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

Cleaning Schedule for Housework in 2 Hours

Struggling to keep up with housework? Follow this simple 2-hour cleaning schedule to efficiently tackle all your household chores and maintain a clean and organized home.

Yes, I really do clean my house in about 2 hours every week. I only clean on Mondays and Fridays otherwise it’s just the normal make-your-bed and pick-up-after yourself. 

Laundry too? Yes, but I do use the speed cycle so each load is only 30 minutes. I use it as my timer in a way. I start a load, start cleaning the house and go back to the wash to fold and put away then keep cleaning as the next load cycles.

WEEKLY CLEANING SCHEDULE

Our major cleaning days start the week and weekend with a clean house so we are always free to get other cleaning tasks done or to play. That means only two days a week are actual cleaning days. During the summer, kids don’t play on Mondays or Fridays until the house is cleaned. I give them one job at a time and they keep coming back for more until it’s done. They live here too, so we work together and play together.

Monday

Clean your entire house and do all the laundry in one day. It takes me two hours; you can do it too and enjoy freedom all the other days!

• Start top to bottom and by room, using the washer and dryer as your timer.

Once a load ends, stop wherever you’re cleaning and change the loads, fold any dry clothes, put them away and for the kids lay them on their beds so they can put them away, and head back to cleaning. See laundry tips section for more info.

• Bathrooms

Bathrooms get cleaned starting with showers and mirrors, working down to counters and toilets, and ending with sweeping and mopping. That means if you have three bathrooms all three get tackled vs cleaning all upstairs and starting over downstairs.

PRO TIP- Try keeping cleaning supplies in each bathroom or close by to make it faster rather than hauling buckets of supplies around.

• Pick-Up, Clean-Up, Put Away

Do a quick sweep of the house and pick up anything on countertops.

• Kitchen

Clean the kitchen, starting with any dishes that need to be put away and kitchen counters wiped down, and finishing with sweeping and mopping.

• Dusting

Dust the house so any dust that falls gets swept or vacuumed.

• Last is VACUUMING!

Vacuum the house, leaving bedrooms for whoever sleeps there.

That’s it!! You just got it all done and you remembered to listen for the wash and got it all done too. Listen, it will take time to make a habit, but I can drop anything at any time and just go play or run an errand because there’s never a bunch of cleaning. We pick up after ourselves, we help each other, and we are always feeling safe and peaceful in our house because there is no excess of chaos other than laughter and children.

Tuesday

 Wash days for towels or any additional linens.

Friday

Do Monday’s house cleaning schedule all over again. Enjoy the entire weekend without a single chore. 

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