Only 3 Ingredients: 9 Simple Recipes for Homemade Cleaners

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Learning how to make your own homemade cleaners is a handy and beneficial skill to have. Not only will it save you money, but you’ll also know that what you’re using is all-natural and safe for you and your family. Plus, homemade cleaners are an easy DIY project anyone can learn to make.

Learning how to make your own homemade cleaners is a handy and beneficial skill to have. Not only will it save you money, but you'll also know that what you're using is all-natural and safe for you and your family. Plus, homemade cleaners are an easy DIY project that anyone can learn how to make.

Homemade Cleaners

Most homemade cleaners revolve around a few simple, all-natural ingredients, many of which you probably have on hand already.

White vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, and essential oils go a long way when cleaning your home. It’s a wonder why anyone ever began using the toxic chemicals most people use in their homes today!

So, if you want to start making your own all-natural homemade cleaners that work just as good (if not better) than their store-bought counterparts, grab these ingredients from your pantry and try out the following DIY cleaner recipes for every corner of your home.

Just remember, you can have all of the cleaners in the world, but make sure you are cleaning with some good old fashioned elbow grease too!

Baking Soda

Top 3 Ingredients for DIY Homemade Cleaners

Making your own natural cleaners is easy with just 3 main ingredients:

  • White vinegar – Removes dirt, grease, soap scum and kills germs. Also deodorizes.
  • Baking soda – Deodorizes, cleans, scours, and polishes without scratching. Also great for drain cleaning.
  • Dish Detergent – Has a stronger cleaning power to make your cleaners more effective.

Other handy ingredients:

  • Hydrogen peroxide – Disinfects and whitens.
  • Essential oils – Add antiseptic properties and natural fragrance.

Homemade cleaners save money, avoid chemicals, and are safe for families. They also make an easy DIY project using ingredients you likely have at home already!

All-Natural Cleaning Recipes

I first started making my homemade cleaners to save money. I think making your cleaners is kind of frugality 101! It’s so cheap and easy, not to mention better for your health. Plus, I’ve found that my recipes for homemade cleaners work just as well as those I bought from the store.

Here are some of my recipes for homemade cleaners. If you have special recipes for homemade cleaners you make, make sure to share your recipe in the comments section!

all natural cleaning supplies

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix everything in a spray bottle and shake. Spray on countertops, tabletops, porcelain, or floors. I even use it to clean the spots on the carpet! Don’t use it on any granite or marble surfaces, as vinegar stains marble.

I usually also add a little grapefruit, lemon, or orange essential oil to cover up the smell of the vinegar.

clean bathroom

Homemade Bathroom Cleaner

If you want your bathroom to have a super invigorating, fresh scent, you can clean the entire thing with just a grapefruit and a bit of salt. Here’s how to make a Grapefruit Bathroom Cleaner. You could also make the homemade all-purpose cleaner above and use Grapefruit Essential Oil for a similar effect.

Many citrus juice or oils work well for cleaning bathrooms and removing buildup stains. You can experiment with things like lemon juice if you don’t have grapefruit juice.

homemade cleaners

Homemade Window or Glass Cleaner

  • 1 part vinegar
  • 2 parts water

Mix in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on windows, mirrors, glass doors, etc. Try using newspapers to clean windows instead of paper towels for a streak-free shine. If you’re afraid of getting ink on your hands, wear gloves.

cleaning_wipes3

Homemade Cleaning Wipes

These Homemade Cleaning Wipes are awesome to keep around all winter for quick cleaning. They are easy to make and disposable, making them excellent for sickness in the home.

clean dining room

Homemade Furniture Polish

Mix in a bowl and use a rag to rub it onto wooden surfaces. Make sure you test on a small area first. To help remove tough water rings, try rubbing a little mayonnaise on it first. Mayonnaise is a great stain remover for spots on wooden furniture.

bathroom cleaned with homemade cleaners

Homemade Drain Cleaner

First, sprinkle a little baking soda down the drain and follow it with the vinegar. The vinegar causes the baking soda to react (or vice versa), and the mixture will foam up, like homemade Drano, except way better for your health, wallet, and environment.

