Are you as conflicted as I am about cleaning products? As a cancer and autoimmune survivor, I wonder and worry about all of the harmful chemicals. As a germ-a-phobe, there is a certain comfort in knowing that my dearly beloved chemicals are cleaning my home. Today, the worlds biggest skeptic will share with you a homemade, all-natural, non-toxic all-purpose cleaner. That works. And is cheaper than the store-bought alternative.
I’m taking baby steps to take back my environment. It started with focusing on my nutrition protocol, including going gluten free. The next step is to make some changes with our cleaning products, and the first victim is the traditional all-purpose household cleaner.
Let me tell you – I am a hardcore skeptic. There is a huge amount of comfort knowing that all of these chemicals being sprayed out of a bottle are going to kill the bacteria on the counter I’m preparing food or the table where my family is eating. What’s all of this sassafras nonsense about all-natural and organic cleaning? Does it really kill germs? How hard it is to make these new fangled cleaning products and do I need to buy weird ingredients? The answer – IT’S EASY!
Ingredients
Equal Part Vinegar and Distilled or Filtered Water
15-30 drops essential oils
Directions
- Measure the volume of your container.
- Minus one unit, and divide the liquid ingredients in half. So if the container is 16 ounces, then you will need seven ounces of water and seven ounces of vinegar.
- Or – you can just eyeball it – half water, half vinegar, and leave a little space at the top. Much easier, and no math needed!
- Using a funnel, combine the liquid ingredients into the container.
- After a couple minutes, add drops of your favorite essential oil until it achieves your desired scent and minimizes the vinegar smell.
- Shake slightly each time before using.
I actually went with 30 drops of citrus to mask the vinegar scent. You can use any clean and fresh-smelling Essential Oils, but I’m partial to Citrus.
If you want to get super fancy, add a chalkboard label. Or you can cut out a pretty picture and add it onto the container with Mod Podge.
Psst… want easy to follow instructions on how to make all of your favorite household cleaners… the all-natural way? It’s eezy peezy! Click below…
Like I said, give it a little shake and clean like normal. Our grandmothers used vinegar and it’s making a huge comeback.
Thinking about giving it a try? Remember to pin!
Are you Inspired?
Be sure to download your FREE Green Your Clean eBook for more all-natural home DIYs made simple and easy.
Love, hugs, and naturally clean.
Thanks for the post! I need to pin this because I have been looking to DIY my cleaner with something that works and isn’t full of chemicals!
Hi Nicole – Once you mask the vinegar smell, it actually isn’t too bad. I keep the regular cleaner as backup for anything questionable but this is great for the 95% of the cleaning and works really well. Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Holly
I love it and I love the container you made! I have cleaned with vinegar and water since I was young, my Mother always cleaned with it and I have just carried the tradition on! Thanks so much for sharing at the This Is How We Roll link party!
Hi Cynthia – I was actually surprised at how easy it was to make the transition to the all natural cleaner. I’m officially hooked! Hugs, Holly
Thanks for sharing this tip – seems so simple but if it works then so much better than the chemicals!
Hi Minh – It is super simple and easy to make! Thanks so much for stopping by and saying hello. Hope to see you again soon! Hugs, Holly
Great idea to use Citrus to mask the vinegar, Holly. I love how you decorated the bottle too — cute! 🙂
Hi Dee – Yeah, that vinegar is a bit too strong for me so masking it is the only way that I can use it. And thank you, I felt like it needed a pretty something. Hugs, Holly
Great idea! Thanks for linking up with Best of the Weekend!
Hi Amy – Thanks so much! Hugs, Holly
I love the labeling idea. I pinned, too. Happy SITS Saturday.
Hi Caryn – Thank you for your kind words and for pinning! Hugs, Holly
I’ve loved your blog so far and am looking forward to trying much of it! However, I just saw this on Pinterest earlier this AM and then found this recipe of yours. Any thoughts? I’m not a chemist but it has me thinking. Do you know if this is true and if your cleaner TRULY cleans? I know you say you are a skeptic- me too!
http://brendid.com/green-cleaning-ingredients-you-should-never-mix/
Hi Brooke – Thank you so much for stopping by to say hello and share! I really appreciate your kind words. I read the article you sent and yes, I agree with everything in it. You do have to be careful with mixing these kinds of items, but the ones in this cleaner are ok. Vinegar and water have long been used to successfully and naturally clean. I did quite a bit of research when making this and the only thing that is questionable is I wouldn’t clean up after raw meat with it. I would use a more traditional cleaner for that. Hope this helps. Hugs, Holly
Thanks for looking at that and sharing your thoughts! I’m not worried about the water and vinegar- that’s one of my favorite mixtures for cleaning. It is the baking soda mixed with the vinegar that I still don’t know about. So are you saying you do think that the vinegar + baking soda is okay?
Hi Brooke – Can you see the palm print on my forehead? So I’ve actually been using it without the baking soda – just the vinegar and water and oils, and thought I had changed it on the post but obviously not. Oy vey! Thank you for your question/s and pardon me while I wipe some egg off my face. Anyhoo… I have some really cool all-natural projects in the works so I hope to see you around again soon! Hugs, Holly
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you looking into this for me. I look forward to keeping up with you and your blog! 🙂
Brooke