7 Must Haves for Making Your Own Cleaning Supplies

Mar 9 | Household Tips, Cleaning

7 Must Haves for Making Your Own Cleaning Supplies

Do you want to clean your home more naturally while saving money? Making your own cleaning supplies could be the perfect solution. When you start making your own cleaning supplies, you have full control over the ingredients you use, giving you a safer, more eco-friendly option while cutting costs at the same time.

If you're curious about making your own cleaning supplies but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find 7 must-have essentials for making your own cleaning supplies. With these simple items on hand, you’ll discover that creating your own effective, budget-friendly cleaners is easier than you think.

1. Vinegar

Vinegar is the perfect product for cleaning glass and hard surfaces such as countertops and sinks. You can use vinegar in a spray bottle undiluted for cleaning glass, or mix in a little baking soda to create a fizzy concoction perfect for scrubbing tile, grout lines, and sinks. White vinegar and even cider vinegar both work well, although white vinegar is often preferred due to the cost.

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda adds a scrubbing effect to your cleaner, so it's perfect for using when scrubbing sinks, tiles, floors, or other areas that are especially built up with dirt and grime. You can make a baking soda paste out of baking soda and water, and use it especially on bathroom surfaces. (I like this recipe.) You can also sprinkle baking soda into the garbage disposal or onto carpet (be sure to vacuum after a few minutes) if it is especially stinky, since it will help absorb odors.

3. Lemons

Lemons are perfect for cleaning your home! They smell great and they can help cut through grease and grime like a champ. Cut a lemon in half and use the half directly on surfaces to scrub down sinks and faucets to a shine. You can also add lemon juice to your baking soda/water paste to give it a boost and make the space smell great. I also really like this Super Citrus cleaner. If you don’t have fresh lemons, lemon oil works great too.

4. Fels Naptha Soap

Fels Naptha is a bar soap from days gone by that is a staple in many homemade cleaners today. (Buncha Farmers is a good replacement in Canada.) You can shave or grate the bar into a fine powder and use it in your stain fighting mixtures and laundry detergent recipes. It works wonders at removing stains from fabric and can bring many clothing items and linens back to life.

5. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is an essential oil that pairs well with many homemade cleaning product recipes. It offers a wonderful scent that will leave your home smelling great, and can also be used for its aromatherapy purposes. Lavender also has antiseptic properties, so it can help kill germs in commonly used areas such as bathrooms.

6. Peppermint Oil

If pests are a problem in your home, add peppermint oil to your homemade cleaning products. A few drops can help keep moths, spiders, and mice away. When you finish your basic cleaning routine, you can even dab some of the peppermint oil onto a cotton ball or two and leave them in or around areas where pests tend to be a problem.

7. Assorted containers.

Head to your favorite store for spray bottles, glass jars with lids, and plenty of peel and stick labels. All of these will come in handy when making your own cleaning supplies. You also want to be sure you always label supplies so you know what they are and what ingredients are in them. Your dollar store should have everything you need!

See how simple making your own cleaning supplies can be? With just a few essentials, you can create effective, budget-friendly cleaners right at home. Keep this list of must-haves handy and discover just how rewarding making your own cleaning supplies can really be!