24 Inexpensive & Natural Cleaning Products for a Greener Spring

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Spring is here and has us thinking of ways to be green — the perfect time to become more conscious about the products we use to clean our living spaces. Choosing eco-friendly has many benefits and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Commercial cleaning products tend to contain many harsh chemicals that can be unhealthy to not only the environment but also your family. These products can also be harsh on your wallet.

We curated these inexpensive natural cleaning products to ensure you’ll leave less of a carbon footprint and keep your space sparkling at the same time. Plus, most of these products are great for !

Below we’ll cover the benefits of using natural cleaning products, plus eco-friendly household cleaners you can easily make at home.

Benefits of Using Natural Cleaning Products

There are so many benefits to using natural cleaning products. For starters, a lot of these cleaning products sold in stores contain chemicals such as bleach and ammonia that can irritate the skin, eyes and throat and can even cause more serious health problems like cancer.

In addition to health problems, commercial cleaning products also have an impact on the environment. Many of these products contain harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can evaporate into the air or leak down our drains into the water systems. There is also a lot of waste created as many of the containers used for these products are not made from sustainable materials.

Kick harsh commercial products out of your cleaning routine and explore these 26 easy-to-make, inexpensive yet effective natural cleaning products for your home.

1. DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

Citrus is your friend when it comes to natural cleaning products. Its concentrated acid components do wonders for getting rid of tough stains and smells that can linger in the home. Be sure to not use on countertops or tile made from natural stone

Ingredients:

• Leftover citrus peels
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon castile soap
• 2 cups water
• 20 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Pack a jar with slices of leftover citrus peels, fill it with the white vinegar and leave out for about two weeks so it infuses.
2. Strain the vinegar from the jar and compost the peels. Combine this vinegar with the water and castile soap.
3. Add in an optional 20 drops of lemon-scented essential oil (or whichever scent you prefer).
4. Pour mixture into a spray bottle.

2. Eco-Friendly Glass Cleaner

Did you know you can clean glass with cornstarch? Cornstarch is a chemical-free, low-cost ingredient most people have lying around in their cupboards, making it the perfect addition to a DIY glass cleaner. Cornstarch is a great eco-friendly substitute since it breaks down the water bonds that cause streaks and spots.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Shake this mixture thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle.

3. Homemade Air Freshener

Baking soda is another eco-friendly ingredient that is low cost and great at busting bad odors around the home. This recipe is easy to make and you can feel good knowing that you’re skipping the chemicals found in aerosol air freshener.

If you don’t already have essential oils at home, use a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon and get a new essential oil of your choice for around $5!

Ingredients:

• Baking soda (enough to fill half a container of your choice)
• Natural scents, such as dried lavender flowers, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, dried orange peels or essential oils

Directions:

1. Fill a mason jar halfway with baking soda.
2. Add dried ingredients and essential oils of your choice to the jar.
3. Combine the ingredients with a spoon to ensure the scent is well dispersed.
4. Open the lid of your jar wherever you need a fresh scent.

4. Low-Cost Carpet Freshener

Because of its absorbent qualities, baking soda is also ideal for sprinkling on carpet as opposed to store bought powders. Baking soda, along with ground cinnamon, can do wonders for a carpet that’s smelling a little less than fresh. However, you may want to use just the baking soda if you have white carpets.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Toss ground cinnamon together with baking soda.
2. Put mixture into a shaker container — you can even reuse a clean Parmesan cheese shaker.

5. Pet Odor Freshener

We all love our furry friends, but they can occasionally leave behind some unpleasant smells. Instead of buying a chemical product at the store, try making your own natural cleaning product. This can be used on fabrics and surfaces.

This route will be cheaper and as well. Before using this mixture around your pet, check in with your veterinarian.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
• 2 cups water
• 12 drops any essential oil

Directions:

1. Combine rubbing alcohol with water to dilute.
2. Add in your favorite essential oils.
3. Mix together and add to a spray bottle.

6. Washing Machine Cleaner

It’s not uncommon for a washing machine to get smelly — the wet environment mixed with the buildup of old soap can cause moldy odors. If your washing machine needs some TLC, here’s a natural cleaning product recipe that will be sure to freshen it up.

Note: Make sure you don’t use this mixture with your clothes — run the empty washing machine first before adding your clothes.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups white vinegar
• ½ cup baking soda
• 20 drops any essential oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour a mixture of white vinegar, baking soda and your favorite essential oils into the detergent tray.
2. Let a cycle run on the hottest setting (without clothes).
3. Wipe dry with a cloth after the cycle.

7. Cigarette Odor Remover

Cigarette smells tend to be unpleasant odors that linger in your home. Although cigarette odors are tough to remove, there are still some natural cleaning products you can use to help reduce them.

