Let’s bet honest. Cleaning the bathroom is far from glamorous, and it’s always worse when you’re using cleaners with heavy odors that leave you feeling lightheaded.
Over a year ago, I shared my recipe for a simple, homemade, multipurpose cleaner. At that point, I was using borax for my toilet bowls and Windex for my mirrors. I have since transitioned to solely natural products. The homemade cleaner I have been using on my toilet bowls is oh so easy to make! Here’s the recipe:
- 1/3 cup liquid Castile soap
- 2 cups water
- 2 1/4 tablespoons baking soda
- 12 drops essential oils* (helps kill bacteria)
Directions:
1. Combine ingredients in a bowl with a spout, and whisk to blend.
2. Pour into a spray bottle or plastic squirt bottle. I use an old dish soap bottle, as shown in the picture above. Be sure to use bottles that are made of a more durable plastic (avoid the flimsy plastic used in disposable water bottles). Be sure to leave a little extra space in the container so it doesn’t expand. I also leave the top open for a few hours before storing it.
3. Grab a toilet bowl brush, and start cleaning!
*According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, the following essential oils have antiseptic, disinfectant, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties and are great for cleaning: lemon, lime, orange, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, and tea tree.
This is awesome, thank you Ellie! I'm (very slowly) trying to transition to more natural cleaners.
My pleasure! I'll share my recipe for homemade glass cleaner soon. 🙂
Ellie
Cleaning toilets under the rim regularly is what keeps stains away. A year ago I had to clean a badly stained toilet on a hose Reno project. Using powerful chemicals (CLR) and steel wool I got it completely clean. The boss was happy cause he thought they would have to buy a new toilet. If the original owner had done what you suggest here regularly there would not have been such a problem.
Using a pumice stone is a natural way to remove toilet rings or toilet stains.
Anonymous 3/9/2017. Thanks for the tip on using CLR.
Tea tree oil is very expensive, which ones would someone reasonably use in this mix?
I purchased a reasonably sized bottle for about $13
All essential oil is somewhat spendy, but you only use drops at a time. It's very concentrated.
If you grew pepermint could you make your own essential oil?
You can, but it's a long process. There are some videos and tutorials online.
Ellie
Does anybody know about using vinegar as a household cleaner for more than windows? Have you tried it, does it work? Eileen
I tried it. But on a cleaning job in a rougher type rooming house I used lots of javex. There I did not realize some javex was leaking through the staircase into the closet under the stairs and dripped on the persons clothes hanging in the closet and made bleach spots. Oops! At home I wanted to use vinegar for my own cleaning but my children said they did not like the smell in the house, so I did not really get to go nuts with it there.
I use my vinegar all-purpose cleaner to clean my counters, sinks, and the outsides of my toilets. It works great! I definitely wouldn't recommend it for commercial use, but it's wonderful for use at home. Conventional cleaners can be so toxic.
https://www.anashvillewife.com/2015/11/homemade-all-purpose-cleaner.html
Ellie
I use vinegar for all my cleaning uses, but if you're new, please never use vinegar+bleach together, I did in my tub, and o-my that almost knocked my socks off!!! One more thing, here's the best mix, fill your bottle 3/4 full of vinegar, and 1/4 water. Vinegar is great for windows, windex leave lots of streaks!!!
You might find it harsh to use, but Borax is just as natural as baking soda. 🙂
Thank-you Ellie,I will try this. I have one too freshen carpet. Mix about one cup of baking soda with a dash of cinnamon,sprinkle on the carpet and let sit an hour or overnight than vacuum. I have carpet in all my rooms except kitchen and bathroom.
I love that! We're renting, and our carpets could use some freshening. (We also have carpets everywhere but the bathroom and kitchen). How much do you use for a regular sized room (say, a living room)?
Ellie
We live in s small cape-cod home and my living room is 13ft.x13ft. I use around a 1/2 cup. The recipe calls for dash of cinnamon, but I use 1/4 tsp.
Wonderful. Thank you!
Ellie
Can you please cite any scientific sources stating how/why natural products are better? More specifically please provide evidence demonstrating essential oils have been shown to be antibacterial. You have stated a number of times that you prefer "natural" products without specifying what exactly that means or providing evidence to support your claim. I believe you studied journalism, correct? And your husband has a strong science background if he is a dentist, I'm sure. Certainly, then, the two of you understand the importance of being able to substantiate claims, particularly when those claims can be tested through the scientific method and are being published on the internet as advice.
This is a house topic I am going to ask about, but not on this topic. Will you take some pictures of your house plants to share please? Have you heard of a crown of thorns plant? If not Google it.
I love homemade cleaners too.
Thanks for sharing! I would love to transition to more natural products! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy March!
It's so awesome that you can make this yourself! Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Could you share more ways on how you have changed to cleaning without chemicals and eating better? Or any other tips on how to stay away from chemicals.
And have you tried Norwex?