I have two toddlers and a dog. I clean all the time! I'm an incurable neat freak. They bring the mess and I run after them with my spray bottle and cloth and wipe it all away.
But because I've got two kids and a dog and I care about their health and mine, I prefer to make my own DIY household cleaner instead of using store-bought chemical cleaners.
Yes, you can buy wonderful organic non-toxic household cleaners, but making your own is so incredibly easy and it's much cheaper.
I add my ingredients for my DIY household cleaner directly in the spray bottle. Currently, I'm recycling a 32-ounce spray bottle that used to hold non-toxic all-purpose cleaner. Really, any bottle will do — just keep in mind that if you're using an old Lysol bottle or some similar chemical brand, you should make sure to give your bottle a solid cleaning before use.
Smaller spray bottles will also do just fine, but note, you will need to modify the amount of essential oil used as this recipe is based on a 32-ounce container.
Easy, Green, DIY Household Cleaner!
Ingredients:
Water
Apple Cider Vinegar
Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap
Baking Soda
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Directions:
Fill the body of your bottle halfway with water and halfway with apple cider vinegar.
If your bottle doesn't have a defined neck, then you'll need to leave some space in the body of the bottle.
Next, fill the neck 3/4 of the way with Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Liquid Soap, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 20 drops of tea tree essential oil, 20 drops of grapefruit seed essential oil and 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
Give your bottle a firm swirl before you spray. This is safe to use on counter tops, tabletop surfaces and high chair trays where food might touch.
The tea tree essential oil and apple cider vinegar are antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and anti-fungal. Eucalyptus essential oil is antiseptic and antibacterial and the grapefruit seed essential oil is a natural disinfectant. This concoction keeps mildew and mold at bay and it smells like fresh sunshine (yes, that's a scent!).
This blend works on mirrors and tiles, and even cleans your floor and the toilet bowl! It's like a magic wand — bibbity bobbity clean!
Ants also HATE the smell of this blend, so break this out in the springtime and watch them march right on out of your house!
Happy Cleaning!