CITIZENS NEWS

DIY cleaning supplies: 3 Simple recipes for homemade cleaning products

By zoeysky // 2022-08-11

Prepping before SHTF isn't limited to just stocking up on ammo for your firearms, food and water for your family. Before disaster strikes, you should also stock up on other survival essentials like household cleaning products. Maintaining cleanliness in your homestead or bug-out location will help protect your loved ones from disease-causing germs and viruses. (h/t to SHTFPreparedness.com) If you're worried about running out of cleaning supplies after SHTF, learn how to make simple DIY homemade cleaning products like an all-purpose home cleaner or a non-toxic glass cleaner. Even if you think you have enough supplies, it's better to learn how to make different cleaning solutions from scratch. As a bonus, these DIY home cleaning products can also make the most of the ingredients you have in your pantry. Here are some simple and non-toxic DIY cleaning recipes.

All-purpose home cleaner

Use this all-purpose home cleaner to remove hard water stains, get rid of molds and mildew or disinfect kitchen counters and other surfaces in your homestead. (Related: Home cleaning hacks: Non-toxic DIY carpet cleaner recipe.) The recipe calls for vinegar, a versatile ingredient with mild acidic properties. Vinegar will help melt deep-seated dirt, neutralize unpleasant odors and kill harmful bacteria. You will need:

• One-part white vinegar
• One-part water
• Spray bottle
• Large glass jar with lid
• Lemon peels or essential oils of your choice for the scent (optional)

Steps: 

1. Combine all the ingredients in the jar. If you are using lemon peels or essential oils to make the scented version of this homemade cleaner, set the mixture aside for at least one week. This will help the lemon peels infuse into the solution.
2. Pour the contents into a spray bottle and use it for cleaning.

Use this non-t0xic and vinegar-based cleaner as a natural alternative to store-bought, chemical-based products that may contain harmful ingredients. Note that you can use the all-purpose cleaning solution on almost all surfaces except granite and stainless steel. Both surfaces can react poorly to the acid and result in discoloration and other irreversible damages.

Eco-friendly toilet bowl cleaner

This non-toxic toilet bowl cleaner requires Castile soap, a vegetable-based soap that is 100 percent natural and biodegradable. It is also free from animal fats and toxic ingredients. Castile soap is traditionally made from olive oil, but it is also now made with other ingredients like castor, coconut or hemp oils. Castile soap has many uses for maintaining personal hygiene such as body wash, deodorant and wound cleaning. It can also be used as a natural household cleaner, like for washing dishes and doing the laundry. Castile soap combined with baking soda also produces an effective toilet bowl cleaner. To make your bathroom smell good even after SHTF, add your favorite essential oils to the toiler bowl cleaner. You will need:

• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup liquid Castile soap
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• Essential oils for scent (Optional)
• Large bottle
• Funnel

Steps: 

1. Use the funnel to pour the ingredients into the bottle one by one.
2. Close the bottle cap. Shake well to combine all the ingredients.
3. When you're ready to clean the toilet, pour the homemade cleaner over the toilet lid and rim as you would a bleach-based cleaner. Let the cleaning solution sit for at least 15 minutes.
4. Scrub vigorously in areas with stubborn grime, then rinse.

Non-toxic mirror and glass window cleaner

Keep the windows in your homestead squeaky clean with this non-toxic mirror and glass window cleaner. You will need:

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup 70 percent rubbing alcohol
• Spray bottle

Steps: 

1. Combine everything in the spray bottle. Shake well before spraying the cleaner on glass windows, doors and mirrors.
2. Wipe it dry with paper towels or a cloth.

Avoid cleaning your windows when it’s hot and sunny outside because the heat will dry out the cleaning solution too quickly and leave streaks in the glass.

Bonus recipes for different home cleaning solutions

Here are more recipes for simple and non-toxic cleaning solutions you can use around your home. Heavy-duty kitchen cleaning solution Use this heavy-duty cleaning solution to deal with big kitchen messes. You will need:

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup natural dish soap
• 5 drops clove essential oil
• About 3 drops of water
• Mixing bowl

Steps:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl.
2. To use the cleaner, apply the solution to the dirty surface using the gritty side of a double-sided kitchen sponge and scrub.
3. Wipe up the mess with a wet cloth.

DIY mold and mildew cleaner This natural cleaning mixture will help eliminate mild mold and mildew without any harsh chemicals. You will need:

• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 teaspoons tea tree oil
• 24-ounce spray bottle

Steps:

1. Pour the water and tea tree oil into the spray bottle. Shake well.
2. To use, spray moldy areas with the cleaning solution several times. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours.
3. After 24 hours have passed, pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into a small bowl. Gradually spritz it with the solution until you have a glue-like paste.
4. Apply the baking soda paste to the moldy surface using a clean toothbrush and scrub. Rinse well.

Homemade hardwood cleaner Use this non-toxic and homemade cleaning solution to make hardwood floors shine again. You will need:

• 1 gallon warm water
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2-3 drops lemon essential oil
• 2-gallon bucket

Steps:

1. Mix all the ingredients in the two-gallon bucket.
2. To use the cleaner, dip a mop head into the bucket and wring it out well until it is barely damp. Mop hardwood floors and repeat.

Before SHTF, stock up on natural ingredients for non-toxic cleaning solutions like vinegar, Castile soap and essential oils so you can keep your homestead clean and fresh-smelling. Watch the video below about a DIY natural bleach alternative and furniture polish. This video is from the Natural News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Mold, begone: 5 Non-toxic DIY mold cleaner recipes. Unleash your inner neat-freak with these cleaning hacks. No muss, no fuss: 6 Natural ways to remove mold. Sources include: SHTFPreparedness.com RealSimple.com Brighteon.com

preparedness prepping survival DIY ingredients homesteading green living off grid sustainable living tips vinegar cleaning products Non Toxic how-to glass cleaner all-purpose cleaner toilet bowl cleaner