How to Make DIY Cleaning Products

Chosen theme: How to Make DIY Cleaning Products. Step into a brighter, cleaner home with recipes, safety tips, and real-life inspiration that make eco-friendly cleaning simple, affordable, and joyfully hands-on. Subscribe to keep new mixes and methods coming to your inbox.

Pantry Staples with Serious Power

Distilled white vinegar cuts mineral films, baking soda scrubs without scratching, washing soda boosts degreasing, and castile soap lifts everyday grime. Add hydrogen peroxide for disinfection and coarse salt for gentle abrasion. Keep everything clearly labeled for easy grab-and-go use.

Safety Rules You Should Never Skip

Never mix vinegar with bleach or ammonia due to dangerous fumes. Wear gloves when handling concentrates, ventilate your space, and store solutions away from kids and pets. Test on a hidden spot first to protect delicate finishes and fabrics from unexpected reactions.

Bottles and Tools That Last

Choose glass spray bottles for acidic solutions, HDPE plastic for soapy mixes, and silicone funnels to pour cleanly. Microfiber cloths catch dust like magnets, while scrub brushes tackle grout. Reuse containers responsibly, and note batch dates on every label to track freshness.

Pack a jar with orange or lemon peels, cover with distilled white vinegar, and infuse for two weeks. Strain, dilute one-to-one with water, and pour into a spray bottle. Wonderful on sealed surfaces, but avoid natural stone like marble or travertine.

Everyday All-Purpose Sprays

Combine 1 cup isopropyl alcohol (70%), 1 cup distilled water, and 20 drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil. The alcohol evaporates quickly, reducing streaks on glossy surfaces. Label clearly and keep away from heat sources while storing and using.

Everyday All-Purpose Sprays

Kitchen Degreasers and Scrubs

Combine three parts baking soda with one part water to form a spreadable paste. Apply over cooled splatters, let sit ten minutes, and scrub with a damp sponge. Add a touch of castile soap for stubborn spots, then rinse thoroughly to avoid residue.

Kitchen Degreasers and Scrubs

Ferment citrus peels with brown sugar and water for several weeks, then strain to capture a natural enzyme cleaner. Dilute one-to-ten for greasy cabinets or range hoods. The light citrus scent is refreshing, and the enzymes break down sticky films beautifully.

Bathroom Bright: Descale, Disinfect, and Deodorize

Spray 3% hydrogen peroxide on pre-cleaned surfaces and allow several minutes of contact time before wiping. It’s great on toilet handles and door knobs. Keep it out of direct sunlight, and never mix with vinegar in the same container to avoid reactive byproducts.

Dissolve 1 tablespoon citric acid in 1 cup warm water, spray on faucets or shower doors, and let it sit. The mild acid dissolves mineral deposits without harsh fumes. Rinse thoroughly, and avoid natural stone to protect delicate calcium-based surfaces from etching.

Combine 1 cup baking soda, 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap, and a teaspoon of water to form a creamy scrub. Optional: a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Spread, dwell five minutes, then scrub and rinse. It leaves tubs fresh without heavy industrial odors.

Laundry Day, DIY Edition

Grate a gentle unscented soap bar, then mix one cup with one cup washing soda and one cup baking soda. Use one to two tablespoons per load. Dissolve in warm water for cold cycles, and always pre-test on delicate items to ensure colorfastness.

Laundry Day, DIY Edition

Blend 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 part clear dish soap and 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Treat stains promptly, gently agitate, and rinse before laundering. Test on hidden seams of colored fabrics to avoid lightening sensitive dyes or prints.

Floors, Windows, and Special Surfaces

Sealed Wood Floor Cleaner

Mix 2 teaspoons castile soap with 1 gallon warm water, lightly damp-mop, and dry promptly. Avoid standing water on wood, and skip vinegar if you worry about finish dulling. Microfiber mop heads trap grit so you don’t grind particles into the surface.

Stone-Safe Neutral Solution

For granite, marble, or travertine, use a few drops of pH-neutral dish soap in a bucket of warm water. Avoid acids and abrasive powders. Wring your mop thoroughly, wipe gently, and buff with a dry towel to preserve the stone’s natural sheen and seal.

Streak-Free Glass and Mirror Spray

Combine 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup vinegar, and 1 tablespoon isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Lightly mist, then buff with a clean microfiber cloth in overlapping strokes. If you see haze, switch cloths and reduce product to prevent over-wetting.

Scent, Customization, and Real-World Wins

Start with lavender, lemon, or tea tree at low concentrations, and check pet safety guidelines before diffusing or applying broadly. Some oils can irritate skin or sensitive airways. Keep blends simple, and record drops per bottle so you can replicate favorites.

Scent, Customization, and Real-World Wins

Skip scent entirely by embracing the naturally clean smell of soap and fresh air. Use distilled water to prevent mineral odors, and store bottles out of sunlight. Readers with asthma often report calmer routines when recipes avoid perfumes and strong volatile oils.