This Homemade Drain Cleaner mixture can also remove stains and smells from the carpet; make sure you test on a small area first.

You can also use this as a Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Just place both items in your toilets bowl and scrub with a toilet cleaning brush.

homemade carpet cleaner

Homemade Carpet Cleaner

Dingy, spotted carpets? Make some homemade Carpet Cleaner. This can be made with some ingredients you already have under your sink, and it’s so effective as a spot cleaner or an all-over cleaner on carpeting.

cleaning supplies

Homemade Oven or Gas Grill Cleaner

Mix baking soda and dish detergent. Add distilled white vinegar, just a little bit at a time, to make a runny glue-like texture. Paint or brush onto caked-on greasy surfaces and let sit for 15-30 minutes.

Dip into the water using a brillo or scouring pad and then scrub treated surfaces clean. Rinse with water.

coffee cake

Perk Coffee Maker Cleaner

(for a 12-cup coffee maker)

  • 4 cups distilled white vinegar

Put in 4 cups of White distilled vinegar and perk.
After perking, fill the entire decanter with water and reperk to rinse. It cleans amazingly and removes built-up coffee residues!

To clean a regular drip coffee machine, dilute the vinegar with equal water and pour it into the coffee maker. Make sure all old grounds are removed. Then, run the coffee maker as if brewing a regular cup of coffee. Once the cycle is done, dump the pot of vinegar water, rinse it out, and then fill it with water. Pour the water into the coffee maker again and run it once more to clean out any leftover vinegar residue.

Uses for Castile Soap

Must Have Items To Make Homemade Cleaners

There are a few items that you should have on hand that will almost always be able to make a wide variety of natural cleaning products. Here’s what I recommend.

Dishwasher detergent

More Homemade Cleaners

Where to buy Essential Oils to make Homemade Cleaners

If you’re looking for a wonderful source of oils, I highly recommend Rocky Mountain Oils. After carefully considering all the companies selling essential oils, I’m happy to share that Rocky Mountain Oils has become my main source of oils for many reasons.

Drying Cloths for DIY Dryer Sheets

What to Clean With

My absolute favorite cleaning cloths are anything from eCloth. I’ve been using their products for several years and have been very happy with their durability and affordable price.

I use them with the homemade cleaner recipes above and not just with water. A few of my favorite products are the Non-Scratch Scrubbing Pads (I use these daily for dishes!), the Glass and Polishing Cloth (my favorite for cleaning the stovetop and other appliances that get streaky), and the Window Cleaning Cloths (streak-free windows!).

Body Products Ebook

Did you find this blog post helpful? Be sure and share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and through Email using the sharing buttons below.

Which homemade cleaners do you already make? Which homemade cleaner will you try first? Do you have any of your own special recipes or tips for making or using homemade cleaners?


Me and Kady

Merissa Alink

Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.


This blog post with DIY Recipes for Homemade Cleaners was initially published on Little House Living in May 2011. It has been updated as of October 2023.

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69 Comments

  1. Very awesome! I was just thinking last night of how i could make air freshners! you have any suggestions or recipes for this? something that lasts when sprayed???

    Thanks for awesome articles!

    1. That reminds me…I had a recipe for a natural air freshener that I was going to post sometime. I will put it up on my ideas board and get it posted!

    2. take a orange cut it in half take out the inside fill the the shell with salt put out of reach of children and its a fresh orange sent that filters through the room!!!!

  2. Here’s the air freshener spray I use all the time. It doesn’t really have a scent, but you could add essential oils if you wanted. I find that it just leaves everything smelling clean and fresh so it’s more of an odor neutralizer.
    Lemon Air Spray
    In a pan combine 2 cups water and 1/8 cup baking soda. Heat, stirring, until baking soda is dissolved and mixture is clear. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice. Be careful it will foam. Cool slightly and pour into a squirt bottle. Shake before each use.
    One note – this can leave a white film on surfaces, so be careful where you spray it. I usually make a new batch every week or so. You may need to occasionally run the nozzle of the spray bottle under warm water to remove any build up.

