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DIY GREEN CLEANER
We have great news Blender Babes! We have found a magical (and economic) non-toxic green cleaner solution to make your homes sparkle!
This easy to make DIY GREEN cleaner will not only clean but it will deodorize and disinfect everything!
Well mostly everything 🙂
Say “HELLO!” to sparkling and actually clean mirrors, tubs, counter tops, toilets and faucets.
You will never buy another store bought chemical cleaner again!
This solution can be made with things you already purchase and it is truly AMAZING.
We could rave about this green cleaner all day, but then you’d be sitting here reading about it instead of making it. So go make some now!
And don’t be greedy, share this gem with everyone you know!
Then join our community for more great DIY solutions! 🙂 If you try this one at home, share your thoughts with us by commenting below!
RECIPE: DIY Green Cleaner: A Cleaning Solution for Your Home Bathroom & More
AUTHOR: Adapted from Rifles & Ruffles
YIELDS: 3/4 cups
INGREDIENTS:
1 Professional Spray Bottle
10 ounces water
8 ounces Distilled White Vinegar OR Apple Cider Vinegar
4 ounces Lemon Juice
2 ounces Liquid Soap (Dawn, Palmolive, Kirkland Signature)
2 teaspoon Baking Soda
OPTIONAL ADD IN
2-5 drops of high quality Essential Oil(s) – This will take away the smell of vinegar and some add more natural anti-bacterial qualities! I love using lavender and lemon, but here is where you can get creative!
INSTRUCTIONS:
To MIX:
- Add the Baking Soda and Vinegar FIRST and let it fizzle out to prevent foam.
- Add the rest of the ingredients
- Funnel in all the ingredients into your pro spray bottle.
TO USE:
- Clear and lightly clean all the surface areas, remove any dirt, hair, etc.
- Use the lightest spray setting to spray the solution all over your bathroom – sink, counters, mirror, faucets, tub and the inside and out of your toilet.
- Let it sit for a bit. (You can use this time to sweep the floor or make a delicious GREEN SMOOTHIE to get some extra energy!)
- Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe down all the surfaces from the cleaners to the dirtiest: for us that means starting with the mirror, faucets, sink, tub/shower and lastly the toilet. But you can choose your own order 🙂 Because of the liquid soap in the solution, be sure to rinse the tub/ shower very well so that it isn’t slippery when used next time.
- Stubborn stains? Do not worry! Spray the problem area well, let it sit for a bit and then using a sponge with a non-scratch scrubber, scrub in a circular motion. This will work on any surface including the stubborn dirt ring around the top of the tub and the dirt stuck in the bottom.
- Rinse very well and enjoy your sparkling bathroom!
- All done! Enjoy!! Now take a photo, rate it, and share your accomplishments! 🙂 Tag @BlenderBabes & #BlenderBabes
Tips & Tricks
- DO NOT USE use vinegar or lemon juice on marble or granite.
- If you don’t like the vinegar smell – add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, just don’t use a HOT one (like oregano). Since you’re using so little, it’s heavily diluted and shouldn’t break down the plastic pro bottle. We like clove, lavender, rosemary, cinnamon, geranium, tea tree, thyme and lemon are commonly regarded as essential cleaning oils and have amazing anti-bacterial properties. The great thing about vinegar is once it dries the smell disappears. It smells a lot better than any of the chemical filled store bought cleaners and it gives you better results!
- For really tough stains some people use WARM vinegar by heating the vinegar in the water bottle for 30 seconds then adding the dish soap. Leave on for up to one hour and enjoy the results!
THE DANGER OF MOST CLEANING SOLUTIONS
Cleaning ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose, some of the most common dangers are skin and respiratory irritation, watery eyes and chemical burns, and others are even associated with chronic illnesses such as cancer. The most acutely dangerous cleaning products are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and acidic toilet bowl cleaners, according to Philip Dickey of the Washington Toxics Coalition. Corrosive chemicals can cause severe burns on eyes, skin and, if ingested, on the throat and esophagus.
