Do you have lemons and hate chemicals and artificial fragrances? If that describes you then it’s time to start making your own non-toxic household cleaning spray. The beauty of the cleaning spray recipe in this article is that it only contains two ingredients: lemons and distilled white vinegar. If you don’t have lemons but have an abundance of limes or oranges, feel free to use them instead. Any citrus fruit will do!

Citrus season runs from late fall to late winter, so you may have a lot of oranges, lemons, tangerines, limes, or grapefruits on hand. This is especially true if you have citrus trees in your yard or neighborhood. Do you have friendly neighbors who leave boxes of wonderful citrus fruits outside their house for the neighborhood to take? Those are the best people! The point we are trying to make is that you will most likely have a lot of citrus scraps if you have a lot of citrus. Instead of throwing them in the trash or compost (more ideal than the trash), save them and make your own cleaning spray. 

Vinegar For Cleaning

It is important to note that vinegar is not a powerful disinfectant. It has some disinfectant properties, but it is nowhere near as effective as bleach or other commercial disinfectant products. This is why it is important to decide if you want to clean or disinfect. If you want to disinfect surfaces (kill most bacteria), you may want to use a classic disinfectant spray or cleanser that specifically kills germs. 

Distilled white vinegar can be an effective household cleaner on certain surfaces. It is an inexpensive, easy-to-obtain product that is about 5% acetic acid, which works to break down the structure of certain stains, oils, films, or bacteria. That same acidic quality can harm certain surfaces, such as hard wood floors, aluminum, cast iron, waxed wood, or natural stone. Vinegar can be a highly effective cleaner for glass, refrigerator shelves/drawers, or removing water stains from showers. Just make sure to do the research on whether the surface you want to clean will or won’t be harmed by vinegar. 

Gather Your Lemon Rinds

In order to make the cleaning spray in this article, you have to gather lemon rinds (or other citrus rinds) in a large glass container. Ideally, you should use a half-gallon mason jar, but a small pitcher or a few smaller jars will also work. A great time to make this cleaning spray is after you make freshly-squeezed lemonade, pesto, or similar recipe involving lots of citrus. If it is going to take you more than a week to collect all your rinds, add a little white vinegar to the jar by day six or seven. Pour enough to submerge the citrus rinds in order to prevent molding. 

Once you have a good amount of citrus rinds in the jar (doesn’t have to be completely full), pour the white vinegar into the container to submerge the rinds completely. You can add some fresh herbs for increased aromatherapy, if you so desire. Let the rinds soak for at least one week, and up to three weeks. You can let the container sit out at room temperature, but make sure to give it a shake every few days to mix things up. 

Lemon Vinegar Cleaning Spray

Equipment:

• Large glass jar (or other container for steeping)
• Spray bottle
• Fine mesh strainer/cheesecloth

Ingredients:

• Lemon rinds or citrus rinds (enough to fill the jar)
• Distilled white vinegar 
• Optional: fresh aromatic herbs (such as lavender, rosemary, or thyme)

Instructions:

• Collect your lemon or citrus rinds and stow them inside a large glass container. If you cannot collect all the rinds at one time, store the jar in the fridge as you continue to collect them. Should you need longer than a week, freeze the jar. 
• Once your jar is nearly full of citrus rinds, pour distilled white vinegar into the jar to completely submerge the rinds. Feel free to add a handful of fresh herbs at this time before you screw on the lid. 
• Allow the citrus rinds to soak in the jar of vinegar at room temperature for at least one week, and up to three weeks. Give the jar a shake every few days.
• Strain the citrus rinds after the soaking period, removing as many rind chunks as possible to avoid clogging the spray bottle. 
• Pour the strained liquid into a spray bottle and use when ready. It’s great for laminate kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances, showers, sinks, inside the fridge, or other durable surfaces.