  3. Great blog! I’m having fun perusing…
    Here’s an alternative window cleaner.
    Ingredients: Club soda.
    Yep. That’s it. It works amazing! And it’s totally okay when it goes flat, so you could purchase a large 2-liter bottle and just save it. I also use two rags when I’m cleaning all the windows in the house. One for scrubbing and then the next to finish wiping dry.
    Even though I’ve been making my own cleaners for years, I’m still amazed at how well they work.

    1. We use Kirk Castle soap instead of the Fels Napha. It cost the same (sometimes a bit cheaper) the ingredient list is way shorter! Plus NO chemicals. Which is the main reason we make our own laundry soap. Not to mention super cost effective!

  4. Question: I have some of those Bath & Bodyworks aromatherapy massage oils. Can these be used in place of essential oils? Do these cleaners need to be refrigerated? Thanks!

      1. Im not as much worried about them staining as I am about their natural benefits. Some essential oils have natural anti-septic, antibacterial, antifungal properties, like tea tree and lavender oils, thus they make great cleaners. The essential oils shouldn’t be in a ‘base’ (pre diluted) cause they won’t be as strong and you dont know what oil they used as a base (the oils could leave an oil stain or leave streaks)

    1. Vinegar & water. Someone told me it was Apple Cider Vinegar, but I use the regular white kind cause it comes in gallons, and I have to mop alot! (lol, 3 kids, 3 dogs & 1 husband :))

      1. We too have multiple allergies in our family. Plus, having moved often and lived on super-tight budgets, or in remote areas, or in foreign countries, making my own, in usable amounts has always been best. Besides, my theory on cleaning: If I can’t clean it with water, salt, vinegar, baking soda, sand, citrus, and/or a white eraser it’s not coming clean!
        Thanks, as always, for your easy to follow and frugal recipes.

  5. I love to use Hydrogen Peroxide to clean the bathroom. it is just as good as bleach on bathtubs and toilets. and kills mold better than bleach. It is also better on the septic system than bleach. use with a little essential oil for a clean scent.

  6. Oh I almost forgot the coffee POT. i used to work in a college cafeteria and we use a simple trick. add a good handful or two depending on the size of the pot but enough to cover the bottom of ICE. Thats right ICE. a few table spoons of LEMON JUICE and a few table spoons of SALT shake the pot vigorously. fill just under half with water (with the ice and juice salt mixture) and shake again. Dump everything out and take a clean cloth rinsing the pot and all of the build up wipes off. great for glass pots and stainless steal.

  7. Purchasing natural ingredients for making cleaning products ( skin and home cleaning) is one of my favorite thing to do. I get these products one or twice a year at most and we have smooth, healthy skin all year! I loved you idea, it looks like worth trying 🙂

  8. Help!! I’m looking for ideas to clean the stinky carpet in my new-to-me, quite old, stinky suv. It’s very winter here and my small town does not have the car wash “shampoo/vac option”.

  9. I make my own air freshener. I take liquid fabric softener and pour a couple of caps in a large spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Shake it good and spray it on the beds, in the closets, carpet, curtains, rugs. Where ever you want it. It doesn’t stain and the house smells great.

  10. So useful post! I prefer using natural product while cleaning but they are very expensive. Thanks for giving all of these home made cleaning recipes here! Regards! Blackfen Carpet Cleaners Ltd.

  11. I love using natural cleaners! I also love the money I save not going into the cleaning aisle at the grocery store. 🙂 I have a much-loved, popular name brand cleaner (not sure if I can use its name online!) I bought for $1 with sales and coupons. You spray it on a hard surface and wipe off for cleaning, let dry for deodorizing. It’s almost empty and I don’t want to buy it again, even though I love it. Might the All-Purpose Cleaner have the same effect? I do know this name-brand cleaner has thyme essential oil, which I could easily add to the homemade version instead of Tea Tree. Just curious. 🙂 Thanks for your awesome household hints!