Fragrances added to many cleaners, mainly laundry detergents and fabric softeners, may cause acute effects like respiratory irritation, headache, sneezing, and watery eyes in sensitive individuals as well as those who suffer from allergies and asthma. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found that one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic, but because the chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets, companies are not required to list their ingredients but only label them as containing “fragrance.”
Other ingredients in cleaners may have low acute toxicity but contribute to long-term health effects, such as cancer or hormone disruption. Some all-purpose cleaners contain the sudsing agents diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). When these substances come into contact with nitrites which are often present as undisclosed preservatives or contaminants, they react to form nitrosamines – carcinogens that readily penetrate the skin. (Source: organicconsumers.org)
Thanks for sharing this bathroom cleaning article this one is very useful.
You’re so welcome! Thank you & I’m glad you enjoyed!
The vinegar is good to kill certain germs and increase cleaning power of soap.
Baking soda is good for scrubbing, when combined with Dawn.
But mixing baking soda and vinegar, destroys the acetic acid in vinegar and
releases carbon dioxide, as it produces sodium acetate that is simply an
inert salt — you could as well add table salt.
Leave out the baking soda. It is a waste of money, just so you can see bubbles.
Thanks for all cleaning tips and tricks! As a mother and housewife I love to learn more about the cleaning and improve my cleaning ways. I definitely prefer to do my own cleaning products, especially because of my kids. I don’t want them to smell all those chemicals and toxic products!
Agreed Paula! There’s sooooo much scary stuff in many household cleaners. People have really liked this homemade cleaner recipe. 🙂
What a great article for bath cleaning! I was absolutely amazed when I saw the results! If I have to be sincere I am not a fan of bath cleaning because of the bad odor of commercial products. That’s why I’m very happy I found your recipe and I will clean my bathroom more often! I promise! Thank you so much! Greets!
You’re welcome Kellie! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback with us! 🙂
I made this not too long ago. And WOWSA!! I LOVED IT!! IMO, this cleaner doesn’t even need essential oils. It gives a fresh, clean scent and since I can tolerate the smell of vinegar, this cleaner is alright with me. I’ve been green cleaning for a couple of years now and have come across some great homemade cleaners. But this one is not only the greatest, it’s by far THEE GREATEST! I used this to clean my mirror, sink, faucets, tub/shower tile, toilet(inside and out), and the floor area around the toilet. My bathroom was sparkling and shiny. I especially love the fact that it makes alot so it lasts for awhile. It cleans everything thats greasy and grimy, even stove tops. Truly a magical cleaner!
Thanks for sharing with our community Ginny!! 🙂 So glad you loved this homemade DIY Green Cleaner for your bathroom!
This was super easy to make! But I was just amazed at how well it cleaned! I have a well with very soft water and iron deposits and have not found an enviro-friendly cleaner that works, until this one! Spray on, wait a few mins ( smoothie time! ) and come back and wipe and rinse. Ta-Da! Sparkly clean bathroom! I am going to mix this and try it to clean my outdoor furniture and windows. I did mix in 10-15 drops of lavender and I couldn’t really smell it, I am going to try tea-tree next and more drops. Thanks Blender Babes for a great recipe!!
So glad to hear this worked for you! Let us know how it goes with the tea tree oil.
You’re welcome Angela! Keep us posted how the DIY Green Cleaner works on your outdoor furniture and windows! 🙂
Thanks soo much for this and All of ur posts. I just “woke up” to what is going on in the world. And I have two beautiful children and I don’t want ANY kind of chemicals in their food let alone my cleaning supplies. So I really appreciate ur website!!! God bless u and urs
Wonderful Martha, glad to hear it! There are some pesticides that CANNOT be washed off, they get inside the produce, so just be sure to try and buy the “Dirty Dozen” organic if possible. 🙂 HAPPY WASHING!
I use vinegar in a lot if home cleaning solutions, don’t really mind the smell. ..but definitely glad the smell doesn’t really hang around after cleaning!