7 DIY Household Cleaners You'll Actually Use (And Keep Using)

I’ve been making my own household cleaners for about ten years now. Not because I’m some kind of crunchy perfectionist — mostly because I got tired of spending money on stuff that’s full of chemicals I can’t pronounce. Plus, it turns out you don’t need a dozen different bottles under your sink to keep things clean.

These seven recipes are the ones I actually use. They’re simple, they work, and they won’t leave you with a cabinet full of weird ingredients you’ll never touch again.

• 16 oz spray bottles (a few of them)
• 16 oz pump or pour-top bottle
• Gallon jar or two half-gallon jars
• A small pot
• A whisk or spoon
• A jar with a lid for the scent booster

This makes a gel-like dish soap, not the watery stuff. If you use liquid Castile soap instead of bar soap, it’ll be thinner — your call.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups water
• 2 tablespoons grated Castile soap (bar form — I use Dr. Bronner’s unscented)
• 1 teaspoon washing soda
• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin (optional, but helps moisturize your hands)

Steps:

1. Heat the water in a small pot over low heat. Add the grated Castile soap and stir until it’s fully dissolved. No clumps — otherwise you’ll clog your pump later.
2. Whisk in the washing soda and vegetable glycerin until smooth.
3. Pour into a 16 oz container. It’ll look watery at first — give it a few hours to thicken up.

This is the recipe I’ve been using for a decade. I tried a lot of versions before landing on this one. No borax, no soap stains, and it actually cleans clothes.

Ingredients (makes 1 gallon):

• ¼ cup coarse salt
• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup washing soda
• ½ cup liquid Castile soap
• Hot water

Steps:

1. In a gallon jar (or two half-gallon jars), combine the salt, baking soda, and washing soda.
2. Fill almost to the top with hot tap water. Stir well until everything dissolves. This helps prevent separation later.
3. Add the liquid Castile soap. Stir gently so it doesn’t foam up.
4. If you want scent, add 20-30 drops of essential oil. I keep mine unscented.
5. Use ¼ cup per load. Shake before each use if it separates.

I don’t usually use fabric softener, but I like having this around to add a little scent to specific loads. It’s basically a DIY version of those scent booster beads.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 3 cups coarse salt (or Epsom salt)
• 40 drops essential oil (I use lavender)

Steps:

1. Mix the baking soda and salt in a bowl.
2. Add the essential oil and stir really well to distribute.
3. Store in a jar. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.

If you want an alternative to dryer sheets, grab some wool dryer balls. You can add a few drops of essential oil to those too.

This is almost too easy. You just need a foaming pump bottle.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups water
• ½ cup liquid Castile soap

Steps:

1. Add the water to a 16 oz foaming dispenser.
2. Pour in the Castile soap. Don’t add it first or you’ll get a bubbly mess.
3. Swirl gently. That’s it.

This one separates, so shake it well before each use.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1½ tablespoons olive oil
• About ¾ cup water

Steps:

1. Add the vinegar and olive oil to a 16 oz spray bottle.
2. Fill the rest with water.
3. Shake before spraying. Wipe with a microfiber cloth.

The cornstarch is the weird secret ingredient here. I have no idea why it works, but it leaves glass streak-free like nothing else.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons rubbing alcohol (or vodka)
• ½ tablespoon cornstarch
• Cold water

Steps:

1. Add the vinegar, alcohol, and cornstarch to a 16 oz spray bottle.
2. Fill with cold water (hot water will make the cornstarch thicken).
3. Shake well before each use. The cornstarch settles, so don’t skip the shake.

Don’t mix Castile soap and vinegar in the same bottle — the vinegar will break down the soap. Pick one.

Vinegar-Based:

• 8 oz white vinegar
• 10 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
• Water to fill a 16 oz spray bottle

Castile Soap-Based:

• 2 tablespoons liquid Castile soap
• Water to fill a 16 oz spray bottle

Steps for both:

1. Add the main ingredient to the bottle first (vinegar or soap).
2. Add essential oil if using.
3. Fill with water. Shake gently.

For a citrus-scented vinegar cleaner, stuff a jar with lemon or orange peels, cover with vinegar, and let it sit in a cabinet for a month. Strain and use.

That’s it. Seven cleaners, all made with stuff you can find at the grocery store or online. They cost way less than the store-bought stuff, and you’re not spraying mystery chemicals around your kitchen.

If you try any of these, I’d love to hear how they work for you.