Cleaning green: make your own natural products
Store bought cleaning products can contain harsh chemicals, including some that can be harmful to our health. These zero waste ideas for homemade natural cleaning products are definitely worth a try! Low waste, low tox and they smell amazing!
Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash
Look, it might not be the coolest topic ever, but making the green swap for homemade natural cleaning products can have a really big impact. They’re kinder to the planet, your health, and even to your hip pocket! These super simple recipes have 2-3 ingredients and take less than 1 minute to make. Try them out and you won’t go back to the commercial brands in a hurry!
Check out our IG post on this topic too!
NB: Before you get started, a couple of important notes: Acidic ingredients (including vinegar and lemon) are caustic so should not be used on marble or granite surfaces. Make sure you always test a small area when trying out any new homemade product.
What are the benefits?
Better for your health - Using natural ingredients means they will be low-tox and not harmful to our health as some can be. Also by making your own, you know exactly what’s in them!
Kinder to the planet - The ingredients used in these products will be less harmful to ecosystems than harsh chemicals. Not to mention the reduction in single-use plastic packaging!
Save money - The ingredients we’ll use can be bought in bulk and can work out cheaper than buying commercially manufactured products.
Lovely to use - Natural products smell delicious! Enough said.
Easy ingredients
Most homemade natural cleaning products consist of a few simple low-tox and low-waste ingredients, many of which you probably already have sitting your kitchen cupboard!
Baking soda – Buy it in a bulk box and use as a cleaner and deodoriser.
White vinegar – Vinegar is acidic so it works well to get rid of grime and mould. Artificial vinegar can be cheaper and is just as effective.
Essential oils – Add a few drops of essential oils to mask the vinegar smell. There are so many beautiful natural scents to choose from, you’re sure to find a few you love. Zero-waste tip: Soak your orange peels in vinegar for a week or so, then drain and use! This will create a sweet smelling solution.
Castile soap – Made from a base of vegetable oil (usually olive or coconut), this is a highly concentrated and very effective soap. We prefer the liquid variety due to its ease of use, but you can always purchase in bar form and make your own liquid.
Lemon – Due to its highly acidic properties, it’s nature’s disinfectant!
Amber glass jars are a great option to store your homemade cleaning products. Check out ours here
Bathroom bliss
Try our favourite recipes for simple and effective bathroom cleaners:
Shower and bath – Make a paste of baking soda and water to clean your shower and bath. Optional: add a dash of liquid Castile soap and a few drops of essential oils
Mirror and glass cleaner – Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar and 3 drops essential oil – try mint or tea-tree
Mould remover – Spray undiluted vinegar directly onto the affected area and leave for up to 1 hour
Remove smells – Pop a few drops of essential oils in water for a low-waste spray option
Toilet cleaner – Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet and leave for 1 min. Then add 1 cup of baking soda and another 1 cup of vinegar. Watch it fizz up and work its magic. Scrub the toilet but leave to sit for at least 10 mins before flushing
Check out our other tips for creating your Zero-waste Bathroom here.
Kitchen cleanse
You might be surprised to hear that grease and grime are no match for baking soda and water! Check out some of our other kitchen secrets here:
Oven – A paste of baking soda and water will also work wonders on your oven and stove. For baked on grease, leave on for up to 10 minutes before wiping down
Sink – To clean, sprinkle baking soda on the sink and scrub using a natural brush or silicon scrubber. To unblock your sink, use ½ cup baking soda, followed by ½ cup vinegar
Fridge – Use a small dish of baking soda to deodorise your fridge. A few drops of vanilla essence also works!
Dishes – Use ¼ cup Castile soap with 500mls water to make your own dishwashing detergent – it’s very effective so you can use sparingly, making it very cost effective
Cutting board – cut a lemon in half and rub fleshy side onto board to remove stains and disinfect
For more ideas to go Zero-waste in the Kitchen, check out our recent post here.
Laundry love
Washing powders often use chemicals that can be highly irritating to the skin, especially for those with sensitivities. Try these natural options for a low-tox alternative:
Dirty clothes – Make your own soaking solution by mixing 2 Tbs of baking soda, 1 Tbs of Borax, 2 Tbs of liquid Castile soap, and a few drops of essential oils. Soak clothes for 2-4 hours, then wash as normal
Smelly clothes can be brought back from the brink by soaking in a bucket of water with either 1 cup of vinegar OR 1 cup baking soda. It really works!
Laundry powder – 14 cups very hot water, 1 cup baking soda, ½ cup salt, 1 cup unscented liquid Castile soap, (optional - 30 drops of essential oils). Pro Zero-waste tip: give soapnuts a try!
All purpose ideas
All purpose – Add ¼ cup Castile soap to 500 mls of water for a great all purpose cleaner
Mould remover - Spray undiluted vinegar onto area and leave for up to 1 hour before wiping down
Brass – Pour lemon juice onto a cloth, add table salt, then use to scrub your brassware
Get creative
Once you know your ingredients and how they work together, you can start to get creative and make your own ideas! Try mixing a couple of different essential oils for a new take on an old favourite, or combine different ingredients to see what works best for you!
Have you made the switch to green cleaning products yet? Let us know in the comments below!
Making your own natural cleaning products has so many benefits - and it’s easy once you know how!