Homemade Cleaners: Multipurpose, Walls, Herbal & More

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Here’s an assortment of recipes for homemade cleaners and disinfectants you can make, some are environmentally friendly using gentle ingredients (such as essential oils, herbs and baking soda) while others take advantage of the cleaning power of liquid bleach, TSP and household ammonia.

Thyme Disinfectant

Free Yourself From Buying Commercial Cleaners By Making Your Own...They're Just As Good!

2 1/2 cups water
1 handful thyme (fresh or dried)
Vinegar
Liquid castille soap (squirt)

• Boil water, add thyme. Simmer for several hours over medium-low heat, covered. Cool, then strain. Pour the water into a spray bottle, top with white vinegar and squirt of soap. Use as needed.

Herbal Disinfectant

This spray disinfects surfaces, kills mold, and discourages its return. Eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree are all known for their antimicrobial properties.

1 tsp. sodium lauryl sulfate
1 tsp. borax
2 Tbs. white vinegar
2 cups hot water
1/4 tsp. eucalyptus essential oil
1/4 tsp. lavender essential oil
3 drops tea tree essential oil

• Mix all ingredients together and stir until dry ingredients dissolve. Pour into spray bottle. To use, spray as needed on any surface except glass. Scrub and rinse with clean, damp cloth.

*Source: The Herb Companion, September 1999

Herbal All Purpose

1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 tsp liquid castille soap
25 drops essential oil of thyme, eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender, sandalwood, lemon, orange

• Add all ingredients to a large spray bottle (about 22 ounces) and shake before using. This formula disinfects and can be used on any washable surface in your home. Naturally antiviral and antifungal.

*Source: The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier

Mold & Mildew

Test area first to ensure paint, aluminum, vinyl or material isn’t damaged by cleaner.

3 cups water
1 cup bleach
2/3 cups TSP (Trisodium Phosphate)
1/3 cup Tide (or other laundry detergent–nothing with ammonia)

Directions:

• Make sure to keep skin covered when using this (rubber gloves for sure). If you’re reaching up to clean, wear goggles. Also keep nose and mouth covered with a mask, this is strong stuff.
• Scrub problem area with a bristle brush. May have to let solution soak on problem area for a minute or two.
• Once the cleaning job is done, make sure to rinse area very well with water.

Can be used to scrub exterior siding (test first), but careful of shrubbery.

You can also apply this with a hose sprayer attachment.

Tip: For a job that requires something safer around plants and shrubbery, look for a commercial product to use like Jomax.

For Walls

2 ounces borax
I tsp ammonia
2 quarts water

Simply mix and dissolve the ammonia and borax with the water in a cleaning bucket.

Tips:

• Scrub dirty walls from the bottom up. This helps prevent hard to remove water streaks that happen as the water runs down the dirty walls when you clean from the top down.
• For washing textured walls, try using old rags or old socks–using a sponge just produces little annoying bits and chunks of sponge as it pulls apart.
• Wrap a small hand towel or washcloth around your wrist and hold it in place with a rubber band. This stops water from running down your arm as you reach up to clean.

Multi-Purpose

Careful when using ammonia and make sure to wear rubber gloves.

Recipe #1:

1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1 cup household ammonia
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

• Mix ingredients and store in tightly-capped container.
• Can be used for cleaning counter tops, appliances, tile flooring, etc.

Recipe #2

1/2 cup household ammonia
1 gallon warm water

• Simply mix together in a cleaning bucket and use to clean.

Recipe #3

2 TBSP liquid bleach
1 quart cold water

• Mix bleach and water together in a cleaning bucket.
• Moisten cleaning cloth first, then wipe on surface.
• Let stand for 2 minutes then rinse well.