Last Spring, I bought an all-natural, all-purpose cleaner from my doctor's office. The ingredients were listed on a hand-written label, but it didn't give the specific measurements. After inquiring with the Dr.'s office, they sent me two options for an all-purpose cleaner as well as a natural window cleaner. So today, I'd like to share with you these recipes as well as the products I use to clean my home.
Why do I make my own natural cleaning spray? Great question. The quick answer is this: I am making changes to eliminate my exposure to as many toxins as I can. Of course, there is a lot I cannot control (outdoor air pollution), but I want to do my best to take care of everything I can control. According to the Environmental Working Group, the average household contains a minimum of 62 known toxic chemicals. Yikes! You guys, more than almost anything, I want my home to be healthy and I want my family to be healthy. For me, it starts with making conscious choices and tweaks to the way I am already living life.
For more information on toxic chemicals, check out these resources:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Children's Environmental Health Program
As an enormous bonus, you can save a ton of money by making your own cleaners. And I'm all about saving those benjamins!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Glass Spray Bottle
You can purchase these bottles in various colors and sizes but I would recommend a 16oz bottle.
Microfiber Cloths
These came in a pack of ten from Bed Bath & Beyond but you can get them just about anywhere. They can be used dry for dusting, dampened with water, or used with cleaners.
Stainless Steel Funnel
If you don't have a funnel, I'd recommend you purchase one! My previous funnel was plastic and got donated during my last seasonal purge. My goal was to purchase a stainless steel style but I just haven't done it yet.
All-Natural All-Purpose Cleaner | Recipe #1
1 1/2 Cups Distilled Water
1 tsp Liquid Castile Soap
- Dr. Bronner's unscented is my go-to
10 Drops of essential oil
- Lemon is my favorite for cleaning (I use doTERRA essential oils)
Intructions
Mix all ingredients in a glass spray bottle. Shake and use with a microfiber cloth.
This is the main recipe that I use. It is super simple and totally gets the job done. If you want to "disinfect" (killing the germs) verses just "cleaning" (removing germs and dirt) then I would recommend the second recipe below which includes white vinegar.
Also, be aware that this recipe will fill a 12oz bottle up about 3/4 of the way.
All-Natural All-Purpose Cleaner | Recipe #2
1 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Distilled Water
1 tsp Dish Soap
30 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil
20 Drops of Melaleuca (aka Tea Tree Oil)
All-Natural Window Cleaner
1 1/2 Cups Distilled Water
1/4 Cup Everclear
1/4 Cup White Vinegar
20 Drops of Peppermint or Spearmint Essential Oil
Also from my doctor's office, I purchased the book The Naturally Clean Home. It has 150 different herbal formulas for green cleaning so I am excited to dive more into those recipes. I'd love to share them on the blog but due to copyright issues, I do not have permission to divulge that information. But I'll tell you that all of the recipes are SUPER-SIMPLE. In fact, if you have baking soda, white vinegar, castile soap, and essential oils, you'll be good to go on most recipes.
Hopefully, one of these recipes will be helpful for you and I'd love to learn some of the ways you are going chemical free! So, leave your tips in the comment section below or send me an email. If you make your own all-purpose cleaner, I'd love to know what you use! So share in the comments!
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