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From descaling coffee makers to getting rid of grime and water stains, vinegar is an excellent cleaning agent. Distilled white vinegar is a versatile cleaner in the non-toxic cleaning world, but multi-purpose does not mean it is all-purpose. When it comes to cleaning with vinegar, there are household items that can easily damage if you clean them with vinegar. Additionally, if you mix vinegar with other cleaning agents, especially bleach, the acid in vinegar can create dangerous chemical reactions.

People like vinegar because it is both inexpensive and non-toxic. Even though it is readily available, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution for every cleaning obstacle you face. You don’t want to ruin wood finish or damage your stone countertop. For these reasons, we’ve highlighted seven things that you should never clean with vinegar.

Grout

If you have unsealed or damaged grout, do not clean it with vinegar. Over time, vinegar can wear grout away and cause it to deteriorate. If you have sealed grout, however, you can clean it with vinegar, but you should still use non-acidic cleaners to avoid ruining your grout. 

Cast Iron

Don’t let any cast iron lovers ever see you soak your cast iron pans in vinegar. There is a specific set of rules to follow when it comes to seasoning and cleaning your cast iron pans. The seasoning process slowly builds up a coat of oil that helps keep cast iron non-stick. The reason that you should not use vinegar to clean your cast iron is because it cuts through that film, in addition to reacting with cast iron and causing it to rust.

Hardwood Floors

Tile floors can take a beating, but hardwood floors are a little more sensitive. People have mixed feelings about completely avoiding vinegar on hardwood floors or using a diluted vinegar solution to clean them. Most flooring manufacturers recommend that you do not clean floors with vinegar because the strong acid can eat away at the finish, causing it to dull over time. 

Rubber Gaskets And Hoses

If you repeatedly expose rubber gaskets and hoses to vinegar, they will disintegrate over time. Make sure that you check the manufacturer’s instructions before you clean household appliances with vinegar. Dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators may contain rubber that can easily disintegrate when exposed to vinegar. 

Pet Messes

If you have a pet, especially a new one, they will most likely pee or poop in the house. Vinegar is not an ideal cleaning agent for surfaces like mattresses, upholstered furniture, or carpeting. The Humane Society of the United States does not recommend the use of vinegar on pet messes. The reason for this is because the strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area. Ideally, use an enzyme-based cleaning agent for pet messes. 

Your Phone Or Tablet

Maybe you are following a recipe and dirty the screen of your phone or tablet. Whatever you do, don’t clean the screen with vinegar. Additionally, if you are making dressing or something that calls for vinegar, avoid splashing vinegar on the screen. The screen has a fingerprint-resistant coating that vinegar can damage. Should you need to clean your screen, use a microfiber cloth dampened with water. 

Natural Stone Surfaces

Marble, granite, and other natural stone surfaces, such as slate, should not be cleaned with vinegar. That means don’t use vinegar on home furnishes like countertops, floors, or shower walls, or household goods like tabletops or serving pieces. The acid in vinegar can etch stone or cause pitting that you cannot undo.

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Do you love to clean? No, nobody loves to clean, but cleaning is a necessary part of life. Cleaning helps get rid of germs, keeping you and anyone else who lives in your house safe. That said, many people clean with chemical cleaning products that contain toxic ingredients, many of which can damage endocrine function. 

Instead of polluting the home with chemicals while you clean, use a homemade, vinegar-based cleaner that is 100% safe. Vinegar is frequently recommended as a household cleaner and can be very effective on certain surfaces. We are, of course, referring to distilled white vinegar, not apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar. It is important to note that vinegar is a cleaner and not a disinfectant like bleach or commercial cleaners. Because of that, it is not as effective at killing certain germs when compared to disinfectant sprays. 

Why Should You Clean With Vinegar?

