and kitchen surfaces, and evening brightening up your laundry. Happy cleaning!
