Sometimes, we overcomplicate cleaning. Of course, we want to do a good job, so we often want to nuke everything with industrial-grade chemicals. Yet, there are more natural and easier to make mixtures that do not pose a danger to you or your family.
The following recipes not only work, but their ingredients are common and cheap to purchase. That being said, let’s take a look at some excellent homemade cleaner recipes.
Homemade Cleaner Borax Scrub
Water is simultaneously our best friend and our worst enemy. No faucet lets out distilled water, and tap water often has many minerals and other substances dissolved inside it. This solution is ideal for removing deposit and rust stains from enamel sinks or porcelain bathtubs.
You can easily make it by mixing lemon juice and borax powder, half a cup each.
Be careful not to use it on stone surfaces, as lemon juice contains a type of acid called citric acid. Over time, it will corrode stone surfaces such as granite or marble.
Yet, you can use it without worry on ceramics, remembering to rinse with lukewarm water after scrubbing down the surface.
Brass Cleaning Solution
Brass implements can add a touch of class to an already beautiful home. However, homeowners should take care of the metal in order for it to retain its characteristic shine and beauty.
To make the brass cleaning solution, you only need some table salt and lemon juice or white vinegar. In fact, there is no need to mix the two ingredients at all.
Simply take a household sponge and soak it in vinegar or lemon juice. Then, sprinkle the salt crystals on its surface.
You can use this method to clean and shine various bathroom accessories, cabinet handles, and any other item made out of brass. After cleaning, rinse the handles and pat them down with a dry cloth or paper towel.
An Improvised Glass Cleaning Solution
“I can do anything, but I don’t do windows” has become a cliche in pop culture and media. It is popular for a reason, given that glass is hard to clean, and it does not forgive mistakes. One would hardly notice if you do a sub-par job cleaning another surface, but glass is transparent, and it will quickly show smears, grease stains, leftover lint, etc.
Yet, you do not need to rely solely on store-bought solutions. You can indeed make your own. For this recipe, you will need a quarter-cup of rubbing alcohol, a couple of cups of water, and a half-cup of white vinegar.
You can choose to include a few drops of fruit-flavored essential oils such as orange, lemon, or apple as an optional ingredient. This inclusion is to enhance the smell.
Blend the ingredients and simply put them into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on a micro-fiber cloth for optimal results.
It should be mentioned that cleaning glass surfaces on a warm day is not ideal, as the surface will dry faster due to the heat, leaving visible streaks.
Homemade Deodorizer and Cleaner
Say what you will about dust, but at least it doesn’t smell. Food particles and grease not only are hard to remove but also develop a distinct pungent odor. This odor is not acceptable, as we all want our kitchens to smell fresh and clean.
For a home-made solution that can be used to clean your kitchen and inside your fridge, you will need a mixture of water and baking soda. For every cup of water, you must add four tablespoons of baking soda.
This water/soda ratio will result in a thick, paste-like mix that can be rubbed against oven grills, stove grates, and more. It can be used ideally for metal surfaces, taking care to scrub in the metal’s grain direction. Going against the grain can leave scratches.
Baking soda will make your sink shine, and it will clean almost any surface. In addition, it is a natural smell-killer, perfect for cleaning the inside of your refrigerator.
For bad smells that come from your sink drain, you can skip the water entirely. Simply pour powder baking soda down the drain, leaving it to sit for a while. After about 10 minutes, boil some water and empty the pot to rinse the drain.
Conclusion
Baking soda, vinegar, lemon, rubbing alcohol, and borax are very inexpensive and widely available ingredients.
Most DIY solutions take under a minute to prepare and are much less harmful than their toxic, store-bought counterparts.