Homemade Natural Cleaning Solutions For The Kitchen

The kitchen is always a focal point of a home. Keeping it clean to ensure it is a comfortable healthy place to not only prepare but enjoy food is vital. Natural kitchen cleansers are a priority to me not only because I have a kiddo who licks everything but because using non toxic options makes for a healthier home.  I decided to try to use as many non toxic kitchen cleaning solutions as I could find.

Finding some that were pre-made were a little pricier than I could afford. Then I started looking for natural kitchen cleansers that I could make on a budget. This involved a lot of research to see what items would effectively clean, be a non toxic kitchen cleaner, and be affordable for a family of 6 living on one income. I found and started using different recipes online. Once I got the hang of it I tweaked the recipes to better fit our home. 

Alot of the ones I found were natural cleaners with essential oils. I love essential oils so most of the recipes are a mix of vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.  Here are some of my favorite homemade  that I use in my home.

All Purpose Spray Cleaner With Essential Oils

• 1/2 c white vinegar
• 2 Tbsp baking soda
• 10 drops tea tree, lavender, or lemon essential oil (for their disinfectant properties)

Mix the vinegar, essential oils and a little water before adding baking soda in a clean spray bottle . Fill to top with water. I use about a 12 oz bottle.

Gently shake to mix ingredients, and then spray, wipe with a cloth, and allow it to dry.

This solution is my daily used natural cleaner for my kitchen. It can be used on counter tops, walls, floors, and is even great when cleaning out the refrigerator.

All Purpose Spray Cleaner Without Essential Oils

•  White vinegar or vodka
• 3 or 4 lemon peels
• Mason jar

Add vinegar or vodka into mason jar until it is 3/4 of the way full.

Peel lemons and add lemon peels to the jar until the jar is full.

Let sit a minimum of 48 hrs but the longer it sits the more the disinfectant properties build up I usually make 3 or 4 mason jars at a time so I do not run out.

Once the mixture has sat long enough gently shake, remove lemon peels and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Fill the bottle 1/2 way with the mix and then fill the rest of the way with water. Spray on whatever needs cleaned, wipe with a cloth, and allow to dry.

When Im running out of essential oils this is my go to kitchen cleanser. I find it works just as effectively as the one with oils but I like the potency of the smell with the oils better.

Soft-Scrub Cleaner AKA Natural Comet Cleanser

• 1 1/2 cups baking soda
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil 
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• If you do not have essential oils a grated lemon peel or fresh squeezed lemon works great also (this is my favorite)

Place baking soda in a  mixing bowl. Add oils or lemon juice stirring vigorously to combine into a paste. You want it to be thick and more dry than wet. Store in an airtight food container. This is a great natural kitchen cleaner if you cook like me. By that I mean I’,m messy lol. There are lots of spills. This solution lets me scrub up the messes. It is also great to use on grout before mopping tiled floors. 

Oven Cleaner

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 2 – 3 Tbsp water (or more/less)
• White vinegar (1/2 cup or so)

In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda and stir in 2 – 3 tablespoons of water. You want this to be a paste that is spreadable not one that is too thick and clumps

Spread the paste all over the walls of your ovens, rubbing it in for a scrubbing effect.

Let that mixture rest overnight.

In the morning, spray vinegar everywhere you spread the baking soda. This will create a foaming action. Wipe clean with a damp cloth, rinse and repeat until clean

Drain Cleaner

• 1/2 cup baking soda 
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 tsp of lemon juice or 10 drops lemon essential oil

Mix lemon juice or essential oil and vinegar together and set aside. Sprinkle baking soda down the drain. Pour vinegar and lemon mix down the drain. Let the bubbling mixture sit for 45 minutes to an hour and then pour boiling hot water down the drain to rinse.

Depending on how smelly or clogged the drain is, you may need to repeat the process again. 

Dishwasher Detergent

• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups baking soda
• 2 cups Borax
• 1 cup of Lemi-Shine (non-toxic detergent booster found in the detergent aisle) optional but highly recommended

Mix all ingredients together. Transfer to an air-tight storage container. It will last a long time: each load uses only 2 tablespoons of detergent.

Homemade Liquid Dish Soap

• 1/2 cup warm distilled water
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Lemon essential oil (optional)
• Lavender essential oil (optional)

Combine distilled water with salt. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.

In a separate bowl, combine the vinegar, Sal Suds, and lemon juice. Stir this mixture into the salt water mixture. Stir until thickened.

You may wish to add 10 – 15 drops of lemon essential oil both for scent and for disinfectant properties. I always do and sometimes a touch of lavender essential oil because it smells yummy. Both are optional

Pour mixture into a airtight container. 

Disinfectant Wipes

• 1 cup water
• ¼ cup with vinegar
• 10 drops tea tree oil
• 8 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 8 drops lemon essential oil
• Empty airtight container. I actually use one of those baby wipe containers that are hard plastic. Makes for easy storage and use
• 15 – 20 squares of cloth. I keep a rag bag of old t-shirts and dish cloths that I cut and use as needed.

Combine the water, vinegar, and 3 essential oils in a bowl. Stir until  the ingredients are well mixed.

Pour mixture over the cloths in the container where they will soak in and be ready for you to pull out and use.

After you use the cloths just toss them in the laundry. You can keep using the re-laundered cloths as often as the cloths hold up and then just cut new squares and make a new batch.