You don’t need a cabinet full of harsh chemicals to keep a sparkling home. Some of the best natural cleaning ingredients are probably already in your kitchen. They’re inexpensive, gentle on your family and pets, and they work! Here are my favorite pantry staples for cleaning, plus easy ways to use each one.

8 Natural Cleaning Ingredients to Keep on Hand

• Distilled White Vinegar: Loosens dirt, cuts soap scum and hard water spots, and freshens odors.
• Baking Soda: A gentle scrubber for sinks, tubs and stovetops. It also deodorizes carpets and freshens the fridge.
• Lemon Juice: Cuts through grease, brightens surfaces and leaves a fresh scent.
• Castile Soap: A plant-based soap that works on floors, counters, dishes and more.
• Olive Oil: Polishes wood furniture and shines stainless steel.
• Sea Salt: A natural scrubber that helps lift stains and deodorize.
• Nontoxic Dish Soap: Mix with baking soda for a grease-cutting scrub.
• Plant-Based All-Purpose Spray: Handy for quick wipe-downs, degreasing, windows and glass.

Easy Recipes Using Natural Cleaning Ingredients

All-Purpose Vinegar Spray

Mix 1 cup distilled white vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle. Add 10 drops of lemon or lavender essential oil if you like. Use it on glass, sinks, faucets and most countertops.

Baking Soda Scrub

Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with enough dish soap to make a thick paste. Scrub sinks, tubs and stovetops, then rinse well.

Lemon and Salt Scrub

Cut a lemon in half, dip it in sea salt, and scrub cutting boards, copper pots or stained sinks. Rinse with warm water.

Wood Furniture Polish

Mix 1/4 cup olive oil with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Apply a small amount with a soft cloth, then buff to a shine.

Castile Soap Floor Cleaner

Add 1 tablespoon of castile soap to a bucket of warm water. Mop as usual. There’s no need to rinse.

Fridge and Carpet Freshener

Leave an open box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb odors. For carpets, sprinkle baking soda, let it sit 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Natural Cleaning Safety Tips

• Never mix vinegar with bleach. It creates dangerous fumes.
• Don’t mix vinegar and castile soap. They cancel each other out and leave a sticky film. Use them separately.
• Skip vinegar and lemon on natural stone. Their acid can etch granite and marble, so use mild soap and water instead.
• Test first. Try any new cleaner on a small, hidden spot.
• Label your bottles and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
• Don’t mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in the same bottle. Together they make an acid that can irritate your skin, eyes and lungs. Use them one after the other instead, wiping in between.

Why clean with natural ingredients?

Cleaning with natural ingredients can save you money, reduce the number of plastic bottles in your home, and help you avoid some of the harsh chemicals found in traditional cleaning products. Many of these ingredients are already sitting in your kitchen, making them convenient and budget-friendly alternatives. Once you discover how well these simple ingredients work, you may never go back to some of your store-bought cleaners!

Want more recipes? Try my homemade non-toxic dishwasher detergent. For help choosing safer store-bought products, visit the EPA Safer Choice program.

Happy Cleaning!
Diana

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