Would you like to make your own eco-friendly cleaning products with us? They’re surprisingly easy to make and very cheap!
If you don’t already make your own, why not give it a try? After starting PerfectlyOrganised, I quickly became interested in minimalism, reducing waste, and my impact on the planet. Reducing my consumption overall then led to me experimenting with making my own products.
I’m not unique, of course, because many people nowadays make their own cleaners. There are numerous reasons for this, but the main two that keep cropping up are: reducing the use of chemicals to help the environment, and saving money. Having tried many different recipes over the years, I thought I’d share some of my favourites with you.
TLDR: for a printable version of these recipes, skip to the bottom
Make Your Own And Save
None of these contain harsh chemicals so they are kinder to the environment than their chemical counterparts. They’re also gentle on your home. Plus, they are very cost-effective. For a full bottle of spray no.1, for example, you’ll only use half a cup of white vinegar. A five litre bottle of white vinegar will last for several months, if not longer. It also prevents a lot of plastic bottles from going into our oceans. I use this vinegar from Amazon as it’s double-strength, so you use even less. #winwin
Help The Environment, Be Eco-Friendly & Save Money
I’ve included links to some of the ingredients on Amazon, so that you can see what the product is and give you an idea of cost. You may be able to buy them at a lower cost elsewhere, including offline. Please see our disclaimer at the bottom of the page regarding affiliate links and how they affect you (and how to avoid using them if you wish).
Take extreme care using any products on granite, stone and porcelain, and always test a small patch first before using.
All-Purpose Spray No.1
- 1.5 cups water (preferably distilled, but cooled boiled water will do)
- 0.5 cup white vinegar
- 0.25 cup Castille soap
- 1 tbsp Borax/Borax substitute
- 10 drops Essential Oil (optional) – some personal favourites are Pine, Orange and Lemon scented oils
- Combine all of the ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. (You can re-use one from another cleaning product you bought if you wish, as long as it’s thoroughly cleaned out. However, if you’re using essential oils, you must store them in a dark, preferably glass, bottle to protect the oil.) Always shake the bottle before spraying onto the surface, then wipe with a damp cloth. You can also spray onto the cloth to use it, if you prefer. Any vinegar smell will disappear quickly. Should keep for up to 3 months. Remember to label your bottle, especially if you’re making more than one product.
All-Purpose Spray No.2
- 60ml white vinegar
- 150ml water
- 40ml surgical spirit (you should be able to find this at your local chemist, or household stores like B&M, Home Bargains)
- 10 drops essential oil (try lemon and/or eucalyptus)
- Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Shake before each use. As before, spot test before using on a large surface area, and store anything containing essential oils in a dark glass bottle.
Stainless Steel & Kitchen Appliance Cleaner/Deodoriser
- 4 tablespoons baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) – it’s much cheaper buying this in bulk than paying supermarket prices for a tiny tub
- 1 pint or just over 0.5L warm water
- Mix together and store in an airtight container (or just make half this quantity as and when you need it). Pour straight into plug holes to remove smells, leaving it for at least half an hour before using the sink. Or make a slightly thicker paste to use on stainless steel and appliances. Simply apply it with a damp cloth and rub gently. Always rinse with a clean damp cloth and buff if necessary.
Alternative Stainless Steel Cleaner
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- Dip one side of a soft cloth into the olive oil, gently rub the surface to get rid of marks and smudges. Using the other side of the cloth, dip it into the white vinegar and wipe over the same surface, then allow it to dry.
Glass Cleaner
- 0.5 cup white vinegar
- 0.5 cup water
- You can add a few drops of lemon or pine essential oil, if you wish
- Mix water and vinegar in a spray bottle, shake before us. Spray, wipe off, then buff with a dry cloth (or scrunched-up newspaper, the old-fashioned method that works a treat!).
Wood Polish
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 tbps olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar
- Add all ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Always shake before use, as the water and oil will separate. Spray onto your wooden surface/furniture (wipe it with a damp cloth first to remove dust), gently wipe over with a soft cloth and then buff. As with any other cleaner when using it for the first time on wood, do a test patch.
Let us know if you make any of these cleaning products and how you get on, most especially, if you’re happy with the results. If you’re interested in this subject, why not sign up for our newsletter?
To obtain your printable copy of these tips, click this link to our Google drive.
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