Easy Homemade Cleaning Solutions for Every Surface in Your Home

These homemade cleaning solutions are there for me on those days, my home is a mess and smells bad, and got to keep things clean.

When you have pets or kids, they help keep your home dirty and messy with snacks dropping all over the house. You can find a lot of leftover snacks that kids forgot on the table -eww.

I know that for my dog owners, this will help a lot because I have two cats, so I have plenty of experience with cats. I want my house to feel like a home with that fresh scent and not like a barn.

So if you are like me, you want your home to smell good like your favorite spots, so that your guests and family think they walk into a store.

So let’s be practical, we don’t want to do a long cleaning every minute or spend too much money. With being on a budget, people will think my home smells like fresh rose water. Not using store brands, no worries about harsh chemicals, that’s the biggest pro.

All-Purpose Homemade Cleaning Solutions

How to make it:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 10 drops of essential oil (like tea tree or lavender)

Mix in a spray bottle, shake, and use on non-porous surfaces.

Best for:

First up, this one is mainly for the kitchen area, which is one of the most important parts of your home that gets messy easily, too.

So your countertops, sinks, doorknobs, and appliances get all the germs in your kitchen.

I spray on the countertops and my appliances and wipe away with a microfiber cloth. Do not use this on granite or marble vinegar can damage the surface.

Glass & Mirror Cleaner

How to make it:

• 2 cups distilled water
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (reduces streaks)
• 5 drops essential oil (optional)

Best for:

Shake well and spray on glass surfaces, then wipe with a microfiber cloth.

In your home, I am sure you have mirrors, I have plenty in bathroom and the windows. Shake before each use, as cornstarch may settle, so use microfiber or newspaper for a streak-free shine. You can also have 1/2 cup of alcohol.

Grease-Cutting Kitchen Cleaner

How to make it:

• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon dish soap
• 1 cup warm water

What to clean:

Mix into a paste for tough grease or spray diluted on greasy surfaces. This is best on Stovetops, greasy counters, and range hoods.

This is very needed in my home, because I cook so much and I am spending a lot of time learning new recipes on YouTube.

When applying to greasy surfaces like stovetops and range hoods. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then scrub with a sponge. Wiping clean with a damp cloth is what i do.

When you are done, it’s like there was never anything greasy; it just never happened. Also, the smell is so refreshing for my kitchen.

Wood Surface Cleaner (Furniture & Floors)

How to Make:

• 1 cup warm water
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 5 drops of lemon essential oil

What to clean, how to use:

So for my tables, cabinets and hardwood floors

I have wood floors, so this is my savior, especially since I am not a big fan of store-bought brands.

So, a spray bottle, of course, mix and lightly spray onto wood furniture and floors. Wipe with a good, soft mop, following the wood grain.

You can be extra sometimes and buff your floor with a dry cloth for extra shine, I only do this at the start of the new season.

Tile & Grout Cleaner

How to make:

• ½ cup baking soda
• ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1 teaspoon dish soap

What to clean:

This is the monster in the house, and in my home, we have three bathrooms. Yes, three and althought we mainly use two, we still need all to be kept!!

This is where everyone uses daily, and sometimes your guests. Apply this paste to your grout lines and have it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub with a brush, this is the one I use Electric Spin Scrubber, trust me, this saves time.

This mixture will kill germs while leaving your bathroom smelling so good. You can add any essential oil for a particular smell. I also add tea tree oil as this helps fight mold.

Upholstery Stain Remover

How to make it:

• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon dish soap
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

What to clean:

I had a family gathering last month and plenty of young cousins who made a mess of my couch, and not to mention my cats.

So had to clean before the party and after the party, and this is a trusted mix. I am sure if you also have kids or are idling with your coffee like me, you may also stain your couch.

This is how you use it, blot the stain with a clean cloth to remove excess liquid. Let this mixture sit for no less than 5 minutes, then blot the area until the stain lifts.

When finished, dap with plain water to rinse and let air dry.

Natural Disinfecting Spray

How to make it:

• ½ cup rubbing alcohol (70% or higher)
• ½ cup distilled water
• 1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
• 10 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil

What can it Clean

This can clean things like doorknobs, light switches, and bathroom counters. Easy 5-minute application, sit, and then you wipe it clean. This is not recommended for granite or marble surfaces.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

How to make it:

• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 10 drops of tea tree oil

How to use it

Pour the solution into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush.

Stainless Steel Polish

How to make

• ½ cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

How to use it

This straight forward, I spray it directly on my pots and other stainless steel appliances. Buff with a dry cloth for a streak-free finish.

Mattress & Fabric Freshener

How to make it

• 1 cup baking soda
• 10 drops of lavender or eucalyptus oil

How to Use:

Sprinkle the baking soda mixture over the mattress or fabric furniture. Let it sit for 30 minutes, vacuum thoroughly to remove the baking soda. This will leave everything smelling fresh.

Mold & Mildew Remover

How to Make

• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 5 drops of tea tree oil

How to use

Use this in your bathroom or other damp areas where there is mold. Let this sit for 10-15 minutes, scrub with a brush, or for really tough areas, try using scrubbing pads.

Rinse and wipe dry

Air Freshener Spray

How to make

• 1 cup distilled water
• 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
• 10-15 drops essential oil (citrus, lavender, or peppermint)

What to clean

Shake this mixture before every use, and spray into the air around pet areas. Just don’t spray directly on furniture or your electronic device, and you’ll have your space smelling fresh.

Safety Tips for Making Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Althought it seems exciting to create your own natural solutions, you still need to be cautious and avoid mistakes. I love using my homemade solutions to avoid harsh chemicals, but I know it’s not completely risk-free.

So here are my tips for your DIY solutions to be effective and safe.

Always Label Your Bottles

I am sure guilty of not doing this when I first started out. After using what I made, I randomly saw it and couldn’t remember what it was.

You can save yourself the hassle by using cheap tape and a marker if you want to be fancier, print out some labels. With this no more guessing game and you are now free of that stress.

I also include the date of when I made it, if you know, you know.

Be Cautious with Essential Oils

We love essential oils as they can really give you that extra scent you want. Lemon is good just that fresh citrus smell, lavender smell so good however some essential oils can be toxic to pets.

Tea tree oil and peppermint can be a little harmful to cats and dogs, so be sure of where you plan on using it. I always check mine, and I would go with lavender or chamomile these are safe alternatives. I use them in areas where my pet is frequently.

Never Mix Certain Ingredients

I think we are aware of the rules that is not really a good idea to mix some chemicals together. But to give you a refresher, some things just don’t go well together, like vinegar and bleach, no matter how much more power you want.

This gas from that combo is toxic. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar also produce an acid that irritates the skin and lungs.

Store Out of Reach

After making a homemade batch solution, I store it in sealed containers. I try to always put them high out of reach of those little hands, as I would with store-bought.

Use Fresh Ingredients

Since homemade cleaners don’t contain preservatives, I make small batches and use them within a few weeks. Vinegar and baking soda last a long time, but solutions with fresh lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide should be replaced regularly