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Natural DIY cleaning spray in a glass bottle with ingredients from the pantry — You can make effective natural cleaning solutions with products already have around the house.

Welcome to the Quick Start Guide to Homesteading series, where you will find everything you need to know to get started living a more sustainable life, whether you are in the city, country, or somewhere in between.

Today we are going to talk about the first idea in the Sewing and Craft category, which is to Get Squeaky Clean.

If you haven’t already, you can download the FREE Quick Start Guide to Homesteading at our website.

We think if you watch these videos, read the guide, and start practicing what you learn, you will be well on your way to being a homesteader.

One really easy way to get started homesteading is with your house cleaning. You can walk into any store and find an endless supply of commercial cleaning products, many of which may even be non-toxic. Making the switch to those more eco-friendly options is a great step. An even better way to move towards a more sustainable, nature-friendly life is to make your own cleaning products.

Why make your own DIY cleaning products?

Making your own cleaning products can save you money, reduce waste, and improve indoor air quality. When you add your own essential oils, you can also create a soothing, signature scent for your homestead.

We switched to homemade cleaners after I became a cancer survivor. It was part of the process of detoxifying our lives.

Whichever one of these things motivates you the most, making your own natural cleaning products is good for you and for the earth. Building your own cleaning kit can even make the task fun. Well at least a little less tedious.

Our well-stocked cleaning basket makes it easy to keep things clean on the homestead, naturally.

How do you make non-toxic cleaning products?

Just like the endless options for store-bought cleaning products, there’s an endless number of recipes available on the internet. We have tried many of them. Some have worked ok, and some were a disaster. There was one recipe that caused such a chemical reaction, it sprayed out of a bottle all on its own.

After trying and refining our natural cleaning solutions over the years, we’ve narrowed it down to 3 natural cleaners we always keep on hand. Part of what we like about these recipes is they use ingredients we keep in hand in the pantry. So we can buy in bulk, saving time and money. Most importantly, they are very effective. We use these cleaners for everything from the kitchen sink to bathroom fixtures.

These recipes focus on supplies you probably already have around the house. If you are looking for essential oils, we recommend Mountain Rose Herbs.

In addition to the ingredients listed, there are a few other items that are handy to have around. These are all easy to find from online sellers.

Glass spray bottles. These can be reused over and over again.
A metal funnel. This is used for pouring ingredients into the bottles
Labels. I prefer black labels and a chalk pen, but any water resistant label can work.
A box or basket to carry your supplies

General Purpose Cleaner

This vinegar-based general purpose cleaner is great for countertops, sinks, and showers.

1 ½ cups water
½ cup white vinegar
2 tsp natural liquid soap
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops orange, lime, rosemary, mint, or lavender essential oil

Add the ingredients to a spray bottle using a funnel. Shake well. Spray on surfaces and wipe down with a damp cloth.

Sanitizing Spray

This spray can be used on many surfaces in your home. While the recipe has not been scientifically evaluated to our knowledge, it does meet the CDC guidelines for preventing some infections from surfaces.

1 ½ cups rubbing alcohol
¾ cups purified water
15 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil

Add the ingredients to a spray bottle using a funnel. Shake well. Spray on surfaces and let sit. Wipe down with a paper towel.

Glass Cleaner

It took a really long time to find an effective glass cleaning recipe. The secret in this one is the cornstarch.

1 cup water
1 cup everclear or rubbing alcohol
4 tablespoons cornstarch

Add the ingredients to a spray bottle using a funnel. Shake well. Spray on surfaces and wipe down with a paper towel or newspaper.

This window cleaner is the first recipe we found that cuts through wood stove soot.

Are homemade cleaning products safe?

Homemade cleaning products are generally very safe to use. At the same time, there are a few things to be cautious about.

With any new solution in your home, try a patch test. Test the product on a small area of your surface first. This way you can make sure it doesn’t cause damage or discoloration. This also helps test sensitivity of your skin. Even natural products can cause reactions.

Be very mindful about chemical reactions when making your own cleaning solutions. Even safe ingredients can create toxic fumes when combined. For example, mixing bleach and vinegar can create a lethal gas.

If your primary concern is controlling infectious disease, then you will want to expand your research beyond these suggestions. Our recipes are for basic every-day cleaning.

Homemade cleaning products seem to lose effectiveness after 1 - 3 months. So it’s a good idea to make small batches.

A Clean House is a Happy House

While I love many home-based activities, I have to admit that house cleaning isn’t one of them. Yet making my own products brings a little joy to the process. I hope that these suggestions give you ways to bring a little joy to your house cleaning too.

Quick Tip: 3 Simple Natural Cleaning Recipes for Homemade Solutions that Actually Work