Conversations around green DIY household cleaners often start with questions like “Why should I make my own household cleaners?”, “Are DIY cleaners any good? I like things really clean.” and “Don’t you have to use special ingredients?”
Greener Grove member Julie Ruffolo addressed these questions and others at our September meeting. We concluded the night with mixing up a natural scouring scrub to use on sinks and tubs using easy-to-find (and often on hand) ingredients.
Why Make Your Own Natural Cleaners
Many of the store-bought cleaners have ingredients that go above and beyond what is needed for tackling everyday cleaning projects at home. And, given their ingredient list, have an impact on…
Health - The individual chemicals used in cleaning products often have health risks. For example, many come with warnings to only use the product in well-ventilated spaces. Or, include detailed safety measures to follow if, for example, the product splashes on unprotected skin. Long term, we are all exposed to chemicals from an array of sources. Scientists are even finding that chemicals are with us from the beginning: According to an article in The Guardian, toxic PFAS chemicals are found in umbilical cord blood samples which can lead to health challenges throughout life. Converting to DIY cleaning products is one way to reduce in-home chemical use.
Environment - Many cleaning products eventually make it down the drain or into the soil - for example, when we empty a bucket of soapy water used to wash the kitchen floor. Using natural ingredients like lemons, baking soda, and white vinegar to clean is much kinder to the environment. To learn more about wastewater treatment in Downers Grove, visit the Downers Grove Sanitary District website or attend one of their open houses.
Indoor Air Quality - Artificial scents used to make our home “smell” clean and mask chemical smells can lower indoor air quality - and be harmful to people with asthma and allergies.
Cost - Cleaning supplies are expensive compared to the DIY alternative.
Check the environmental score of the cleaning products in your utility closet on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website.
Common Ingredients in DIY Household Cleaners
Many of the key ingredients used in DIY household cleaning recipes come straight from your pantry or fruit bowl; others can be found online or at most grocery stores…
Fresh lemon juice
Baking soda
White vinegar
Club soda
Borax - like 20 Mule Team Borax
Liquid soap - like Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Pure Castile Soap
Washing soda - like Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Here’s how these ingredients work on different stains (see recipes further down in this post):
Other cleaning products/supplies to have on hand include:
Spray bottles for holding your DIY liquid cleaners
Wide mouth jars with tight-fitting lids for holding DIY cleaning powders
Cotton rags
Cellulose sponges
Squeegee (great for wiping down shower walls after each shower)
DIY Recipes
Here are several common recipes for everyday cleaning projects to try in your own home:
Acid Cleaners Lemon Juice Club Soda Vinegar | Use on Rust Soap Scum Water Spots |
Basic Cleaners Soap Baking Soda Borax Washing Soda | Use on Body Oil Food Stains General Dirt & Grime |
Cleaning Projects that Call for Something Stronger
Many of the DIY recipes work best on everyday cleaning tasks. Staying on top of cleaning projects before they become big ones helps to minimize the need for stronger solutions. When that is unavoidable or the stain/issue is beyond what a DIY product can do, spend a few minutes researching more green options. For example, check out these sites:
Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice website - Helps consumers find products that are more safe for human health and the environment.
Environmental Working Group - Search for products that have the EWG Verified mark
Follow us on Facebook, too, to learn about member experiences with different products - and share your own.
We’ve shared some great links in this article. Here are a couple of others to check out - Toxic Free Future and Allergy Buyers Club.
Take Action - Clean Up Your Utility Closet
So, to green up your household cleaning chores, give some of these DIY recipes a go. Take it a step further by surveying all the cleaning products you use, including laundry and dishwasher detergents. Look at the ingredient list and the packaging - even those pods and laundry sheets contain plastics. Can you replace the cleaning products you currently use with more environmentally-kind, human-friendly solutions?
Join us at our next meeting on October 22nd:
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