Some think that you can’t have a truly “clean” environment when you live a homesteading lifestyle. However, natural cleaning remedies have just as many antibacterial properties as their man-made counterparts. They also don’t have any of the harsh chemicals, making them safer for both humans and animals. Making your own cleaners from home saves you a lot of money and it doesn’t even take much effort! Here’s how to clean each area of your home with Homemade Cleaning Solutions made from multi-purpose ingredients already in your pantry. 

Kitchen

Homesteading means a lot of preparing your own meals. Because of this, you want to make sure that your kitchen surfaces are as clean as possible. Making food on dirty countertops and cutting boards is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. Fortunately, you don’t need any harsh store-bought cleaners to kill these germs.

White vinegar is the perfect substance to use for disinfecting since it contains acetic acid. It can also cut through grease and grime that’s been sitting on kitchen surfaces for too long. Wiping down your counters with a water-vinegar mixture will kill any bacteria. To make them smell nice and fresh, you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mix.

Dishes

Clean dishes and silverware are just as important as clean counters, if not more so! If you have a dishwasher, you can use your white vinegar/water mixture in place of regular dish soap. All you need are a couple of drops in the detergent holder. Next, fill it up most of the way with baking soda. Fill it the rest of the way with salt to prevent hard water build-up.

Don’t forget to clean the dishwasher itself once in a while! Place a bowl filled with vinegar on the top rack for one cycle. Next, mix one cup of baking soda with a drink mix or essential oil. This will make your dishwasher smell fresh while eliminating any lingering germs from your dishes.

Bathroom

The bathroom is probably the most notoriously dirty place in your household, so it’s important to keep it clean! To freshen up your shower, fill a spray bottle with baking soda, water, ammonia, and white vinegar. Let it sit for at least five minutes, then wipe the foam away with a wet towel.

Cleaning the toilet is also a breeze with natural cleaners. All you need to do is pour one cup of baking soda into the bowel and let it sit for an hour. Next, add a cup of vinegar. Let it work for a few more minutes, flush, and you’re done!

Floors

No matter what kind of floor you have, a natural cleaner can get the job done. For tiled floors, spray a vinegar-water mixture over the floor. Next, mix baking soda with water to create a paste for the grout. A thorough scrubbing will get rid of any mold or mildew.

For light carpet stains, dissolve two tablespoons of salt in white vinegar. If it’s a tough stain, you can also add a tablespoon of cornstarch. Always apply the mixture to the stain with a damp cloth and never pour it directly onto the carpet. Wooden floors are the easiest to clean: all you need is warm water and white vinegar!

Windows

Want the world to be able to see your newly spic-and-span house? Finish up by polishing those windows! For this, you’ll need a quarter cup each of rubbing alcohol and apple cider vinegar. Add two cups of hot water and a tablespoon of cornstarch.

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it to your windows. You’ll be able to wipe them down without any streaks and restore their original shine! 

If you liked these Homemade Cleaning Solutions for Every Part of your Homestead be sure to check out these Essential Multi-Purpose Ingredients to Always Stock.