The Lazy Girl’s Guide to DIY Homemade Cleaners

I don’t know how, but somewhere along the way, we Do-It-Yourself-ers got pigeon-holed as ambitious, crafty, and talented. It’s just simply not true. I, for one, am actually quite lazy, awkward, and mediocre.

This couldn’t be more true when it comes to cleaning. I want cleaning supplies that are simple. I want my cleaning process to be easy. I don’t want to have to buy 17 different kinds of sprays to clean each separate appliance, room, or piece of furniture in my house. And I certainly don’t want to have to haul my kids to the store to buy new cleaning products every time they run out. Have you been to the grocery store with a 2 year old lately? Guh. Please don’t tell me that it’s “easier” to just buy it from the store. I wholeheartedly disagree.

My solution to this laziness is to just make my cleaning products myself. (And no, I didn’t invent these things. Lazy people steal borrow ideas from smarter people Pinterest.) All it requires is buying a few ingredients and mixing them together. And when it runs out? Mix some more together. No talent or ambition required! Most of these ingredients come in large or bulk sizes, so you will get several batches out of each container. Bonus: these ingredients are CHEAP and useful for other household purposes.

All-Purpose Cleaning Spray:

• A few drops of Blue Dawn dish soap
• 3/4 Cup of white Vinegar
• 3 Cups of Water
• Spray Bottle 

This spray can be used for pretty much every room and mess in your house. Counters, windows, floors, showers, sinks, and tables. It is truly All Purpose. This is the spray bottle that you can just leave holstered to your belt as you follow your two-year-old tornado around.

To use: Mix it up, spray it on, wipe it off!

Disinfectant Spray:

• ¼ Cup Bleach
• 4 Cups Water
• Spray Bottle 

I try to avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, but sometimes you’re faced with a mess that requires a little extra germ-killing. I use this one for yucky raw meat juice, toilets, and kid vomit. Gross. Sorry for typing those words.

To use: Mix it up, spray it on, wipe it off!

Laundry Detergent:

• 1 Ivory bar soap (plain white), grated finely
  (Can also use Fels Naphtha or Zone cleaning bars)
• ½ Cup Borax
• 1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• Plastic Container with a lid (a large yogurt container will do the trick!)
• Tablespoon for measuring
• Cheese grater

To Use: Mix it all up in your plastic container. I typically make three batches of this at once, because that’s what fits in my container.  Add 1 heaping TBS per load! (You don’t have to use very much because it’s simple and concentrated.)

Laundry Stain Remover:

• ½ Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• ½ Cup Hydrogen Peroxide
• 1 tsp Blue Dawn dish soap
• 1 Cup Water
• Dark Spray Bottle 

Hydrogen peroxide needs to be stored in a dark container, as light will cause it to turn into plain old water over time. So you either have to find a dark colored spray bottle to store this mixture in, or you can just spray/sprinkle each ingredient on each stain as you need it. Which is what I do…because I’m–you guessed it–LAZY.

To use: Mix it up, spray it on! Let it sit for a while before washing. (Test your fabric before using!)

Have you used any of these (or other) DIY products? Share your tips and tricks!