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Clean Bubbles

DIY HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS

There are many household products you might use every week but not think much about. Nearly all cleaners come in single-use containers, may contain irritating added fragrances and other chemicals, and most are sold with a hefty price markup. The good news is that many daily cleaners are surprisingly easy to make at home!

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Making your own household cleaners empowers you to select exactly what chemicals to use in your home and save money by avoiding name brands while ensuring that you are still using a high-quality product. Plus, homemade cleaners are a great entry point reducing reliance on single-use materials, using less plastic and creating a deeper connection with the items you use.

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Today, in the time of COVID-19, there’s a legitimate scarcity of certain cleaners like hand sanitizer and disinfectant. Happily, you can make your own sanitizers with ingredients that are more readily accessible. Try these recipes for making your own at home.

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For a printer-friendly version of all these recipes, simply open the PDF linked here:

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LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Ingredients

  • 1 cup grated soap (this is a great use for small slivers of  leftover soap or freebie hotel soap)  

  • ½ cup washing soda

  • ½ cup baking soda

  • 1 cup borax or kosher salt

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Equipment

  • Food processor or blender

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Directions

  1. Grate soap in a food processor or blender until you have 1 cup’s worth.

  2. Mix ingredients together and store in a reusable jar. Use 3-6 tablespoons per load depending on size of the load.

LIQUID CASTILE SOAP

Ingredients

  • 5 oz castile soap bar 

  • ½ gallon of filtered water

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Equipment

  • Food processor or blender

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Directions

  1. Grate castile soap bar in a food processor or blender into tiny flakes.

  2. Boil 1⁄2 gallon of filtered water and reduce heat slightly so that water remains hot.

  3. Stir in soap and keep stirring until all soap flakes are dissolved.

  4. Remove from heat and let mixture thicken for at least 12 hours. Use as a hand soap, for cleaning surfaces, or in the Azulita Project’s coconut milk shampoo bar recipe.

DISHWASHER DETERGENT

Ingredients

  • 2 cups washing soda

  • 2 cups baking soda

  • 15 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

  • 15 drops orange essential oil (optional)

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Directions

  1. Combine washing soda and baking soda.

  2. If using essential oils, stir into the mixture until the oils are evenly distributed.

  3. Store in an airtight container. When ready to use, place 1 tablespoon of the detergent in your dishwasher compartment.

HAND SANITIZER

Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup of rubbing alcohol, 60% alcohol content or higher

  • ⅓ cup of aloe vera juice/gel (lighten your environmental footprint by using the leaves of an aloe vera plant)

 

Directions

  1. Mix together in a small bottle. Use within two weeks. *Tip: For a citrus scent, you can use leftover lemon, orange, or lime peels and marinade them in the rubbing alcohol for at least two weeks. 

DISINFECTING CLEANER

Ingredients

  • 1 cup filtered water

  • ½ cup rubbing alcohol, 60% alcohol content or higher

  • ½ cup white vinegar

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Directions

  1. Mix the ingredients together and pour into a clean, reusable spray bottle, and it is ready for use. *Tip: For a citrus scent, you can use leftover lemon, orange, or lime peels and marinade them in the rubbing alcohol for at least two weeks. 

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