10 Must-Have Ingredients For Homemade Cleaners
Looking to start making natural cleaning products at home? Each day, more and more homemakers turn to natural ingredients to make homemade cleaners. You’ll find the top 10 must-have natural ingredients you will need to get started in this post.
People everywhere – especially moms- want to know in detail what is in the cleaning products they use to clean their homes. My first attempt at making a homemade cleaner earlier this year was a total success. Since then, I have been researching more and more on how to make more natural cleaning products for my home.
For example, this homemade countertop cleaner is straightforward and will improve your daily routine. It smells good and disinfects, and you can feel confident spraying it liberally over kitchen counters.
List of Ingredients for Homemade Cleaners
Below is a list of all the ingredients one must have handy to make natural cleaning products at home on a whim.
- Baking Soda
- Borax
- Epsom Salt
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Castile Soap
- White Vinegar
- Essential Oils
- Lemons
- Witch Hazel
- Rubbing Alcohol
1. Baking Soda
Baking soda is probably the most popular ingredient used for homemade cleaners. Also known as sodium bicarbonate is a highly alkaline salt. It has been used since ancient times to clean, deodorize, and even as a tummy soother.
It works as a mild abrasive, making it great for gentle scrubbing. But once it is fully diluted in water, it loses its scrubbing ability making it great for softening hands, cleaning surfaces, and even fruits and vegetables.
2. Borax
Borax is a mineral found in nature. This naturally occurring compound is mostly used as a laundry booster, especially in hard water. It can also be used as a stain remover. When mixed with water, its molecules convert hydrogen peroxide, so it’s perfect for cleaning surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens. Borax is also effective for odor control.
3. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is a mineral compound. Also known as magnesium sulfate, it is pure, and it has dozens of uses at home.
It is generally used for soothing achy muscles and preparing soothing baths. However, it can also be used for tile cleaning, homemade dish cleaner, and even homemade fabric softener.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is widely known as a natural antiseptic used to disinfect small wounds. But its uses at home go beyond the medicine cabinet. Hydrogen peroxide disinfects, deodorizes, and sanitizes several surfaces in your home for a natural clean.
This inexpensive and easy to find ingredient cleans grout and sanitizes cutting boards in your kitchen in a cinch. Use it also to give your dishwasher detergent.
5. Castile Soap
Castile soap is a naturally derived soap made from vegetable oils. It was originally made from pure olive oil in the Spanish region of Castile. Today, you can find Castile soap made of almond, avocado, walnut, coconut, and hemp oils, to name a few.
Highly demanded due to its biodegradability, Castile soap is a must-have ingredient for homemade cleaners as it is a great degreaser. It can be used to make body wash, shampoo
6. White Vinegar
White distilled vinegar is a powerful all-purpose cleaner and probably the most used in homes and baking soda. Vinegar has many health benefits, but there are dozens of uses when used as an ingredient in homemade cleaners.
From deterring ants to cleaning water rings on wood, erase crayon marks from floors, remove candle wax, and descale your coffee maker. White vinegar is also great to clean and polish silver. When combined with baking soda, it creates a foaming chemical reaction that makes a good toilet bowl cleaner and so much more.
7. Essential Oils
Essential oils are natural oils obtained by distillation. Essential oils have the characteristic fragrance of the plant or
Essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy and topical use. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your homemade cleaner for a pleasant scent of your choice. Most popular essential oils include citrus, peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus, to mention a few.
Related: 20 Common Uses and Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil
8. Lemons and Lemon Juice
Lemons are high in citric acid and antibacterial properties, making them one of the best natural cleaners. The juice of a lemon is a natural bleach, especially when combined with direct sunlight.
They are also widely used as a degreaser, and a lemon half can be used to scrub the bottom of copper pots and pans.
9. Witch Hazel
Although witch-hazel is widely known as a natural ingredient used for topical applications in health and beauty, it also makes a great household cleaner.
Mix witch hazel with water and essential oils to make a natural air freshener. It can also be applied directly onto chrome and mirrors for an instant shine.
10. rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a staple in every household’s medicine cabinet. It is used to fight infections, disinfect skin, and also clean objects and surfaces.
Rub alcohol to erase permanent markers, clean mirrors, remove stickers, wipe away hairspray on bathroom counters, and more.
A Note of Caution When Using Natural Cleaning Products
It is important to exercise caution when mixing these ingredients. Always use new and clean bottles. When recycling an old spray bottle from a store-bought cleaner, remove the label and replace it with a new one.
Always follow the instructions for using each of these ingredients, and store them properly to keep them out of kids’ and pets’ reach.