  12. Thank you for your article! You’ve just inspired me to clean my oven. I don’t want to clean it with harsh chemical products because this is a kitchen appliance and that is the place where we cook our food. I’ll definitely try your recipe asap! Have a nice week!

  13. Hey, i want to share my favourite recipe for non-toxic carpet cleaner!
    So, here is the recipe:
    Mix equal parts vinegar and baking soda until it forms a thick paste. Dilute with warm water until the mixture becomes a thin liquid and then scrub it into the stain using an old toothbrush or sponge.
    Pour club soda directly onto the stain and allow it to sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Then scrub with an old toothbrush or sponge.

    P.S. Thank you for sharing your recipes, I’ll definitely try them soon!

    Edna Graham
    Carpet Cleaner Ltd.

  14. Some really great recipes for natural cleaners here. For my own cleaning I mostly use vinegar, baking soda and tea tree oil but really need to try the homemade carpet cleaner you shared here, thanks! #brillblogposts

  15. Lots of great ideas to try. I have a big spider problem in my flat and I love the idea of a homemade cleaner that may help to repel them at the same time.
    Do you need to Store the cleaner in a special way? How long does it keep/last or just as long as it takes to get through it?
    Thanks

    1. Spider repellent = chestnuts! Believe it or not, a few uncooked, unskinned chestnuts. Poke a couple of small holes in each with the tines of a fork and place them in out of the way places or places where spiders congregate. I use them in my gardening box, back of cupboards, etc. Work like a charm, no odour, no chemicals, no danger to children or pets (unless the cat finds one a starts playing with it at 3 a.m.)

  16. All good tips/recipes for cleaning.

    I was wondering how your farm animals are doing haven’t heard about them in a while the goats, donkey, cow, and what else have you gotten in the past year? Ha

  17. I’m bookmarking this page, great list! I’m also very leery of commercial cleaners. I have littles in the house and don’t want to add to the toxic load if I can avoid it.

  18. This is such a VALUABLE post! All of these natural cleaners in one place?!? How awesome is that? You even listed recipes for cleaners I would never think to buy such as the disposal cleaner. So awesome.

    Thank you very much for sharing these with us. I’ll definitely be pinning this puppy and will probably end up printing it. 🙂

    Stopping by from #MeetUpMonday.

    Hope you have the most wonderful weekend!

  19. I love this blog as this focuses more on the home living and DIY crafts. Very interesting. I would like to try this out.

  20. A very insightful post. Thanks for the info. I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites.

  21. The information you have posted is very useful. Fantastic piece of writing here. The sites you have referred was good. Thanks for sharing…this site has always been pleasant news.

  22. hi,
    for the drain cleaner I use if its really blocked 1/4 cup of Bicarb [baking soda] and a 1-2 cups of very hot vinegar. Put the bicarb in the drain slowly then pour in the vinegar carefully and put the plug in and hold it there.
    You will hear it blubbling away then run hot water down the plug hole and if it hasn’t compeletely cleared a but repeat.
    This was used at the Time Share I worked at with good results and its good for those who have septic tanks
    cheers Robyne

  23. Wow glad to get your own cleaning ideas, It will help me to save my time and my money. Thank you Merissa

  24. Thank you Merissa, this is a great list. I’m always on the look out for natural homemade cleaning solutions having 3 young girls at home.

  25. Hello! I want to make this cleaner with my brownie troop. How long does it last for? Can the girls each make a batch to take home and use as needed? I wasn’t sure because I know that the vinegar and baking soda will react quickly.

    Thanks!

  26. I tried this recently. I squeeze a lot of lemons so I have a lot of peels. I decided to try this. I use a serrated knife to grab the remaining fruit and pulled it off, leaving only the peel. I stored them in the freezer until I had enough to fill a mason jar then did just what you said. But in a matter of days, the vinegar began to darken in color, and after 2 weeks it was a burnt orange color instead of a nice yellow color. Any idea what went wrong?

  27. Thank you Merissa, this is a great information in the list form. I read your post and the information you have posted is very help full for everyone. Good job.

