Going Green? The Pros Swear By These Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Sometimes the best cleaning solution is one you have right in your pantry. Whether you're on a spring cleaning rampage, you need to scrub red wine out of your new carpet, or you're trying to stop the stomach bug from spreading through your house like wildfire, staples like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils can help. Experts say these DIY homemade cleaners are just as tough on bacteria as conventional cleaning products, but much gentler on your body and the environment. From an all-purpose solution without vinegar for countertops, to wood polish for furniture, to bathroom cleaners, there's something for every dirt- and germ-filled area of your home. (Yep, even the toilet!)

If your four-legged friend tracks some dirt on your carpet, mix one teaspoon of clear dish soap and one cup of warm water in a bucket. Blot dry, pour the soap mixture on the stain, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Gently scrub, repeating until clean. For more stubborn spills—like pet urine or red wine—learn how to make a stronger DIY carpet cleaner, here.

SHOP CLEANING BUCKET

To make a spray that will clean just about anything—countertops, the sink, light fixtures, and more—mix 13 ounces of hot water, ½ cup of white vinegar, 15 drops of grapefruit essential oil, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and seven drops of lemon essential oil in a spray bottle, says Kimberly Button, a certified green living expert.

SHOP SPRAY BOTTLE

Vinegar, lemon, and other acidic ingredients can leave etching—or dull spots—on soft surfaces, like marble. For a spray that's gentler, but still gets the job done, combine ¼ cup of vodka, 2 ¾ cup distilled water (regular tap water can cause streaking), ¼ teaspoon lavender essential oil, and 1/8 teaspoon tea tree essential oil in a spray bottle, says Kasey Ciesienky, founder and CEO of Red’s Gone Green.

SHOP ESSENTIAL OIL

There's on special ingredient that'll give you a streak-free clean, says Button—and that's cornstarch. In a large bowl, combine one cup of hot water and one cup of rubbing alcohol. Then, whisk in four tablespoons of cornstarch. Transfer to a spray bottle, and spritz onto windows, mirrors, or glass before wiping clean with a microfiber cloth.

SHOP RUBBING ALCOHOL

All you need to make your wood floor shine is a little bit of dish soap, says Brett Miller, VP of technical standards, training, and certification for the National Wood Flooring Association. Just mix two tablespoons of dish soap with a gallon of warm water, then mop.

SHOP DISH SOAP

To safely clean stainless steel or chrome, all you need is a little dish soap and water, says Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company. For convenience, mix the two ingredients in a spray bottle, spritz onto the surface, then use a clean microfiber cloth to scrub in the direction of the grain.

SHOP SPRAY BOTTLES

Mix enough liquid dish soap, baking soda, coarse salt, and distilled white vinegar to make a thick paste, says Shirley Langridge, manager of Maggie’s Oven Services. For deodorizing power, add three to four drops of vanilla or lavender essential oil, too. Then, apply the paste to the interior of the oven and let it sit overnight. (A few hours will do in a pinch.) Next, soak a sponge in warm water and scrub thoroughly. Finally, spray the entire oven with white vinegar and wipe once more with a clean cloth.

SHOP NON-SCRATCH SPONGE

Save yourself some elbow grease by placing a bowl filled with a mix of ¼ cup of white vinegar and one cup of water in the center of the microwave, says Shimek. Then, heat the mixture for five minutes on the highest setting. Once the bowl has cooled down, dip a cloth into the liquid and use it to wipe away any stains and splatters.

SHOP MICROFIBER CLOTHS

To deodorize one of the toughest working appliances in your kitchen, mix baking soda, white vinegar, and tea tree essential oil in a small bowl, says Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a Neighborly company. (It's fine to eyeball it.) Pour the entire mixture down the drain while the disposal is on, and let the appliance run for one minute. Finish with 1o drops of orange essential oil.

SHOP ESSENTIAL OIL

For a squeaky clean toilet, mix one cup of baking soda with 15 drops of tea tree essential oil and 15 drops of lemon or orange essential oil, says James. Let the mixture sit in the bowl for 30 minutes, then scrub with a bowl brush before flushing.

SHOP TOILET BOWL BRUSH

To add a pleasing aroma to any room of the house, add one cup of hot water to a spray bottle, then add one bunch of chopped sage leaves, one cup of distilled white vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon of salt, says Button. Let sit in a cool, dark place for 12 hours before using.

SHOP DISTILLED VINEGAR

Baking soda is a fantastically effective deodorizer for musty mattresses and smelly shoes, says Marilee Nelson, co-founder of Branch Basics. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the surface of the mattress or inside shoes, and let it sit for at least a few hours. For mattresses and other upholstered furniture, vacuum any lingering powder; for shoes, shake outdoors.

SHOP BAKING SODA

If your sweaters have been in storage, your pants got lost in the back of your drawer, or there's yellowing under the arm of your favorite white tee, tackle any musty smells with a homemade vodka spray, says Nelson. Just put inexpensive vodka into an empty spray bottle, spritz onto clothes to dampen, let sit, then wash as usual.

SHOP SPRAY BOTTLES