Making your own green cleaning products is a smart and affordable way to keep your home clean. It is also a great way to reduce your environmental footprint while saving money. Many of the ingredients needed can be found around the house and they are much safer for you, your family, and the environment.

The first step in making green cleaning products is to assess what you already have at home. Common pantry items like baking soda, lemon juice, white vinegar and liquid castile soap make fantastic ingredients for homemade cleaners. You may also want to stock up on essential oils and powdered herbs that can give your solutions extra antibacterial properties.

Vinegar
One common ingredient used in many homemade cleaning recipes is white vinegar. White vinegar can be used as an all-purpose cleaner, deodorizer, laundry stain remover, window cleaner and even as a fabric softener. Its highly acidic nature makes it perfect for cutting through grease and grime while being gentle enough to not damage surfaces. To make an all purpose cleaner just combine one part vinegar with four parts warm water in a spray bottle, then add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to create a pleasant scent.

Baking soda
Another natural ingredient used in homemade green cleaning products is baking soda. Baking soda is a powerful deodorizer and can be used on many different surfaces such as sinks, stoves, and countertops. To make an all-purpose cleaner using baking soda, mix one part baking soda with two parts water in a spray bottle for an effective and non-toxic cleaner.

Lemon juice
Lemon juice is another great and versatile ingredient for cleaning naturally. Its highly acidic nature makes it perfect for removing hard water deposits from fixtures, cutting through soap scum and mildew stains in the shower, or even removing tea or coffee stains from cups. To make a natural lemon juice cleaner, just combine one part lemon juice with two parts water in a spray bottle.
Castile soap
For tough messes like grease or baked on food, try reaching for castile soap. Castile soap is made from plant-based oils such as olive and coconut oil and is gentle enough to be used on just about any surface without causing any harm, for more info visit thecutandpaste.com site. To make your own cleaner using castile soap mix ¼ cup of liquid castile soap with 2 tablespoons of washing soda in a gallon of warm water. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to give it a pleasant scent.

Basic household cleaners
Once you have all of the necessary supplies, it’s time to start mixing! To get started with basic household cleaners, try this simple recipe for all-purpose cleaner: mix one cup of white vinegar, four spoons of baking soda and two tablespoons of liquid castile soap with two quarts of hot water. This can be used to clean surfaces throughout the home, but it is not ideal for use on wood or unsealed stone.
Wood furniture cleaners
If you want a cleaner specifically designed for these materials, try mixing ¼ cup castile soap with 30-50 drops of tea tree oil, 1 quart warm water and 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Shake this up in a spray bottle and you have an all-natural cleaning solution suited for natural materials like marble, granite and hardwood floors.
Windows and glassware cleaners
Finally, don’t forget about your windows and glassware! To make streak-free glass, mix one cup of white vinegar with three cups of water and five drops of liquid castile soap. Shake it up well in a spray bottle or combine the ingredients in a small bowl and use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to your windows.

Making your own natural cleaning products is an easy and cost-effective way to reduce your environmental impact while maintaining a clean home. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make all-purpose cleaners, surface solutions and window washes that are safe for your family and the environment. Give it a try today!