DIY Cleaning Products

Last month, Nature Links participants explored the prevalence of toxic chemicals in products we use in our homes and on our bodies. Our discoveries were surprising and concerning! The average American household may be home to 400 different chemicals, many of them connected to serious health problems like allergies, asthma, developmental and reproductive issues, and even cancer. What’s more, companies aren’t always required to disclose all the ingredients they use in their products, putting our personal well-being in the hands of companies out to make a profit. Scary stuff!

You can search for the household cleaning products you use in your own home to find out if they contain toxic chemicals using this trusty resource from the Environmental Working Group. As Nature Links participants searched for their own common household products using this resource, many found that the cleaning products they use frequently at home receive poor grades due to concerns around toxicity and environmental concerns. But thankfully there’s a pretty easy solution to this problem! Making your own household cleaning products like air fresheners, all-purpose cleaning sprays, toilet cleaner and window spray is quick, easy and quite inexpensive!

In a recent Nature Links project, participants were asked to choose a cleaning product to make at home. They researched recipes, gathered ingredients, mixed their products and photographed the results. Each participant presented on what they made, how they made it and their results. I’m proud of our Nature Links participants for taking on this challenge—one that benefits our own well-being and that of our planet. By mixing products in reusable bottles, utilizing cleaner ingredients like vinegar and citrus, and cutting down on transportation emissions these products would have incurred had they been shipped from factory to stores, Nature Linkers have made a far more environmentally-friendly choice. Imagine the impact if we all made our own products?

Check out a few recipes and photos of their work below…

Sonni’s Multi-use Citrus Spray

I made my own multi use spray. What I loved about this is how simple and versatile it is to make. Being able to customize this spray for your preference could be the best selling point.

Materials

• Citrus Peels (I used orange peels, but you can use lemon, lime, or grapefruit too)

• Distilled White Vinegar

• Water (optional)

• Airtight Glass Container (like a Mason jar with a lid)

• Spray Bottle

Instructions

1. Collect citrus peels and store them in an airtight glass container.

2. Once your container is full, cover the peels with vinegar.

3. Let it sit for at least 2 days and up to 2 months (the longer you let it sit, the stronger it will be).

4. Strain the peels.

5. Dilute with water (optional)

6. Put into a spray bottle and use.

Alison’s Bathroom Cleaner (ABC)

I made my own toilet bowl cleaner. I wanted to make this to eliminate the last of my cleaning products with chemicals. They were easy and fun to make.

Materials

• Silicone molds (optional: you can easily make a batch of this without the molds and scoop the amount out you need each time. The molds do make it easier and cuter though!)

• Lemon juice or citric acid

• White vinegar

• Hydrogen Peroxide

• Baking Soda

• Optional: essential oil

Instructions

1. Add 1 cup of baking soda to a mixing bowl

2. Add 1/4 cup citric acid

3. In a separate small bowl, mix 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar and 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide

4. Slowly, drop by drop, add the vinegar/hydrogen peroxide to the baking soda. You want to do this slowly so you don’t cause a strong reaction and a resulting mess. Mix together

5. Add a few drops of essential oil if desired.

6. Press the paste into silicone molds or form into balls, about 1 inch in diameter. If using the silicone molds, don’t fill all the way as these will expand.

7. Let dry for at least 6 hours or overnight.

8. Remove from molds and place in a glass jar to keep in your bathroom.

9. When needed, toss one into your toilet and let it do it’s magic!

Hannah’s All-Purpose Cleaner

I made my own all purpose cleaner  what I loved about this is it that I is I used all nurtural ingredients. It worked really well and I would definitely make it again.

Materials

• Spray bottle (reuse an old one or buy a new one)

• Distilled vinegar

• Kosher salt

• Lemon

• Baking Soda

• Castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s)

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Essential oil (I used vanilla)

Instructions

I didn’t use a specific recipe for my cleaner. Instead, I mixed what I thought would be good amounts for each item, including a few tablespoons of castile soap, a 1/2 cup vinegar, a squeeze of lemon and a few drops of essential oil. Mix well and shake in your spray bottle. Spray it on any surface to clean it, especially in your kitchen.

DIY Window Cleaner

I made window cleaner after hearing about a dog who died from eating a rag soaked in windex. I researched Windex and realized it has several toxic chemicals in it. I’d like to eliminate it from my home, but still wanted a way to clean glass easily.

Materials

• Spray bottle (reuse an old one or buy a new one)

• 1/4 cup distilled vinegar

• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

• 2 cups warm water

• 1 tbsp Cornstarch

Instructions

1. Mix all the ingredients together (it helps to use a bowl and then a funnel to get the liquid inside the spray bottle).

2. Each time you go to use it, shake for a few seconds.

3. Spray on any glass surface and wipe clean.