Preparedness
Unlock Self-Sufficiency with DIY Cleaning Solutions at Home
Homesteading is all about embracing self-sufficiency, and it extends beyond just cultivating your own food. It’s about reducing reliance on the supply chain and large retailers. A straightforward way to achieve this—and save a substantial amount of money—is by crafting your own cleaning products from scratch.
Creating DIY cleaning products empowers you to manage the ingredients you use. Instead of relying on commercial sprays with unknown chemicals to tackle stains, you can confidently use homemade cleaning solutions, fully aware of their contents.
Most ingredients needed for these DIY cleaners are likely already in your pantry, such as baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, natural soap, and essential oils. The best part is that these homemade cleaning products are incredibly effective.
For those new to making DIY cleaning products on their homestead, here’s an introduction to four essential DIY cleaning solutions.
Every household requires an all-purpose cleaner. However, many store-bought all-purpose cleaners contain harsh chemicals. Fortunately, you can create a safe, all-purpose cleaning spray using natural ingredients that is just as effective.
Vinegar is a popular choice for all-purpose cleaners due to its effectiveness in scrubbing counters, glass, and showers. Misfit Gardening offers a simple recipe for an All-Purpose Vinegar Cleaning Spray:
“Mix 13 oz hot water, 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar (5%), 10 drops of lavender, and 20 drops of lemon or another citrus essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray on the surface then wipe away with a clean cloth.”
Sometimes, an all-purpose cleaner isn’t enough, especially when dealing with kitchen messes. Real Simple provides a recipe for a Heavy-Duty Kitchen Cleaning Solution.
“Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. To use, apply the solution to the surface using the gritty side of a double-sided kitchen sponge; scrub.”
Bathroom cleaning can also benefit from DIY solutions, specifically designed for areas like toilet bowls, sinks, and showers. The Homestead Challenge shares a Toilet Bowl Cleaner recipe:
“Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or jar. Pour into the toilet and let sit for 5 minutes.”
For tackling mold and mildew in the bathroom, Real Simple suggests a Mold and Mildew Cleaner:
“Pour the water and tea-tree oil into the spray bottle. Shake well. To use, heavily spray moldy areas with the solution. Let sit for 24 hours. Once 24 hours have passed, pour 1/4 cup baking soda into a small bowl and gradually spritz it with the solution until a glue-like paste forms. Apply the paste to the moldy surface using a clean toothbrush and scrub. Rinse.”
Furthermore, you can significantly cut costs by making your own DIY laundry detergent. Better Homes and Gardens provides a recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent and Rinse Aid:
“Grate bar of laundry soap; you should have about 2 cups of grated soap. (Or look for soap flakes online.) Mix all ingredients in a large container. Store in a lidded jar. Use 2 tablespoons for a light load and 4 tablespoons for a large or dirty load. Wash as normal.”
For the rinse aid, “add the drops to the container of vinegar. Use ¼ cup in the rinse cycle.”
By embracing these DIY cleaning solutions, homesteaders can enhance their self-sufficiency while ensuring a cleaner, healthier home environment.
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