Homemade Cleaning Products

Citrus Vinegar Cleaner Photo credit: Crema Joe on Unsplash

Homemade detergents: how to make and use. For most of my life I’ve had upper respiratory medical conditions, asthma, chronic bronchitis, allergies, chemical sensitivities, sinusitis, to name a few. I’ve never been able to wear perfumes, hair products (other than organic shampoos & conditioners), nor any other commercially available artificial products, or fabrics. Nor make use of scented laundry, dish, or cleaning products.

Instead, I’ve usually been left with no other choice but to make my own. So my entire adult life I’ve spent hour and endless hours online conducting research on natural alternatives to any and all the above mentioned commercial products. It’s taken a lot of trial and error to perfect all of my homemade cleaning, health, and beauty product recipes since I use only natural, organic ingredient compounds and as such, these can vary in potency, efficacy, results, etc.

Here I’m sharing some of my homemade cleaning recipes that are sustainable, zero waste, plastic free, and cost–saving. As always, due to their very nature, different people may react to each differently. So my advice, as usual, is to first test the finished recipe on a small patch of skin on the outside of you arm, and wait a good 12–24 hours to ensure no allergic reaction.

I share these freely and encourage people to use them because as I see it. If given a choice why would anyone use harsh chemicals around their home which are bad for your health as well as the environment. Below are graphics I created to help you in making your own cleaning products. You don’t have to make one of everything. I’m a big fan of the “multi-tasker” cleaning product as they create less waste, use up fewer resources, and cost less.

For example, the toilet spray would work equally well as a surface spray and bathroom spray. Only you know what works best for your lifestyle, needs, family, and budget. Cleaning products are so cheap to make once you have a few basic ingredients that can be combined in many different ways to achieve different results.

I prefer to use reusable glass spray bottles. But, rather than ditching all the plastic spray bottles you already have (they’ll end up in the ocean, rivers, beaches, and lakes). Why not just wait until the product in them is used up, then clean and refill with your own DIY. Continue reusing them until you can’t anymore, then replace them with reusable glass ones.