Vinegar is about 5% acetic acid, which works to break down the structure of some oils, dirt, films, bacteria, and stains. That same acetic acid can also harm certain surfaces, which is why vinegar cleaners aren’t meant to clean every inch of your home. Do not use vinegar on natural stone, cast iron, aluminum, or waxed wood. The “set time,” or the time a cleaner has to set on a surface in order to work, varies with a vinegar cleaner. Experts suggest that the set time for vinegar can be up to 30 minutes, especially if you use it to clean stained pots and pans. 

How Does Vinegar Work?

The acidity, as mentioned previously, makes vinegar a great cleaning agent. It can help dissolve soap scum, brines left behind by hard water, and even the glue from stickers. If you want to clean your windows or mirrors, mix vinegar with water and wipe with newspaper (not a paper towel) to avoid streaks. You can also use vinegar to get rid of stubborn stains, for example, from sweaty armpits or grass. Most of these types of stains are slightly acidic, meaning they will dissolve away in the presence of another acid, like vinegar. A paste made with vinegar and baking soda can help dissolve red wine stains. You can even use vinegar to get dog or cat urine out of carpets or clothes!

When To Not Use Vinegar

Because vinegar is highly concentrated, it can stain delicate fabrics and harm other surfaces. It will scratch natural stone like marble or granite. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vinegar is not approved to disinfect surfaces. Unfortunately, there is no supporting evidence that shows that vinegar can get rid of harmful pathogens, like salmonella, that lurk on surfaces. Additionally, using vinegar on hardwood floors can eat away at the finish and make it look dull over time. 

Orange Basil Vinegar Cleaner

Not only does this recipe help clean certain surfaces, but it also leaves your home smelling floral and zesty. Instead of tossing orange peels into the trash, use the peels to provide that citrus scent to your vinegar cleaner. The peels from four oranges and four to five sprigs of basil will do the job!

Ingredients:

• 1 (16-ounce) wide-mouthed mason jar
• Peels from 4 oranges
• 4-5 sprigs of basil
• Distilled white vinegar

Instructions:

• Add the orange peels and sprigs of basil to the wide-mouthed mason jar and fill it to the top with vinegar. Tighten the lid and let it set for a minimum of 10 days. 
• After this infusion time, prepare a spray bottle and fill it halfway with the vinegar mixture (only the liquid, not the peels or sprigs). Add water to the spray bottle to fill it up. Shake well and use when ready. 
• Once you finish this solution, you can use the rest of the vinegar to create more. You shouldn’t keep your vinegar solution longer than one month, as you don’t want it to spoil.

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Do you ever open your drawers or closet and have to step away because of an unpleasant aroma? Your first instinct is to grab the air freshener and liberally spray it all over the culprit area. Not only do air fresheners temporarily mask the scent, but they also pollute your space with harmful chemicals. That is why it’s much safer and more effective to use the all-natural air freshener jars in this article. 

The Problem With Commercial Air Fresheners

The problem with many commercial air deodorizers or air fresheners is the long list of toxins. Chemicals in these products, specifically the phthalates, and formaldehyde, can cause rashes, dizziness, headaches, and throat irritation. These chemical compounds are also known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to several studies, exposure to VOCs can cause adverse health effects, including loss of coordination, liver damage, and damage to the central nervous system. Researchers identified some VOCs as suspected or proven carcinogens. Long-term exposure to VOCs can also increase the risk of asthma and certain types of cancer.

Formaldehyde, for example, is a common ingredient in many household air fresheners and cleaners. You can also find it in home furnishings, household paints, and certain textiles. That makes formaldehyde very difficult to avoid, but limiting your exposure is an important first step. Unfortunately, phthalates are also problematic VOCs that are in a lot of air freshening products. Phthalates help distribute fragrances, but they also can disrupt the body’s hormone levels, which can affect your overall health and well-being.

The said reality is that products that have “all-natural” on the label can still contain VOCs. Homemade air freshening products, on the other hand, give you full control over what goes into them. We detail the ingredients for the air freshener jars below. 

Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is a staple in the non-toxic cleaning world. It is mildly abrasive, eco-friendly, affordable, and great for getting rid of built-up grime. Baking soda is known for its ability to absorb and neutralize unpleasant odors. The “why” behind baking soda’s ability to do this has to do with chemistry. Most smells are acidic in nature, and baking soda works to neutralize pH levels. To put it simply, baking soda’s basic pH is perfect for neutralizing acids that cause foul odors.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil’s aroma is very relaxing and studies show that it can promote better sleep. Various studies also confirmed that lavender has a soothing effect that can reduce stress levels. Another benefit of lavender is that it has properties that may be able to repel certain insects, particularly moths, making it great for closets, dresser drawers, and line closets. You can use both dried lavender and lavender essential oil to maximize the effects of lavender, and make the scent last longer. 

Eucalyptus

Similar to baking soda, eucalyptus has an ability to neutralize foul odors in the home. A simple sprig of eucalyptus is enough to create a pleasant aroma in a room. Eucalyptus essential oil is even more powerful, as it is distilled from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree. It exhibits anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, which may help combat certain chemicals in the air. Finally, eucalyptus essential oil acts as a natural decongestant when you inhale it, making it great for your home. Who doesn’t want to breathe better when they walk into a room?!

DIY Air Freshener Jars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups baking soda 
• 1/2 cup dried lavender buds
• Sprigs of eucalyptus (optional)
• 20 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Instructions:

• Pour the baking soda into a large bowl and add the dried lavender and optional eucalyptus leaves. Mix well to combine.
• Add in the essential oils and continue to mix before transferring the mixture into small, wide-mouth mason jars. 
• Use your mason jar lid insert as a guide to trace and cut a circular piece of brown paper bag. Any type of paper will work for this step, for example, wrapping paper or card stock. 
• Using a needle, poke holes into the circular pieces of paper, making sure that you do it over a carpet or towel to protect your counter or desk. 
• Place the circular pieces of paper on the tops of your mason jars and screw on the lids to secure the paper. The tiny holes allow the wonderful aromas to freshen up your space.

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The New Year is synonymous with weight loss, dieting, and new career goals. People often put so much emphasis on themselves that they don’t pay attention to their homes. Unlike the human body, the home is not something that can clean itself. You are responsible for limiting the build-up of grime and keeping it a space for wellness by maintaining awareness. 

There are many ways to establish a healthy home, but with the New Year approaching, one of the best ways to clean the slate is through a home detox. Over time, the home can easily accumulate dust, allergen, mold, and germs. Not only can these things cause allergic reactions, but they can also weigh down the energy in your home. If you are into the concept of Feng Shui, then you understand how simple detox tips can spruce up your indoor space. Below, we detail simple ways that you can detox your home for a fresh start in the New Year. 

Shoes Stay At The Door

When you walk in the front door of your home, remove your shoes, plain and simple. When you wear your shoes inside the house, you track pesticides, bacteria, and more via the soles of your shoes. Removing your shoes prior to entering your home also supports the idea that your home is a sacred space, separate from the outside world. Wear socks, go barefoot, or have slippers for chilly days. 

Use Green Plants As Natural Detox Agents

Certain houseplants have the ability to remove pollutants from the air, ultimately improving indoor air quality. Some studies found that houseplants can remove substances like benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air. Breathing easier is much easier when the air in your home is cleaner. Click here for the best houseplants to clean your air. 

Open Your Windows When You Cook

Cooking over a gas flame can generate large amounts of nitrogen dioxide and other tiny particles that can irritate the nose and lungs. In addition to using the exhaust hood or range, open your windows to ventilate your space. This process helps remove particular gasses from your home, reducing the risk of future headaches or fatigue from inhaling those pollutants. 

Bye Bye Dryer Sheets

Not all dryer sheets are bad, but they aren’t necessarily eco-friendly. Instead of contributing to more waste, do your part to help the environment and opt for wool dryer balls. These dryer balls are chemical-free and help soften your laundry during the drying process. Wool dryer balls tend to last up to 1,000 loads, which is 1,000 less dryer sheets in landfills. They also reduce drying time, which can lower your energy usage. 

