In our last blog, The Best Homemade Cleaning Products That Disinfect, we discussed what works and what does not work to kill Covid-19. According to CDC guidelines, vinegar is not enough to kill the coronavirus. You will want to add alcohol (not vodka) to your natural cleaning products to disinfect. However, if you are only looking for good homemade cleaners, the vinegar cleaner below is an excellent option.
Some people need to smell that their homemade all-purpose cleaner is working. While it is important to stick with subtle smells, you can also freshen and clean your home at the same time with this Scented All-Purpose Cleaner that comes to us from Good Housekeeping:
Vinegar Cleaner:
- One-part white vinegar
- One-part water
- Lemon rind
- Rosemary sprigs
Simply combine in a spray bottle, shake it up, and then put it away to infuse for a week. Lemon helps to boost the cleaning power of this solution that is great for wall smudges, cleaning trash cans, removing hard water stains, and more. *Just remember that acidic cleaners such as this are bad for granite.
In place of the lemon and rosemary, you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (lemon, tea tree, peppermint, and lavender are excellent options).
Homemade Glass Cleaner:
- 2 cups of water
- 1/4 cup 70% (or higher) rubbing alcohol
- 4 cups vinegar (white or cider)
- 1 or 2 drops of essential oil such as orange (optional – if you want a smell)
- (Optional – 1 tablespoon cornstarch to reduce streaking)
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well, and use on mirrors, windows, and other glass surfaces. Spraying directly on a soft cloth or paper towel is the best way to use this.
While organic cleaning products are great for the environment, some may not get the job done that you want. Kitchen grease can leave you wanting something stronger, so turn to ½ cup sudsy ammonia added to a one-gallon container of water and wipe that grime away. Remember to rinse thoroughly and do not use other chemicals when working with ammonia.
A simple homemade floor cleaner mixes 2 gallons of hot water with ½ cup of borax. Use a sponge or mop to clean your floors – no rinsing necessary. You cannot beat that for a convenient DIY floor cleaner. Of course, always check with the manufacturer of your flooring for their recommendations.
DIY Bathroom Cleaners
An excellent homemade bathroom cleaner uses the following ingredients mixed in a spray bottle:
- 2 cups of warm water (used distilled water if you will keep this cleaner for long-term use)
- 2 tablespoons castile soap
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 30 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 20 drops of lemon or sweet orange essential oil
- ½ cup rubbing alcohol (optional for disinfecting)
You can use that solution as a homemade shower cleaner, for sinks, tubs, and toilets, and even the floor.
If you have tough mold or mildew, simply combine ½ cup vinegar and ½ cup borax into a paste. Scrub it onto the area and rinse it away. Let the solution sit on the spot for an hour to get rid of tough mildew stains.
Some natural cleaning products help deodorize, such as mixing 4 tablespoons baking soda in a quart of warm water. You can also make a paste using less water to clean and shine stainless steel.
If you want a product with scrubbing power that can remove rust stains from tubs and sinks, dip ½ a lemon into ½ a cup of borax, then scrub and rinse well. *Do not use this on granite or marble surfaces.
Another scrubbing option is a combination of equal parts baking soda, kosher salt, and borax. Mix, sprinkle, wipe, and rinse.
To clean your toilet, pour 1 cup vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda or borax into the toilet bowl and leave it for 15 minutes or longer. Then scrub and flush for a sparkling bowl.
Final Thoughts for Natural Cleaning Products
You can make disposable disinfecting wipes by cutting a roll of paper towels in half, so they are sized similar to toilet paper rolls. Place one of the rolls flat into an airtight container and pour 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of bleach over it. Remove the cardboard center of the roll, and then you can pull the fresh wipes from the center.
Finally, a DIY hand sanitizer that you can make at home mixes three parts of rubbing alcohol (90% or higher) with one part aloe vera gel. If you want, you can add a few drops of essential oil for your favorite scent. Place in a clean, empty container, and you are ready for use.
Hopefully, these natural cleaning products will help you stay safe and keep your home clean and germ-free.
HK Interiors can help you transform your home or office into the vision you desire. Call 954-401-8542 today for more information.