Baking Soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a naturally occurring substance. Baking soda is used in homemade recipes to fight against dirt, grease, and odors.
Caution:Baking soda can be added to many homemade mixtures; however, you should never combine baking soda and vinegar (they cancel each other out).
Vinegar
Vinegar is 5% acetic acid. This acid fights against bacteria and germs. Vinegar can’t be used on every surface (like marble and granite), but even with its limitations vinegar is an extremely versatile product to keep in your natural cleaning toolkit.
Caution:Vinegar should never be combined with castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, or baking soda.
Castile Soap
Castile soap is a concentrated vegetable-based soap made of ingredients olive oil, coconut oil,Potassium hydroxide lye flakes ,distilled water. This soap is gentle on the skin and effective in the fight against dirt, grease, and unwanted germs. Dr. Bronner’s is a very a popular brand of castile soap.
Caution: Castile soap should never be combined with vinegar.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are basically concentrated oils derived from plants generally extracted by distillation , often by using steam.
Essential oils not only provide a pretty, natural fragrance to homemade cleaners, but also important disinfecting properties. Few wildly used essential oils for cleaning, include: lemon, tea tree, peppermint, lavender, and orange.
Some trustworthy and affordable essential oil brands for cleaning include: Aura Cacia, NOW, and Plant Therapy. All of these brands can be found online.
Lemons(Also Limes and Oranges)
Fresh citrus, particularly lemons and lemon juice, are amazing natural cleaners. Lemons contain antibacterial properties which aid in fighting unwanted germs and bacteria in the home. Lemons also work to help brighten dull linens in my homemade whitening recipe. Plus, citrus provides an amazing fresh scent to homemade cleaners. Orange and lime peels can be added to vinegar for a fresh antibacterial cleaner.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide chemically represented as H2O2 is one of the lowest-cost, handiest household supplies.It can be used in number of ways for cleaning, hygiene, healing, style, and more. It acts as Disinfect, Bleach , Antiseptic and the list goes on .
Caution: Never combine hydrogen peroxide and vinegar which results in peracetic acid which can be irritating and corrosive.Hydrogen peroxide is sensitive to light, so it should be kept in a dark container/space.
Borax
Olive Oil
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing Alcohol also known as isopropyl alcohol, is considered an anti-septic is used in homemade cleaners to kill germs.It is perfect for killing germs, and even mildew or mold. You can also use alcohol to help shine chrome and glass.
Kosher or Sea Salt
Salt has been well-known for centuries for its cleaning and preserving properties. Salt can be used to soften hard water and clothes, and even used as a natural scent booster. And its abrasive properties can be used to scour dirty surfaces, particularly when paired with a lemon or lemon juice.
Combinations
1. All-purpose cleaner is great because it can tackle most cleaning jobs. All you need is soap and water.
2. You will need a glass and mirror cleaner to wipe down all of the reflective surfaces of your home where you don’t want soap streaks. For this will use one-part vinegar to one-part water.
3. Last but not least, you will need a disinfectant to clean areas where heavy bacteria growth happens, like bathrooms and kitchens. You can make your own using one part rubbing alcohol or surgical spirts and adding 10 drops of essential oils to the mix.
Extra Goodies to Have Handy
1. Baking soda is a safe and cheap way to deodorize. It is also pretty abrasive. Mix it with a little dish soap and you have a thick scrubbing paste you can use to cut through soap scum, grime and scuffs.
2. Dish soap is super versatile, so you will find yourself mixing it into a lot of cleaning concoctions.
3. Rubbing alcohol will take care of any sticky messes, so it is also great to have around. A small spray bottle is great way to store it for cleaning uses.
4. Hydrogen peroxide is your go-to for stains.