Use Simple DIY Cleaning Products

There are many non-toxic cleaning products that you can purchase in store, but a lot of them still contain synthetic fragrances, colors, and other preservatives. If you are trying to detox your home, you don’t want to continue polluting it. You can easily make your own cleaning products that are 100% non-toxic. We have a large catalog of these recipes on our website, but you can click here to view some great ones to have on hand. 

From Floor To Ceilings

When you vacuum, it’s best to use one that has a HEPA filter, as that not only helps decrease allergens in the home, but also creates a healthier, more breathable space. The HEPA filter in your vacuum traps bacteria, dust, pathogens, and particles. Additionally, it also reduces the levels of many chemicals in your home. Don’t just vacuum your carpets or rugs, though. Vacuum under your furniture, behind bookshelves, on the side of your washer, and the corners of your house. 

Ditch Synthetic Air Fresheners

We cannot stress the importance of this point! A lot of people love the scents of synthetic air freshener sprays or plug-ins, but these products are filled with irritants and chemicals. You can still create a pleasant smelling home without these chemicals. There are essential oil diffusers, bouquets of fresh flowers, potpourri, and more. You can also make all-natural air freshener sprays by clicking here. 

Even the simplest of home detox efforts can improve the entire energy of your home. Do whatever you feel is best and simplest on this list to begin your home detox. Relish in the results you feel when the new year arrives!

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Over the years, we’ve shared a handful of DIY, non-toxic cleaning products. There are many people who want to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals they spray in their homes. That’s why we continue to post recipes for all-natural cleaning products, just like the homemade grease cleaner in this article. 

Once you discover a few ingredients that can clean various areas of your house, you never want to let them go. The reason for that is because you only need a few items to clean areas of your house. When it comes to grease, though, you need the right ingredients to cut through the grime. That’s where Castile soap comes into play! You can use this oil-based, biodegradable soap in DIY beauty and cleaning products!  For the entire recipe, you’ll need:

• 1.75 cups distilled water
• 2 tablespoons Castile soap
• 20 drops orange essential oil
• Spray bottle

Making The Grease Cleaner

The great thing about this DIY recipe is that you don’t need a double boiler, stand mixer, or any fancy kitchen appliance. A funnel and spray bottle will do the trick! You simply pour the distilled water into the bottle, followed by the Castile soap and essential oil. Both the soap and the essential oil work to clean, disinfect, and degrease the surface you decide to clean. The reason that this recipe calls for distilled water is because it helps to lengthen the shelf life of homemade cleaners. 

Castile Soap For Cleaning

Because Castile soap is oil-based, it is an excellent ingredient for dissolving grease or stubborn dirt. Chemically, like dissolves like, meaning that the best way to degrease your kitchen is by using an oil-based cleaner like Castile soap. If you see light grime, a simple solution of Castile soap and water can do the trick with a wipe down. For stubborn grease, you may need to use a toothbrush and some good old fashioned elbow grease. 

Orange Essential Oil

Not only does orange essential oil leave your kitchen smelling floral and citrusy, but it also works to remove sticky residue. A lot of DIY cleaning enthusiasts prefer orange essential oil for this reason. Orange essential oil also exhibits antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, which makes it an effective cleaner. It helps to get rid of dirt, dust, and even disease causing bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Like Castile soap, orange essential oil is both an oil and chemical-free. Like dissolves like, people! That is the point of this degreaser, which you can learn how to make below. 

DIY Orange-Scented Grease Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1.75 cups distilled water
• 2 tablespoons Castile soap
• 20 drops orange essential oil

Instructions:

• Place a funnel in the top of a spray bottle and pour in the distilled water. Next, add the Castile soap.
• Pour in the orange essential oil and then screw on the spray top. Shake well to combine and it is ready to use. 

