10 Cleaners You Can Stop Buying And Start Making

Would you like to get started with homemade cleaners? Here are 10 recipes to you can start to make your own cleaners instead of buying them!

One of the most satisfying discoveries for me when I started trying different homemade recipes for this blog, was learning how simple it was to make your own cleaners.  They stir together quickly, they usually cost only pennies per batch, and most importantly, homemade cleaners get the job done just as well (if not better!) than their store-bought counterparts.

I’ve also come to appreciate how much more natural homemade cleaners are as they usually use friendly ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, or soap – AND – you can often scent them to your liking using essential oils or scented castile soaps too.  I’ve really enjoyed ditching the chemical smells of commercial cleaners for the friendlier smells of lavender, lemon, orange, or peppermint.

If you’d like to get started with homemade cleaners too, here are 10 of my recipes for cleaners that you can stop buying and start making instead.  I’ve used all of these recipes in my home many times and feel that they do a fine job of cleaning and they’ve saved us a bunch of money too.

Let’s take a look:

#1 – Window Cleaner

Stop buying Windex and try this recipe instead = = >  Homemade Window Cleaner

how to make homemade glass cleanerI first started using this recipe as my homemade eyeglass cleaner, but I now make it in larger batches and use it on my mirrors and windows too.  And like so many other of my homemade cleaners, I’ve found it’s very multi-purpose and I sometimes just keep spraying and clean my counters or faucets with it too!  This is also my cleaner of choice when I need to clean my laptop or phone.

An alternate to this recipe that I still use a lot too is this method of using club soda as a window cleaner.

 

#2 – All Purpose Cleaner

Stop buying Fantastik and try these recipes instead = = > Vinegar Cleaner or Soap Cleaner

Peppermint Soap Spray Cleaner 200One of the easiest cleaners you can make is a simple mixture of half white vinegar and half water in a spray bottle.  I use this mixture all over my house and it’s my go-to method for homemade cleaning.  If I’m not in the mood for the vinegar smell, I use an all-purpose cleaner made with castile soap instead.  I often use a peppermint version but it could be made with other scents of castile soap too.

(The only word of caution with the vinegar cleaner is that it should not be used on granite as it is too acidic for that type of surface.)

 

#3 – Soft Scrub

Stop buying Soft Scrub and try this recipe instead = = > Homemade Soft Scrub

Make your own soft scrubAn easy mixture of baking soda and dish soap gives you a simple homemade soft scrub that will make your sink shine.  I keep my mixture in a small plastic ziploc container with a tight fitting lid to keep it from drying out and just dab a little on the corner of my sponge when it’s time to use it.

 

 

#4 – Dusting Spray

Stop buying Pledge and try this recipe instead = = > Homemade Dusting Spray

how to make a homemade dusting sprayUsing a homemade dusting spray was one of the easiest transitions I made to homemade cleaning, because I never did like the aerosol spray type of dusting products.  I always found them rather overpowering to my nose.  Now, I usually scent my homemade dusting spray with a few drops of lemon essential oil (although that’s an optional ingredient), and I find it so much more pleasant to spritz around as I clean and dust my home.  It’s definitely one of my favorites!

 

#5 – Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Stop buying Lysol Toilet Bowl and try this recipe instead = = > Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner

make your own toilet bowl cleaner

 

This recipe is a very cheap and frugal alternative to store bought toilet bowl cleaners, as well as being a natural alternative too.  I always add some tea tree essential oil in the mixture for its disinfecting properties.

 

 

#6 – Daily Shower Spray

Stop buying Tilex and try this recipe instead = = > Homemade Daily Shower Spray

How to make a homemade daily shower cleaner spray

 

I’ve been very pleased with how this homemade mixture has performed.  After showering, I spray it on the ceramic tile and glass block windows in my tub/shower area, and it does a great job of leaving the surfaces looking clean with no water spots.

 

 

#7 – Disposable Cleaning Wipes

Stop buying Clorox Wipes and try this recipe instead = = > Homemade Disposable Wipes

Make your own disposable cleaning wipesI think what I like best about this homemade option is that it lasts me so much longer than the store bought version.  It takes me waaaay longer to use up a batch of my homemade wipes made from a roll of paper toweling compared to the dinky little canisters of cleaning wipes at the store (and for less money too!)  The tea tree oil I add to this mixture stops any mold from growing on the towels and gives them a disinfecting cleaning boost too.

 

#8 – Abrasive Scrub

Stop buying Comet and try this recipe instead = = > Homemade Sink Scrub

How to make a baking soda sink scrub

 

This is a super-duper simple way to switch to a natural cleaning option.  Baking soda is a great natural alternative for cleaning and can be scented with your favorite essential oils for a little variety.

 

 

#9 – Disinfectant Spray

Stop buying Lysol spray and try this recipe instead = = > Disinfecting Duo

How to disinfect naturally using white distilled vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.

 

Here’s a strategy for natural disinfecting that uses two frugal and natural items – vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.  The strategy, however, is not to mix them together (which creates another substance you don’t want) and instead to spray each one separately on the surface and then wipe.

 

 

#10 – Smooth Stovetop Cleaner

Stop buying Weiman Glass Cook Top and try this instead = => Stovetop Cleaning Method

How to clean a smooth stovetop the frugal way

 

I’m sure you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was to discover that baking soda and a towel moistened with soapy water, can do such a fantastic job of cleaning your smooth stovetop.  Give it a try and I’ll think you’ll be impressed at what this cheap option for cleaning can do!

 

 

So there are 10 ideas to get you started!  If you’d like to begin trying homemade cleaning alternatives, just pick one or two from the list and see how it goes.  My prediction is you’ll discover the homemade versions work just as well as the store bought versions, you’ll enjoy the natural scents of your own mixtures, and you’ll love saving money too!

 

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