When I became a mother, I went into nesting overload.

Everything had to be clean—but not too clean, since exposure to germs would help to build his little immune system. The problem is, most commercially sold household cleaners also contain a variety of harsh chemicals.

I was also on a bit of a budget, and once I realized how much I was spending on bringing those awful chemicals into my home, I was convinced I needed to find other ways to clean the house. I wanted to be healthier, but if I could save money at the same time, I was sold.

I began researching alternatives and found countless recipes for making homemade cleaning supplies from non-toxic ingredients. Some weren’t all they promised to be, while others were even more effective than commercially available products—and making them was less intimidating than I thought it would be!

Since my son was born, there has been a surge in natural cleaners that are available commercially—but they come at a premium. Making your own benefits the planet, your wallet, and your health.

I’m sharing these three recipes with you because they are my tried-and-true. They’re less harmful and less wasteful than the stuff you buy at the store, and they work—I hope you enjoy!

1. DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

This is a must-have in your home because it can clean anything and everything, helping to keep your whole home as green as possible! While you can make cleaners specifically for glass or the bathroom, this works in a pinch when you don’t have those prepared. You just need a few ingredients (that you can use for numerous other things too!) and a spray bottle:

2. DIY Bleach Alternative

Bleach is a great way to keep your whites looking bright and for handling tough cleaning tasks. But, it smells awful and can ruin things if you’re not careful. This alternative gives you all of bleach’s cleaning power, without any of the risks. Plus, you’ve likely already got some peroxide and lemon juice in the house, so it’s quick and easy to throw together a batch.

Add a bit to a load of whites, or use it to scrub the toilet or grout in the bathroom. This is safe to use in nearly any situation where you’d use regular bleach.

3. DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Garbage disposals are full of food scraps, so it’s no wonder they get smelly so fast. There are a number of products available on the market to help you clean the system, but they are somewhat hard to find and full of bad stuff. All you need to clean and deodorize your disposal is white vinegar, lemon peels, and some rosemary (either fresh or dried, depending on what you have on hand).

Run it through the disposal whenever it starts to get a little funky, and it’ll stay fresher longer!

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Author: Jill Davis
Image: Author’s own
Editor: Callie Rushton
Copy Editor: Yoli Ramazzina
Social Editor: Catherine Monkman