How To Use:

• Make sure to shake well before each use. There are no chemicals or binders in this recipe, so the ingredients may separate while it sits. 
• Spray the surface you want to clean liberally and then wipe away with sponge or cloth. You won’t believe how well this works!

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Next time you walk down the cleaning product aisle at a hardware or grocery store, carefully inspect the ingredient lists on the various products. Whether you look at a disinfectant, floor cleaner, or bathroom spray, you’ll find that many of the labels contain chemicals that are quite harmful to the human body.

Cleaning product companies tell you that their products are necessary for keeping the home free of bacteria and germs. Sprays, wipes, powders, liquids, and more promise to improve your home and health by removing grime and dirt. Many of these products, including Pine-Sol, exhibit fresh or clean scents that smell similar to lemon or pine. What these companies don’t tell you is that their products can contain toxic chemicals. Well, they may explain this, but in the fine print on the label, which people seldom read thoroughly.

How Do Cleaning Products Affect Your Health?

Popular cleaning product manufacturers include chemicals in their products that may negatively impact your health. For example, it’s possible for these products to cause endocrine disruption, pregnancy complications, allergies, birth defects, and cancer. Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) published a report that commissioned an independent laboratory to test 20 popular cleaning products. The results indicated that the toxic chemicals they detected were not disclosed on product labels.

The reality is that manufactures do not always have to disclose the ingredients in their fragrance blends in cleaning products. These signature scents are often copyrighted, meaning that disclosing them would allow other people or companies to produce the same sense. The same applies for perfumes and other products where “fragrance blend” is on the label. Many known allergens are often included in these fragrance blends, but also in products marketed as “fragrance-free.” This is to say that harmful chemicals may hide in your cleaning products.

Does DIY Pine Oil Cleaner Work?

Many people love Pine-Sol for its ability to clean the home. Unfortunately, it contains known endocrine disruptors and other toxic chemicals that increase the risk of birth defects and cancer. Switching to the natural alternative in this article is not only more beneficial for your health, but also for the surfaces you clean. The pine cleaner in this article is effective on tile floors and wood furniture. The biggest plus to this cleaner, besides the effectiveness, is that you can clean your home without plaguing it with cancer-causing chemicals. Continue reading to learn how to make the pine cleaner.

DIY Pine Cleaner Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon distilled water
• 1/4 cup unscented Castile soap
• 15-20 drops pine essential oil
• 5-10 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• In a large glass container, mix the water with the Castile soap. The water may turn cloudy, but this is completely normal.
• Add the essential oils into the container, screw on the lid, and swish it around to thoroughly combine the ingredients. It is ready to use.

How To Use:

• Apply the solution with a sponge or cleaning rag to the area you want to clean.
• Rinse the area and dry with a cloth or towel. The solution stores best in a glass container.

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Whether you look under the kitchen sink or in the hall closet in the average home, you will most likely see an assortment of cleaning products. People have their preferences for brands and scents, but there are sprays or scrubs for different needs. One product cleans the countertops, while another one makes wood furniture shiny. And then you have products that clean showers, toilets, the floors, and so on. 

Building this collection of cleaners can be expensive, not to mention damaging to your health. According to a 2018 study from the University of Bergen in Norway, people exposed to cleaning products for 20 years have the same lung function as people who smoke 20 cigarettes per day. They also experience a 40% greater risk of developing asthma. There’s a reason why you cough or find it difficult to breathe when you use oven cleaner. In fact, many of these products have warnings that you should wear protective gloves or masks while using them!

Making the switch to natural products can seem challenging or overwhelming, but it’s an easy transition to make. You just need to master a few simple cleaning hacks with ingredients you may already have in your home. There are many harmless ingredients that prove to be excellent non-toxic cleaners. Continue reading to learn more about seven natural cleaning hacks. 

