How to clean your entire house naturally with homemade cleaning products

Effective antiviral cleaners you can make at home. Learn how to clean your entire house naturally using mostly pantry ingredients. From disinfectant to laundry detergent, these simple recipes will help you keep your home clean, non-toxic, and budget-friendly. Homemade cleaners that really work—try them today.

Note: Some posts may reference products the author likes. These recipes are simple and most ingredients are common pantry items.

I heard him screaming in the other room and immediately pictured the cleaner bottle that had been left on the table after last night’s cleaning.

While I was changing my younger daughter’s diaper, my two-year-old had grabbed the disinfectant spray and accidentally squirted it into his eye.

I ran out to find him crying and holding his eye. It was the first time I had to call poison control.

Fortunately, the disinfectant I had used was an all-natural, homemade solution. Poison control advised rinsing his eye thoroughly and watching for irritation. It stung a little because it contained vinegar and a bit of alcohol, but he recovered quickly.

That moment reinforced why I prefer natural cleaners: conventional cleaners often contain harsh chemicals that can cause serious harm if they contact the skin or eyes.

This experience determined my path to cleaning with natural products.

If you want to avoid exposing your family to unnecessary toxic chemicals, these homemade cleaner recipes are a safe and economical alternative.

All of the recipes below use common, low-toxicity ingredients. I mention that they are technically “lickable” not to encourage tasting but to emphasize the safety gap between conventional cleaners and simple, natural formulations.

Here’s the list of homemade household cleaners I use and how you can make them

Click any heading in your editor to jump to that recipe.

Dishwasher Detergent

Window, Glass, and Mirror Cleaner

Disinfectant Spray

Laundry Detergent

All-Purpose Cleaner

Air Freshener

Toilet, Sink, and Shower Cleaner

Fabric Softener

Dish Soap

 

Why make your own household cleaners?

Here are the main benefits of switching to homemade cleaners.

1. Save money

Homemade cleaning products are budget-friendly. The ingredients—baking soda, vinegar, salt, and basic soaps—are inexpensive and last a long time. When you make cleaners at home, you can cut your monthly cleaning supply expenses significantly.

For example, a simple homemade laundry detergent can cost only a few cents per load versus many store brands that cost substantially more. Over a year, that adds up to real savings for a household.

2. Better for your health

Many conventional cleaners contain harsh chemicals linked to respiratory irritation, mucous membrane inflammation, and other health concerns. Reducing exposure to these ingredients can improve indoor air quality and lower the risk of irritation or longer-term health effects.

A note on antibacterials:

Overuse of antibacterial agents can encourage resistant strains of bacteria. Antibacterial products have their place, but routine cleaning with gentle, non-antibacterial natural products is usually sufficient for everyday maintenance.

Look into reputable resources if you want more scientific references on cleaning-product exposure.

3. Better for the environment

Homemade cleaners reduce the number of toxic chemicals that end up in waterways and ecosystems. Using simple, biodegradable ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap helps protect wildlife and reduces pollution from household runoff.

Making your own cleaning products is a small but meaningful step toward more sustainable living.

Essential ingredients to stock for all these cleaners

• Baking soda
• Washing soda
• Oxi cleaner (powdered oxygen bleach)
• White vinegar
• Vodka or rubbing alcohol (for some disinfecting and glass cleaners)
• Sea salt
• Castile soap
• Citric acid (optional)
• Essential oils (popular choices: peppermint, lavender, tea tree, lemon, orange, clove, cinnamon) — verify safety around pets before use

Ready? Let’s make the cleaners.

Gather empty spray bottles, jars, and dispensers so you can store and label your homemade solutions.

Recipes for homemade cleaning products (all natural and non-toxic)

Round up your empty bottles and containers and let’s make cleaners that are effective, gentle, and inexpensive.

1. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup washing soda
• 1 cup salt
• 30 drops lemon or orange essential oil OR 1 tablespoon citric acid

Directions

• Combine the dry ingredients in a container. If using essential oils, sprinkle salt on top to help absorb and distribute the oils.
• Add essential oils and shake until mixed.
• Use 1 tablespoon per load. Occasionally add ½ cup white vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher for extra cleaning power.

2. Window, Glass, & Mirror Cleaner

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup vodka or rubbing alcohol
• 1 cup filtered water

Directions

• Combine ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake. Use like any commercial glass cleaner. Glass or high-quality plastic containers are recommended when storing alcohol or vinegar-based solutions.

3. Homemade Disinfectant

Ingredients

• ½ cup vodka or rubbing alcohol
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 1 cup filtered water
• 40 drops of essential oils (options: orange, peppermint, clove, tea tree, lavender, lemon). Check oil safety for pets.

Directions

• Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake before each use to distribute the oils. Use on surfaces that benefit from routine disinfection; for serious contamination or medical-grade disinfection, follow public health guidance.

4. Homemade Air Freshener

Ingredients

• ¼ cup vodka or rubbing alcohol (or use pure vanilla extract for a warm scent)
• Essential oils of choice
• 1 cup filtered water

Directions

• Combine ingredients in a spritz bottle and shake well. Spray into the air or lightly over upholstery. Shake before each use.

Blends to try: Fall (vanilla, orange, cinnamon, clove), Fresh Citrus (orange, lemon, grapefruit), Lavender Bliss (lavender, vanilla, lemon).

5. Homemade Sink, Shower, and Toilet Cleaner

Ingredients

• Baking soda in a shaker
• Essential oils (lemon, tea tree, lavender, orange, peppermint, or clove)
• Water

Directions

• Sprinkle baking soda over the area, add 3–5 drops of essential oil, scrub with a damp cloth or brush, then rinse.
• For toilets: reduce water level if needed, sprinkle baking soda and oil, scrub and let sit when possible to prevent buildup.
• For showers: make a paste with baking soda and a little water or vinegar, add a few drops of castile soap for extra cleaning power, scrub and rinse.

6. Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons castile soap
• 2 cups filtered water
• 20 drops essential oils of choice

Directions

• Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake. A fresh citrus and peppermint combo is bright and effective for many surfaces.

7. Homemade Laundry Detergent (cloth-diaper safe)

A simple powdered laundry detergent recipe can be very cost-effective and safe for cloth diapers. Use washing soda, baking soda, soap flakes, and optional oxygen bleach. Adjust amounts and follow guidance for cloth-diaper-safe formulas.

8. Homemade Fabric Softener

Ingredients

• 4 cups sea salt
• 20–30 drops essential oils (lemon or orange are bright choices)

Directions

• Combine salt and essential oils in a container and shake. Use ½ cup per load, either in a powder softener compartment or added directly to the wash.

9. Homemade Dish Soap

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon washing soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup castile soap
• 10 drops essential oil of choice

Directions

• Dissolve washing soda in boiling water. Let cool slightly, then stir in castile soap and essential oils. Pour into a dispenser and use as needed.

That’s a lot of recipes, but now you have a complete set of non-toxic cleaners to maintain a healthy, clean home affordably. These solutions help you reduce toxins, protect the environment, and save money without sacrificing cleanliness.

What other natural cleaners would you like to see?

More money-saving tips

Simple ways to save on groceries, meat, produce, and specialty diets are practical next steps when you’re trying to lower household expenses.

Resources
For more information on product safety and environmental impact, consult reputable medical and environmental health sources and organizations that evaluate household products.