DIY Household Cleaners — 3 Ingredients, 6 Cleaning Jobs

There seems to be a unique cleaning product for just about everything these days: countertops, bathrooms, floors, carpets, furniture – you name it, you can find a special cleaner for it. But do we really need all those fancy cleaners? Making your own DIY household cleaners with ingredients you already have on hand will not only save  money but also keep all those chemicals with unpronounceable names out of your home. (featured image via Southern Living)

Use Vinegar

1) All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: Add 1/3 cup white vinegar to a large spray bottle and fill the rest of the way with water.  Use it to clean countertops and bathroom surfaces. You can even use it on hardwood floors!

2) Liquid Fabric Softener: Add 1/4 cup herbal-infused vinegar (e.g., lavender vinegar) to the fabric softener dispenser on your washing machine and top it up with water.

Use Baking Soda

3) Powdered Cleanser: Sprinkle surfaces with a little baking soda and rub into a paste with a fairly damp cloth, then wipe off with another damp cloth. The mild abrasive of the baking soda is a great cleaner and is even safe on natural stone surfaces.

4) Carpet Freshner: Sprinkle alittle baking soda on carpets, let it sit a few minutes and then vacuum. The baking soda absorbs odor and leaves your carpets smelling fresh.

Use Lemon Juice

5) Stain remover: For stains on cutting boards or laminate countertops, half a fresh lemon and squeeze the juice on the stain. Use the lemon half to scrub at the stain until it’s gone. For tougher stains, let the juice sit for a few minutes: the acidity of the lemon juice will eventually remove the stain.

6) Window cleaner: To a spray bottle, add a few tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice and several cups of water or club soda, plus a teaspoon of cornstarch. Shake it up and spray your way to a streak-free, chemical-free shine!

Julianne Puckett is the creator of Yankee Kitchen Ninja, a blog about what she calls “stealthy homemaking” — healthy recipes that are quick and easy to prepare, DIY gardening tips and the occasional craft project. A designer, writer and former suburban-dwelling IT professional, she lives in rural Vermont, where she struggles to balance the siren call of her inner farmer with her love of cute shoes and cocktails.