When it comes to cleaning sprays, store-bought is overrated
Looking for a healthy, easy alternative to store bought cleaners? Check out our favorite home-made cleaning recipes.
Recipe #1 3-Ingredient All-Purpose Spray
We’ll begin with the recipe that contains the most minimal ingredients. When I began making DIY cleaning products, I started here because I was pretty unsure about whether or not I’d stick with it. I went from buying a new, plastic bottle of all-purpose cleaning spray each month to buying one large container of distilled white vinegar every 6 months. Plus, I feel so much better about the ingredients I’m filling my home with, knowing that I’m not spraying harmful chemicals on my countertops and surfaces. It should be noted, however, that vinegar-based sprays are not good to use on marble and granite countertops, so scroll past this one if that sounds like you.
Ingredients:
½ Cup Distilled White Vinegar
2 Cups Water
30 Drops Essential oils
Instructions:
- Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and secure the top.
- Swirl or shake the ingredients to combine.
- Use immediately--shake again before each use.
Notes: While it’s always great to use a glass bottle and avoid plastic, the best thing we can do right now is to avoid making unnecessary purchases. Use a plastic bottle you have lying around to get started. You can also add some citrus peels to the mix to kick it up a notch. I save my peels in the freezer and use them as needed. Bonus points for avoiding food waste!
This recipe is inspired by Root + Revel’s DIY All-Purpose Cleaner
Recipe #2 All-Purpose Disinfectant Spray
The second recipe we’ll share is one that contains Hydrogen Peroxide, a common item found in most people’s medicine cabinets that has really great disinfecting power. It is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a sterilizer and is safe to use in your kitchen, in bathrooms, on mirrors, and even on stainless steel! An important note on this one is that you’ll need to use an opaque spray bottle because hydrogen peroxide is sensitive to light.
Ingredients and Supplies:
- An opaque spray bottle (if you’ve ever used Clorox spray or Resolve, you have one of these.)
- 16 oz hydrogen peroxide (3%).
- 1 Teaspoon of your favorite essential oil.
Instructions:
- Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and secure the top.
- Swirl or shake the ingredients to combine.
- Spray on surfaces and leave for several minutes before wiping clean for best results.
This recipe was inspired by DIY Natural’s Lavender Mint Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
Recipe #3 Wellness Mama Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
The last recipe we want to share is one that will be easier to make for folks who have more experience with zero waste cleaning products. If you’ve ever made DIY laundry detergent, dish soap, or a variety of other similar products, then there’s a great chance you’ll already have these ingredients on hand. If not, most are available for purchase on Amazon. This tried and true recipe is great for families and is our Executive Director Jamie’s favorite!
Ingredients:
1 Tsp Borax
½ Tsp Washing Soda
1 Tsp Liquid Castile Soap
Essential Oils of choice
Instructions:
- Place borax, washing soda, and soap in a spray bottle.
Add 2 cups of warm water. Distilled is best, but any water that has been boiled will work.
Add essential oils of choice.
Cover the bottle and shake well. Use as needed.
Note: If you’re not comfortable using Borax and want a natural alternative, you can use witch hazel or food-grade alcohol instead.
Check out Wellness Mama blog for more information and FAQs on this recipe.
Did you make your own cleaning spray using one of these recipes? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @peancorg and tag us in a photo of the results using #PEAearthday and #EarthDayEveryDay
