Spring means spring cleaning! And I can’t wait! As soon as the weather gets warm enough, the plastic on my windows is coming down, and all of the doors and windows will be flung open. Then, I get to start scrubbing to my heart’s content!
(I swear I’m not crazy. I just have a little cabin fever, and I’m getting sick of this stuffy house.)
The amount of commercial cleansers that it would take to get my house as squeaky clean as I want it to be this year would probably cost me a mint. Not to mention, the nasty chemicals in them would probably kill my lungs and skin!
So, the majority of my cleaning materials will be DIY homemade cleaners, which are cheaper, healthier, and more environmentally friendly.
Here are some of my favorite DIY household cleaners for spring cleaning and cleaning throughout the rest of the year…
Homemade Multi-purpose Cleaner
Of all of the DIY household cleaners, this simple ammonia multi-purpose cleaner is my absolute favorite. It’s especially great for cleaning greasy surfaces, like stove tops and kitchen cupboards.You can also vary the amount of ammonia used to vary the strength of the cleaner.
- 1 part ammonia (I use lemon scented.)
- Small squirt of dish soap
- 4-8 parts water
Homemade Window Cleaner
I hate streaky windows, and this DIY homemade window cleaner is perfect for a streak-free shine! I dare say that it’s actually a little better than the leading commercial window cleaners.
- 1 part ammonia
- 1 part rubbing alcohol
- 2 parts water
Homemade Natural Disinfectant Cleaner
I generally don’t like using vinegar for cleaning, because it stinks and I don’t think it does as good of a job as the homemade multi-purpose cleaner I mentioned above. However, when it comes to disinfecting my kitchen surfaces, I refer it over bleach. I do add several drops of tea tree oil when I have it on hand as well.
- 1 part vinegar
- 4 parts water
Homemade Mildew Cleaner
If mildew is a problem in your bathroom, you have a couple of options for homemade mildew cleaners. Straight vinegar, for instance, works well; just leave it set for several minutes and wipe away. I prefer this hydrogen peroxide solution, though. Much less stinky, and you can use it to prevent mildew in your shower. Make sure you mix the solution in an opaque container, though, since light can actually break down the hydrogen peroxide and make it much less effective.
- 1 part hydrogen peroxide
- 2 parts water
Homemade Soft Scrub Cleanser
I use this homemade cleaner for all sorts of tough jobs around the house, including the oven and grimy tubs. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and dish soap really helps cut the grime. I keep mine in an old shampoo bottle, which makes it easy to squirt it on surfaces. Then, scrub a little, let it set, and wipe or rinse away. If you use this to clean your oven, make sure you wipe it off with a dry cloth, then wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth.
- 1 part dish soap
- 4 parts baking soda
Homemade Furniture Polish
You can use homemade furniture polish on just about any finished wood surface. It removes the dust and leaves it nice and shiny. Keep in mind that a little really does go a long way, though! Just spray a little onto a dry cloth to wipe your finished wood surfaces.
- 1 part vegetable oil
- 1 part lemon juice
So, those are my favorite homemade cleaning recipes! Making homemade cleaning solutions isn’t really an exact science. I generally don’t measure anything when making these, and they still work great! Feel free to eyeball the mixtures when making them, and Happy Spring Cleaning!
What are your favorite homemade cleaning recipes?
