Sharing DIY Natural Cleaning Products that actually work.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re enjoying the morning. I have a packed day of appointments and P has an orthodontist appointment. Hoping we can hop in the pool afterwards!

For today, I wanted to talk about cleaning products. The more I learn about conventional cleaning products, the more creeped out I am. If you’re interested in cleaner DIY options, I wanted to talk about how to make your own DIY natural cleaning products that work just as well (if not better!) than store-bought versions, without all the harsh chemicals. These are safe for kids, pets, and the planet, and many can be made with ingredients you already have at home.

DIY Natural Cleaning Products

Why Switch to Natural Cleaning Products?

Conventional cleaners often contain toxins and harsh chemicals like ammonia, bleach, phthalates, and formaldehyde, which can cause irritation and long-term health issues. Switching to natural alternatives helps reduce your toxic load, supports a healthier indoor environment, and cuts down on plastic waste and packaging.

Top Ingredients to Stock for Natural Cleaning

Before you start mixing, here are some essential ingredients to have on hand:

White Vinegar – antibacterial and great for cutting through grease

Baking Soda – excellent for scrubbing and deodorizing

Castile Soap – natural, biodegradable soap base

Essential Oils (like tea tree, lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus) – for fragrance and antimicrobial properties

Hydrogen Peroxide – a natural disinfectant

Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl) – kills germs and evaporates quickly

Washing Soda – stronger than baking soda; useful in laundry and tough jobs

Distilled Water – prevents mineral buildup in spray bottles

Glass spray bottles — I get ours from Amazon

5 Easy DIY Natural Cleaning Recipes

1. All-Purpose Cleaner

Great for countertops, sinks, and bathroom surfaces.

1/2 cup white vinegar

2 cups distilled water

1 tsp castile soap

10 drops tea tree oil + 10 drops lemon essential oil

Combine in a spray bottle and shake gently. Avoid using on marble or granite.

2. Glass + Mirror Cleaner

Streak-free and natural.

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

1 tbsp cornstarch

2 cups distilled water

Optional: 5 drops essential oil

Shake well before each use and spray onto glass or mirror surfaces.

3. Natural Disinfecting Spray

Perfect for high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and light switches.

1 cup rubbing alcohol (70% or higher)

1 cup distilled water

20 drops tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil

Combine in a spray bottle. Let sit on surfaces for 30 seconds before wiping.

4. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Fights odors and stains naturally.

1/2 cup baking soda

1/4 cup white vinegar

Pour into the bowl and let fizz. Scru

Sharing the details on my work from home office setup, plus my experience with using a walking pad.

Hellooooo! How are ya and how’s the morning going so far? We’re back into real life after our little trip and it felt good to have a few days of normalcy. I’m so sick of restaurant and takeout food, I tell ya. It’s also amazing to have coffee at home – Starbucks will never be the same to me.

This morning I have an exciting podcast interview and am unpacking, and re-packing. 🙂 I’d love to hear what you’re up to!

For today’s post, I wanted to share my little work from home setup, plus my experience using a walking pad. It’s helped me dramatically increase my steps and activity level during longer work days, and I’m so pumped with this update to the office!

My WFH (work from home) setup

My lil office space:

I have enough room in here to meditate, work, stroll, or get in a quick workout (like Sculpt Society).

Here are some of the things I have in the office:

– My beloved Peloton bike! Perfect for cardio workouts or shaking my legs out

– My PEMF Go Mat. I use this for meditation every morning, or when I feel like I need a recharge or Zen moment. My full PEMF Go Mat review post is here, and if you’d like one for yourself, here is the link! My code is FITNESSISTA15 for 15% off

– A standard desk. I like having this for shorter work sessions or when I need to speak/present, like live recordings, course recordings, and more formal Zoom calls. The desk and chair are from World Market but both sold out, since they’re years old.

– Triangle shelf (similar here) filled with photos and the girls’ artwork.

– On the opposite wall (unpictured), I also have this book shelf, which has some of my fitness and nutrition resources and the Pilot’s military coins/flags/thingies.

– New walking pad and electric standing desk. I picked lower-cost options because they had good reviews and I’ve been impressed so far!

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Sharing tips on how to not kill your houseplant and keep indoor plants alive and thriving!

The Pilot says I used to have a gangrene thumb. I was the person who’d walk through the plant shop and plants would instantly recoil in fear that I would bring them home. The unlucky chosen ones were brought into our house, neglected, and lived a sad, yet quick, death.

With a huge learning curve, over past handful of years, I’ve really turned things around! We now have a full garden with lots of herbs and veggies, multiple thriving indoor houseplants, and the legendary Frida, our 10 ft-ish fiddle leaf fig.

Houseplants can make such a difference in home decor and the overall vibe of the house! They can help purify air and can also add more style and character to your home. Plants naturally grow in the wild but you can recreate a plant’s natural habitat indoors. Today, I’m sharing some tips that can help my horticulturally challenged friends out there kiss their black thumb goodbye and keep your plants alive thriving inside your homes.

How Not to Kill Your Houseplant

Choosing plants wisely

Don’t be afraid to start with an “easier” plant, like a succulent, lavender, aloe, cacti, spider plant, or my fave easy plant, the Heart leaf Philodendron. This post has a list of popular houseplants. Check out the tag to see how much sunlight and water they need and plan accordingly for the type of care that’s required. Succulents and cacti need very little water (too much can give them wet feet and soggy roots), while aloe needs a bit more, and the Heart leaf Philodendron likes to dry out a little and then be completely drenched.

Put plants in the right spot

Sunlight is a critical factor, as some plants need a lot of sun and others don’t need much at all. Before making your purchase, check out the tag of the plant or do a quick google search to see how much light they prefer. Our fiddle leaf fig loves being in a large south-facing window, which receives hours of indirect sun. Other plants in the house do well with indirect sun from various windows. When you bring your plant home, place it into its spot in the same pot you brought home from the nursery. This way it can get used to its new environment befor