Why DIY Cleaning Products Help Your Home and the Planet

Cleaning is an unfortunate necessity, and nowadays, it seems like you need tons of products to keep your house in tiptop shape. Is it true that you need to spend tons of money on commercial products with tons of chemicals when you could make DIY cleaning products instead? Discover the truth behind store-bought cleaners, how you can replace them with something more eco-friendly, and what DIY options are actually worth making.

What Is the Environmental Problem With Cleaning Products?

Most cleaning products leave a harmful mark on the Earth. 

Chemical Pollution

Have you seen bottles advertising that they don’t contain certain ingredients, like phosphates? This is because marketers are trying to appeal to environmentalists. Toxic chemicals, like phosphates, solvents, and surfactants hurt wildlife and all habitat types.

Greenwashing

Companies that market eco-friendly products may be greenwashing customers, or convincing them they are greener than they are. Even though a product may not contain phosphates, corporations still rely on single-use plastics and overcharge for cleaners deemed socially essential.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Many cleaners are sprayed from nozzles. Over time, they release VOCs, which contribute to air and water pollution as they spread. They are invisible to the naked eye, so it’s hard to notice the long-term effects. This also reduces indoor air quality as the chemicals and VOCs cycle through the home.

Water Pollution

As chemicals get into the water through drains and the air, they get into lakes, oceans, and other waterways. They impact public health, but they also hurt biodiversity. Synthetics don’t break down, so they persist in waterways until it leaves a lasting, negative impact.

Packaging

Most cleaners come in single-use plastics that sometimes prevent people from reusing them because of how manufacturers adhere the nozzles. They contain colors and dyes which could make them difficult to recycle even if it has a recycling logo on it. Other packaging concerns include plastic pollution and pressures on transportation because water-based cleaners are heavy and fuel-intensive.

Resource Depletion

Cleaning products use tons of water to create. Sometimes, they use more water to create than what a bottle contains. The energy that goes into molding bottles, mixing liquids, and powering machines lead to environmental degradation.

What Are the Benefits to Creating DIY Cleaning Products?

There are numerous advantages to homeowners for making DIY cleaning products. The most obvious is knowing every ingredient and its impact. You can choose non-toxic options that are pollutant- and chemical-free. 

It is also safer for every aspect of your home. Chemicals hurt inhabitants, including pets, because it attacks respiratory health and the eyes. It also damages furniture over time by slowly degrading them.

You lower your individual emissions by dismissing the need to buy commercial cleaners. You’ll soon realize you don’t need to overconsume, buying tons of products for every room and surface. Multipurpose DIY cleaning products are the way to simplify your routine and combat hyperconsumerism. 

Additionally, you can refill your products, creating a nearly zero-waste cleaning routine. Reading a recipe or two can unlock a new skill in self-sufficiency, making your cleaning routine better for the home and the world.

What Do You Need to Make DIY Cleaning Products?

There are two categories of products you need to get started — ingredients and tools. Most of the ingredients you likely already have in your cupboards.

Common Ingredients

Vinegar is the most common. You can use white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar. It is a natural disinfectant, and when diluted in water, works well to remove streaks on glass. It also deodorizes and removes stains. Lemon works in a very similar way.

Baking soda works well as an abrasive. You can put it in kitchen sinks or on stovetops and scrub to remove buildup. Scalt is another possibility.

You may not have Castile soap, though it is an eco-friendly cleaning staple. This is a critical ingredient if you want to eliminate the need for surface- and room-specific cleaners. A little goes a long way.

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If you want to add scents to your DIY cleaning products, all you need to do is add an essential oil. Make sure they come from sustainable businesses and are nontoxic to animals.

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Tools

First, you’ll need spray bottles for mixing. Opt for glass when you can with easy-to-remove nozzles. Plastic will degrade over time.

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You may also need funnels to make sure you don’t make a mess.

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Obviously, you’ll also need glass measuring implements to make sure you get the right ratios. You can use what you already have in your kitchen.

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DIY cleaning products wouldn’t be complete without reusable cloths. These are what make the mixtures work. You must stop using disposable paper towels, because they’re often bleached and contain dyes that are harmful to the planet. 

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You may also want a marker or reusable labels to mark what is in each bottle and when they were made to keep track of their shelf life.

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How Do You Make Them?

Here are a few basic DIY cleaning recipes to get you started.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Put up to ¼ cup of white vinegar in a large bottle of water. Add a few drops of essential oil if desired for scent. Use as an all-around cleaner for bathrooms, kitchens, and furniture surfaces. Remove the essential oil to create a glass cleaner, because the oil will leave streaks.

Scrubbing Cleaner

Put one cup of baking soda in ½ cup of Castile soap. Add at least ¼ cup of water to make it thinner. Put on surfaces like grime or food residue and tackle it with the rough side of a sponge or bristle brush.

Deodorizer

Put one cup of baking soda on the surface you want to deodorize. Let it sit for up to a half hour and vacuum up the remnants. You can scrub it into the area if you want so the baking soda penetrates. Use this for carpets, laundry, and more.

Wood Polish

Add a few drops of lemon oil to a bottle of water. Shake thoroughly before use. Spray on authentic wood furniture to give it a shine. You can also add a few drops to a hot bucket of water to use for mopping wood floors to simulate the effect of commercial products like Murphy’s.

DIY Cleaning Products That Are Effective and Eco-Friendly

These options have far fewer impacts on the planet than spending countless dollars on store-bought cleaners. Plus, they only take a few minutes to put together endlessly until your house is always sparkling and pollutant-free.