A common ingredient that helps reduce and absorb these odors is coffee grounds. Use your leftover grounds from this morning’s coffee as a quick hack. If you don’t like the smell of coffee grounds, swap for baking soda.

Ingredient:

• At least 1 cup ground coffee

Directions:

1. Take your coffee grounds and allow to dry completely.
2. Place the dried coffee grounds into small bowls or containers.
3. Leave in the affected area overnight for the coffee grounds to fully absorb the smell.
4. Repeat the above steps if the smell persists until you’re happy with the result .

8. DIY Window Cleaner

Clean up the windows in your home with natural cleaning products. Rubbing alcohol is the star of the show in this recipe — not only is it cheap, but it also evaporates quickly, leaving behind little to no surface spots. Plus, it’s safer than products such as bleach.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• ¼ cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 drops any essential oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix water, rubbing alcohol, apple cider vinegar, and your favorite essential oil together in a reusable bottle or container.
2. Wipe this solution on windows and mirrors with a washable cloth in a circular motion.

9. Natural Closet Freshener

Since closets don’t really see a lot of sunshine, they can easily attract moisture and odors — not to mention smells from your shoes and dirty clothes. Instead of a heavily fragranced chemical cleaner, make your own natural cleaning product using bamboo or dried herbs and fruit.

You can also purchase bamboo air deodorizing bags — bamboo removes mold, mildew and moisture.

Ingredients:

• Dried citrus peels from at least 2 fruits
• Cinnamon sticks, dried herbs and flowers (optional)
• Fabric sachets.

Directions:

1. Dry out leftover citrus peels using the oven. You can also use cinnamon sticks, florals like dried lavender or rose petals, and herbs such as rosemary.
2. Take your dried ingredients and place them in fabric sachets.
3. Place them throughout your closet as needed.

10. Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Create an affordable natural cleaning product for your garbage disposal using leftover citrus, ice and table salt. The ice and salt combine to scrub the gunk off of the blades and the citrus peels will emit nice smells.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup ice
• Citrus peels of any amount

Directions:

1. Put some ice and salt down your drain and turn on your disposal with the water running.
2. Add citrus peels in after the ice has been fully ground.

11. Natural Microwave Cleaner

Clean your microwave with an eco-friendly alternative. Microwaving greasy foods and liquids can create messes that aren’t always fun to clean, but this natural cleaning product recipe will save you money and keep your microwave clean at the same time.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup baking soda

Directions:

1. Fill a microwavable bowl with water and baking soda.
2. Heat the mixture in the microwave until steamy, about three minutes.
3. Remove the bowl from the microwave.
4. Wipe down the inside of the microwave with a cloth. The steam will make it easier to wipe off stains.

12. Crockpot Air Freshener

Make the air in your home smell fresh with a slow cooker air freshener recipe. The aroma from the warm slow cooker will be sure to rid your space of bad smells. If you don’t have a slow cooker, use a to save money on your purchase!

Ingredients:

• 2–3 tablespoons baking soda
• 4 cups water
• 10–15 drops any essential oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Add baking soda to a slow cooker filled partway with water.
2. For fragrance, add essential oils of your choice to the water.
3. Set the Crockpot to low with the lid off for as long as you want the scent to last.

13. Easy Stainless Steel Cleaner

Olive oil is a common kitchen staple that can be great for cleaning stainless steel appliances. Instead of breaking the bank on store-bought cleaners, make your own natural cleaning product by combining white vinegar and essential oils with your olive oil.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup white vinegar
• ½ cup olive oil
• 20 drops lemon essential oil

Directions:

1. Mix white vinegar with olive oil and lemon essential oil.
2. Add mixture to a clean spray bottle.
3. Shake the ingredients together.
4. Spray on stainless steel surfaces and immediately wipe with a dry, clean cloth.

14. Natural Laundry Detergent

Many laundry detergents sold in stores contain harsh chemicals such as dyes, bleach and phosphates. Instead, you can make a more eco-friendly and all-natural laundry detergent with a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Epsom salt
• 1 ½ cups baking soda
• 1 ½ cups washing soda
• ¼ cup sea salt

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Store in a glass container of your choice.
3. Use a half cup for each load of laundry — can be used with any water temperature.

15. Homemade Brass Cleaner

To naturally clean brass appliances and surfaces in your home, make your own solution with lemon or white vinegar and table salt. Be sure to use this solution on non-lacquered fixtures only.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup lemon juice or white vinegar
• A pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Dampen a sponge with lemon juice or vinegar.
2. Sprinkle with salt.
3. Rub the sponge over the brass surface until the stain disappears.
4. Dry with a reusable soft cloth.