  28. Top tips! The white vinegar not only freshens, cleans and sanitizes the carpet but it also cuts the foam and helps remove residual soap in the carpet. I’ve been using white vinegar for many, many years in carpet cleaning and elsewhere <3

  29. I also use e-cloth. It cleans with just water. They have a window cleaner and a mop also. Best thing I ever found to clean

  30. Oh cool! I do most of those, but hadn’t done the furniture polish or the mayonnaise tip. I’ll have to try them. Thanks, Merissa!

  31. These homemade recipes are safer to use, gladly I’ve read your post. Got the ideas on how to make these, thank you so much for the recipes and for the ideas. Excellent work indeed.

  32. Cleaning is quite important – especially for the home or any living place where you spend your quality time. Not only me every one like a clean environment as I am an office guy – the whole day I work under pressure which suks my mind but when I reached home and see my clean house my all tiredness runs from my mind. Currently, I am living in Dubai and owning an apartment where I am living so I have to clean it by my self I mostly use a cleaner that helps me a lot to make my room allure. that 1-day cleaning makes my whole week livings good.

  33. Easy to follow and all the ingredients are easy to find, thanks for sharing this informative article.

  34. I read somewhere that coconut oil makes a good furniture polish. I tried it, and it does! Just a brilliant shine. And it works well in hiding spots or small, discolored areas too.

    Thank you Marissa for all these “green” cleaners in answer to my probing question. I already use vinegar and baking soda, but the others are some I will definitely try. Great site.

    Carol M

  35. If you’ve ever had a problem with ants, black or small, here’s a good detergent. Bay Leaves. We have a lot of mature trees so used to get big, black wood ants in the spring and early summer. I started crushing up a few bay leaves to put around the window jams, whole ones near the doors and in the pantry. The smell is not appealing to them. I even use it to keep them out of the hummingbird feed. Head several cups of water and steep crushed bay leaves in. I use an 8 cup measuring cup with 3-5 bay leaves. Let cool and pour around the base of the hanger crock and on any trail I’ve seen. You have to replace if it rains, but no dead plants, no danger to kids or pets. Worked for my sister’s sugar ants, too!

  36. Your ideas are so helpful; I have copied many of your recipes. You use natural, relatively easy methods. And your website if very attractively composed. Thanks for your uplift during these dismal days. All shall be well!

  37. Hello, Merissa; I would be concerned about using essential oils around pets. I had a friend whose cat died from using an oil – and I don’t recall what kind it was . But cats have a very sensitive respiratory system. So, would you please warn your readers to check this out before using these oils? There are other natural ways to make ones home smell pleasantly.

  38. I use baking soda and vinegar for the toilet bowl, but it doesn’t remove the dark marks around the water line. what could be wrong?

    1. It’s really hard to get those super dark stains off with homemade cleaners. I’d recommend using something like Lysol to get them off initially and then maintain it with the homemade cleaner.

  39. Hello. So I’m trying to tap on the product links and it just says” Safari can’t open the page because the server can’t be found.

  40. We too have multiple allergies in our family. Plus, having moved often and lived on super-tight budgets, or in remote areas, or in foreign countries, making my own, in usable amounts has always been best. Besides, my theory on cleaning: If I can’t clean it with water, salt, vinegar, baking soda, sand, citrus, and/or a white eraser it’s not coming clean!
    Thanks, as always, for your easy to follow and frugal recipes.

  41. Ok- you asked for comments – I took your advice and made my own bathroom and counter cleaners adding lemon or lavender essential oils from the dollar store. It cleans and smells fresh and wonderful! Thank you for the tip about not using vinegar on quartz countertops

  42. I love using vinegar and baking soda to clean. I found coffee filters are my fav for wiping windows since we don’t get a newspaper any more.

  43. Excited to try the furniture polish and the carpet cleaner. Haven’t used those before! We used to make our own laundry soap a lot but haven’t in awhile!! It is amazing how versatile these simple ingredients can be!!

  44. Ants: olive oil keeps them out! Here in florida there are oodles of ants. A little smear of olive oil around door or window jams works every time! Plus, totally safe for kids and animals.