Who doesn’t love to save time and money? Well, DIY cleaners do both of these things, so they’re a staple in our cleaning kit here at the CMS HQ. From simple daily tasks to more specific cleaning jobs, these DIY cleaning recipes were created to get the job done quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing the effectiveness you expect from their store-bought counterparts.
Fridge
Who doesn’t want to know the best product to clean your fridge with? I sure do! Well here is your recipe:
- 1 cup of plain hot water
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp of dish soap
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
Mix this one up in a spray bottle and apply to your fridge. Then just wipe your fridge dry and you’re good to go! The lemon EO will not only help you remove any of the grimy build-up you’ve got going on in your fridge, it’s also really going to freshen it up with a nice lemony zing.
Laminate Floors
Laminate floors oftentimes look streaky and hazy after being cleaned, which shouldn’t be the case! I mean, they’ve just been cleaned! Whip up this miracle laminate floor cleaner and use in a spray bottle with flat head microfiber mop to get rid of those streaks for good!
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
- 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional)
Hardwood Floors
This is a versatile solution which requires no rinsing and can be used either in a spray bottle and applied with a flat head mop, or with a microfiber head wring mop. Using just a touch of soap will help gently lift dirt but not leave residue behind (and your floors sticky underfoot). The vinegar helps to cut grease and residue and reveal the floor’s natural shine.
- 1/2 teaspoon dish soap
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups water
Shake this solution up in a spray bottle, spray a section of floors and mop with your flat head mop. If you’re using this solution in a bucket, double the soap and vinegar and quadruple the water. Always remember to wring your mop out very well and mop in the direction of the wood grain to reduce the appearance of streaks.
Everyday Counter Cleaner
Having a little bottle of something to clean up daily spills and crumbs on the kitchen and bathroom counter makes on-the-go cleaning a snap. Keep a bottle of this handy along with a clean microfiber cloth for those quick in-between cleans. It’s great to get into a daily habit of wiping up the counters to keep them spotless—clean begets clean!
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp dish soap
- 20 drops of your favorite essential oil (tea tree is a great natural disinfectant!)
Using a clean spray bottle, add all the ingredients and shake well. Spray surfaces liberally and allow the solution to sit (swell time!) for a few minutes—or longer for bigger spills. Then, simply wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
White Sole Shoe Cleaner
Keeping those white soled sneakers clean keeps your shoes looking fresh-out-of-the-box. To get those whites whiter, simply mix equal parts baking soda and laundry detergent. I generally use 2 tablespoons of each for a single pair of shoes. Mix this together and apply to the white soles with a cleaning toothbrush. Scrub vigorously and wipe solution away with a damp microfiber cloth. Boom! White!
Foot Powder
Stinky feet. It’s a thing here at the CMS HQ, sorry Chad! To eliminate the ‘ol blue-cheese-feet, here’s a simple DIY recipe:
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup baking powder
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 5 drops of your favorite essential oil
Simply mix all these ingredients together, I generally do this in a little ziplock bag and keep it in the front closet. Then, each morning, if I’m going barefoot, I simply sprinkle a pinch into each shoe, shake it so it covers well, and then… walk on!
Daily Shower Spray
Catching soap scum before it has the chance to form is one of the best ways to avoid scrubbing your shower.
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil
Add these ingredients to a spray bottle and keep it in your shower. Simply mist this on your shower walls, door and inside the tub after you’ve showered to keep soap scum and mildew at bay. Remember to turn your overhead fan on for at least 30 minutes after you shower to ventilate the space. Removing moisture from the air will combat mold and mildew growth.
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Interesting read. I have to give your recipes a try.
Can you please confirm the white vinegar smell will be just temporary only?
Hi there, the vinegar smell will dissipate after it dries. If you’re worried about it, try adding a little less vinegar and a little more water, plus an essential oil of your choice when appropriate.
Hi Melissa, Great DIY cleaners tips & it would help me out a lot. Could you suggest to me some tips on how can I clean my hob top gas stove? Thanks & I am waiting for your reply.
Hi Lucas,
What spray bottles do you use that can handle essential oils without clogging after some time?
Can I use another EO besides tea tree (disinfectant) for everyday shower mist, I can’t handle the smell?
In one of her videos on youtube, she mentions other EO like peppermint or eucalyptus (the latter is the one I use) that you can sub in for tea tree.
What can I use to clean marble kitchen counters? Most product will ruin the marble because it is so porous
Best cleaning tips for laminate floors. But white vinegar smell will be just temporary only?
I tried this recipe recently and the vinegar smell was quite overpowering, even with my EO. The smell did eventually leave but I think I would up the EO or choose a more powerful scent to mask the vinegar.
What about shelf life of these cleaners, and all previously mentioned diy cleaners. Not expecting them all however it would be amazing if you could mention expiry moving forward. Been a fan for years, and love the channel!!!
Great cleaning tips for laminate floors. But any ideas about DIY cleaners for devices?
Hi, Doesn’t dish soap eventually leave soap residue?!
I love using vinegar for cleaning because I don’t have to rinse. But feels weird to use dish soap and not rinse, even if it was a small amount. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!
I actually took a course for a service and, it suggested the same. wipe the surface w/ warm soapy water then wipe dry. My experience, I think, was dependent on the brand of soap and it’s soap:water ratio for streaks but, I just started using a surface cleaner with vinegar. Honestly, worst experience I ever had was from a cup that had not been thoroughly rinsed. I wouldn’t want to eat food that came off a counter with soap residue.
Where do you recommend essential oils cause I heard that the ones at Walmart are no good?
We recommend visiting your local health food store for high quality EOs.
Aafter you spray on shower cleaner how long do you wait to wipe clean use what to clean shower with?
Wait about 5-10 minutes.
What to use for toilets
Try this: https://cleanmyspace.com/toilet-bowl-cleaner/
Any ideas about DIY cleaners for devices?
We love this screen cleaner. Just spray it onto a flat weave microfibre cloth and all your devices will be clean in no time.
Thanks a lot!
Toxin Free Cleaning Products like Kitchen cleaner, floor cleaners, fabric wash, fabric softener and bathroom cleaners which makes cleaning a breeze.
Great cleaning tips for laminate floors. But white vinegar smell will be just temporary only?
Yes! The vinegar smell will dissipate when it dries.
I have a new granite countertop
Just wanted to know if your regular counter cleaner would work ok for this
Could you add rubbing alcohol to the all purpose cleaner or should you disinfect tops as a seperate job?
Is there a master shopping list of the ingredients for the all of the DIY cleaners, not just the ones in this post, or do we need to hit each recipe and see what’s different?
What spray bottles do you use that can handle essential oils without clogging after some time? I live in Canada.
your window cleaner was 1/2 c water, 1/2 c white vinegar but I didn’t hear how much cornstarch
you used. Would you please share?
Just saw you on the Rachael Ray Show giving the recipe for cleaning windows. I don’t believe the amount of cornstarch was given. you said 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar and cornstarch but no amount of cornstarch. Please reply the amount.
How do you deal with the strong vinegar smell? I made up a batch of your recipe for glass cleaner and the smell of the vinegar knocked my socks off….suggestions for taming this?
Hi Vicki – We have an article discussing this topic! 🙂 https://cleanmyspace.com/vinegar-smells-bad/