Welcome back to Nourishing Our Hive, where we’re all about living a natural and sustainable lifestyle. We’ve covered the benefits of natural living and the dangers of chemicals in conventional house cleaners. So next, we’re going to talk about how you can DIY natural cleaning product recipes that you can easily make at home with just a few simple ingredients.

Why Use Natural Cleaning Products?

Before we dive into the recipes, let’s first talk about why you might want to use natural cleaning products in the first place. Conventional cleaning products are often filled with harsh chemicals that can be harmful to both your health and the environment. These chemicals can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health issues, and they can also pollute the air and water around us. We dive into the effects of conventional household cleaners in this blog post.

By using natural cleaning products, you can avoid these harmful chemicals and create a safer, healthier home for you and your family. Plus, making your own cleaning products is often cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying commercial products.

Let’s dive into the recipes!

All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 20 drops of essential oil (optional) I love mixing Lavender, Lemon and adding 1-2 drops of Peppermint.
• OR soak orange or lemon peels in the vinegar for a few days before mixing with distilled water.

Instructions:

1. If you want to forego essential oils, soak lemon and/or orange peels in vinegar for a few days.
2. Mix the water and vinegar in an amber glass spray bottle.
3. Add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil (such as lavender, lemon, or peppermint) if desired.
4. Shake well before each use.
5. Use on surfaces such as countertops, floors, and bathrooms.

Window and Glass Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Mix the water and vinegar in an amber glass spray bottle.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and shake well.
3. Spray onto windows or glass surfaces and wipe clean with a cloth.

Bathroom Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 2 tablespoons water
• 10 drops essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap in a bowl.
2. Add water and mix until paste-like consistency forms.
3. Add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (such as tea tree or eucalyptus) if desired.
4. Use the paste to scrub sinks, showers, and toilets.

Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

• 1 bar grated castile soap
• 1 cup washing soda
• 1 cup borax
• 20 drops essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Grate the bar of castile soap and mix it with the washing soda and borax.
2. Add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil (such as lavender or peppermint) if desired.
3. Store in an airtight container.
4. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load of laundry.

There you have it! These DIY natural cleaning product recipes are easy to make, effective, and gentle on both you and the environment.