16. Clothing Stain Remover

If your clothing has some hard-to-remove stains, try a natural cleaning product that will take out the stain and be environmentally friendly at the same time. This homemade stain remover is made with biodegradable soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
• ½ cup biodegradable soap
• A pinch of baking soda

Directions:

1. Combine hydrogen peroxide with biodegradable soap and pour the mixture into a glass spray bottle.
2. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda directly onto the stain and let sit for a minute or two.
3. Mist the mixture onto the stain.
4. Scrub the stain and let it sit for a bit.
5. Run the clothing through the wash.

17. Eco-Friendly Marble Cleaner

Marble is a gorgeous and popular countertop option, but certain types require special care when it comes to cleaning. Make your own natural marble cleaner using a simple recipe featuring castile soap. Castile soap is vegetable-based and non-toxic, making the perfect addition to a natural cleaning product.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon castile soap

Directions:

1. Add water to castile soap.
2. Combine mixture into a spray bottle.
3. Swirl gently before use and spray on the surface. Wipe dry once clean.

18. Natural Wood Cleaner

Not only can you clean wood surfaces, but you can also polish them with this all-natural wood cleaner recipe! All you need is white vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and vegetable glycerin. This simple and cheap cleaner is great for cleaning and also conditioning wood.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup white vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin

Directions:

1. Mix white vinegar and olive oil with lemon juice and vegetable glycerin.
2. Pour into a spray bottle.
3. Mist onto the wood surface and wipe right away.
4. Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth (this material helps avoid scratches).

19. Fridge Deodorizer

A great (and very affordable) hack to keeping your fridge odors at bay is by using oatmeal. Dry oats are not only great at absorbing oils, but they also can absorb bad odors in the air. Do not reuse these oats for consumption after using them as a deodorizer — instead, reuse them as an additive to a mild scrub for pots and pans.

Ingredients:

• 1–2 cups dried oats

Directions:

1. Pour oats into a bowl and place in the fridge
2. Let them sit overnight on the top shelf.

20. DIY Grease Cleaner

Grease can be tough to combat, but luckily there are some natural alternatives you can make at home that are just as effective and more eco-friendly than the ones available at the store.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 3 cups water
• ⅛ tablespoon of castile soap
• 1 tablespoon baking soda

Directions:

1. Pour white vinegar into water.
2. Add in castile soap and baking soda to the mixture and store in a spray bottle.

21. Homemade Fabric Softener

Commercial fabric softeners that we normally use for our laundry aren’t always safe, as they can actually make fabrics more flammable. Make a homemade one instead that’s safer and more natural.

Ingredients:

• 5 ½ cups water
• 1 bottle natural hair conditioner
• 2 ½ cups white vinegar

Directions:

1. Combine water with natural hair conditioner in a bowl.
2. Add in white vinegar.
3. Mix the ingredients well, until you obtain a uniform consistency.
4. Add in a quarter cup of this mixture to your laundry load.

22. DIY Dryer Sheets

Single-use, store-bought dryer sheets create a lot of extra waste that goes into the environment. For a more sustainable option, create your own recyclable versions using old T-shirts.

Ingredients:

• 2–3 cups homemade fabric softener from above
• Old T-shirts or similar fabric

Directions:

1. Cut T-shirts into washcloth-sized pieces (roughly 8 inches by 8 inches).
2. Fill a lidded container halfway with homemade fabric softener.
3. Let the T-shirt squares soak in the container for at least a few hours with the lid shut until ready to use.
4. Squeeze out the excess liquid until almost dry.
5. Throw the homemade sheet into the dryer with your clothes.

23. Quick Toilet Cleaner

Instead of using harmful chemicals such as bleach and ammonia to clean the toilet, try a simpler method using baking soda and white vinegar. This alternative is much cheaper than your traditional toilet cleaner and is just as effective.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup white vinegar

Directions:

1. Dump baking soda into the toilet bowl.
2. Let soak for about an hour.
3. Add white vinegar to the mixture.
4. Let sit for an additional five minutes.
5. Scrub the area with a toilet brush.

24. Simple Rust Remover

Remove rust around your appliances without the use of harsh chemicals. All you need is a lemon! To get rid of hard water stains just add table salt and white vinegar to your mixture.

Ingredients:

• ½ lemon
• ¼ cup salt
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar

Directions:

1. Squeeze lemon juice on the area with stains.
2. Leave the juice on the area for half an hour.
3. Wipe away with a damp cloth.

Natural cleaning products you can make yourself are ideal whether you’re looking to adopt greener habits or are looking for inexpensive ways to clean your home. They’ll also ensure you’re helping the environment and saving money at the same time.

Additionally, taking advantage of our , you’ll have the perfect organizers to store your new DIY natural cleaning products. Happy cleaning!

Sources: Lung.org | EPA

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