Load Up On Vinegar

Whether you need to clean tubs, windows, tile, or other surfaces, distilled white vinegar is right for the job. Although it isn’t a proper disinfectant, it does work great as a natural cleaner. It works to clean and mildly sanitize many surfaces, especially bathtubs, shower doors, and metal faucets. The downside to vinegar is the smell, but you can mix it with essential oils to counteract the intensity. Click here to learn more about scented vinegar cleaners. 

Lemon Essential Oil For A Clean Microwave

Need to clean your microwave and make it smell great at the same time? Combine 15 drops of lemon essential oil and one and a half cups of water in a heat-safe bowl. Microwave for five to 10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense inside the microwave. Once complete, remove the bowl safely and wipe the grime away with a damp sponge. 

Degrease Your Stove With Baking Soda

Stovetop cleaners and degreasers are some of the harshest cleaning products to inhale. They emit very unpleasant odors and it can be difficult to breathe when you use them. Instead, pour baking soda on your stove, sprinkle with a little water, allow it to sit for one hour, and then wipe away. Your stove will look shiny and clean as ever!

Baking Soda Removes Carpet Smells

Because it’s such a great natural cleaner, let’s stick with baking soda for a moment. If you want to get rid of carpet odors, baking soda is right for the job. Next time you vacuum your carpet, sprinkle some baking soda on it first. Vacuum the carpet and you’ll be left with an odor-free carpet. This is great if you have pets that love to get their stank on carpets. 

Remove Pet Hair With Rubber Gloves

This isn’t so much a natural cleaning hack as much as it is a useful pearl of wisdom. Pet hair can be very difficult to vacuum off carpets or furniture, especially if your pet sheds a lot. When your standard vacuum can’t get the job done, slide on the rubber gloves and rub any areas that need extra cleaning. You’ll find that pet hair clings to your rubber gloves, and it will only unstick when you wash it away. 

Dust With Coffee Filters

Need to dust your electronics, which you probably neglect to clean for most of the year? Grab a coffee filter or two to help clear dust from tv screens, computer monitors, and any other electronics you have in the home. The great thing about dusting with coffee filters is that they don’t leave behind any fibers. 

Buff Surfaces With Olive Oil

You may be familiar with the health benefits of olive oil, but do you know that it can help you clean the house? Olive oil can help buff stainless steel, pots and pans, and other appliances. Drizzle some olive oil on a soft cloth and apply it in a circular motion to buff out any dirty spots. You may need to give the surface a wipe with a clean rag to reduce oil residue on the surface you buff.

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Can you clean glass with natural ingredients? The short answer is “yes,” but there are certain ingredients that stand out from the rest. There are some that you should avoid altogether because they don’t do a great job, or they leave a lot of streaks on your windows, which you don’t want. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: you can make DIY cleaning products with ingredients you already have in the home. Most people have distilled white vinegar, cornstarch, and rubbing alcohol in the home, and these are the ingredients you need for this recipe. Yes, you read that right. Cornstarch is an integral component to this cleaner. In fact, it leaves them sparkling like you’ve never seen them sparkle before. 

Cornstarch For Glass Cleaning?

Yes, this is the secret weapon for keeping your glass, mirrors, and windows as clean and streak-free as possible. It’s a surprising ingredient to incorporate into a DIY cleaner, but it works great! Cornstarch granules are very fine, which makes it abrasive at an atomic level. That means that it cleans glass thoroughly without scratching it. In fact, you may find that it cleans glass better than any glass cleaning product you’ve ever purchased. Cornstarch is similar to baking soda in that can it can help get rid of unpleasant odors. So put some in your stinky shoes after you finish cleaning your windows. 

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is an excellent glass cleaner, and way better for your lungs than traditional glass cleaners that contain ammonia. When isopropyl alcohol was first invented in 1920, it was primarily used as an industrial propellant and cleaner. Only later did it make its way into the medical field. Alcohol contains a high concentration of non-polar particles. Most stains on your glass come from fingerprints or old food, both of which have oil as a common denominator. Almost all oil particles are non-polar, so they don’t have a negative charge. Like dissolves like, without getting into too much scientific lingo. That means that alcohol works to dissolve these oil particles to give your windows a clean shine. 

Vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar has become quite the trend, as it is both a natural and effective cleaning agent. When it comes to cleaning glass, vinegar’s acidic composition works to break down the oily film that you typically see on glass surfaces. Cleaning a window with a solution that contains vinegar may assist with removing streaks and keeping it shiny. According to several studies, vinegar can safely kill certain germs in a non-toxic way, unlike other harmful cleaning agents. 

DIY Window Cleaning Solution

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup isopropyl alcohol (70%)
• 2.25 cups filtered water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions:

• Use a funnel to pour all of the ingredients into a 32-ounce glass bottle. 
• Screw on the top and shake well until thoroughly combined. 
• Before you use, shake up the bottle and spray the glass surface with the solution.
• Wipe away with a dry cloth and enjoy clean, sparkling glass. 

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There are some people who wish they could shower in disinfectant. Often times, those people have children, which harbor germs like nobody’s business. There are others who simply loathe public restrooms, public transport, bars, restaurants, and other places that contain bacteria in all sorts of places. The point is that while showering in disinfectant may seem like an attractive plan to be germ-free, it isn’t the healthiest plan for your skin or overall health. 

Most disinfectant sprays that you purchase in the store contain harmful ingredients. If you are conscious of this and desire to clean the home in a non-toxic way, there are DIY options that also help you kill germs. Certain chemical disinfectants can disrupt endocrine function and lead to numerous respiratory illnesses. Not to mention the intimidating caution warnings about the product touching your face or eye area. There are chemical-free, healthy alternatives to classic disinfectant sprays, and the recipe in the article is an excellent place to start. 

Isopropyl Alcohol

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, 70% isopropyl alcohol is now woven into the fabric of our everyday language. Typically, isopropyl alcohol ranges from 60-90% alcohol content, with 10-40% being purified water. Isopropyl alcohol works fast to fight against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, with higher concentrations being desirable because of the bactericidal nature. 70% solutions, however, easily penetrate the cell walls of microorganisms more completely. Once isopropyl alcohol enters the cell, it coagulates the proteins and causes the microorganism to die. Higher alcohol percentages may kill bacteria, but require a longer time period for disinfection. That’s why many experts advocate for 70% isopropyl alcohol for proper disinfecting. 

White Vinegar

Is vinegar a disinfecting agent? Although many people use vinegar as an all-natural cleaner, it is more so a cleaner than a disinfectant. As a cleaner, white vinegar contains 5% acetic acid, which works to dissolve grime, dirt, and debris. As a disinfectant, it may only kill or reduce certain types of bacteria, including salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. Coli. Should you want to eliminate odors and remove dirt, however, white vinegar is an excellent agent for the job. It’s best to read up about which surfaces to clean and which to avoid with white vinegar, as it may do more harm than good. You don’t want to clean the wrong surface and have to replace it!

Essential Oils

Not only do essential oils make a DIY cleaning spray smell amazing, but they also exhibit antibacterial and disinfecting properties. Which essential oils do you choose, though? Well, that will depend on how you want your spray to smell. Great antibacterial essential oils include tea tree, lavender, cinnamon, rosemary, peppermint, and clove. Lavender and lemon essential oil make an excellent pair, but so do peppermint and orange essential oil. 

Homemade Antibacterial Spray

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups 70% isopropyl alcohol
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 15 drops peppermint essential oil
• 15 drops orange essential oil

Instructions:

• Pour all of the ingredients into a glass spray bottle, screw on the top, and shake to combine. It’s important to use glass because both vinegar and alcohol can eat away at plastic, and you don’t want any spills. 
• Spray when ready to use, but make sure that the ingredients are appropriate for the surfaces you clean. 

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