How To Make Your Own Natural Bathroom Cleaners

There are tons of “green” bathroom cleaners on the market, but most of the time it’s cheaper and just as effective to make your own. Armed with a few simple non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients, you can keep your bathroom fresh and sparkling with natural bathroom cleaners.

If you’ve got a little extra time today, grab this shopping list, head to the store, and make a few batches of healthy cleaners to keep your bathroom (or any room) healthy!

• Baking soda – cleans, deodorizes, scours
• Borax – cleans, deodorizes, disinfects
• Castile soap or vegetable oil-based liquid soap – cleans
• Distilled white vinegar – cuts grease and soap scum, dissolves mineral deposits, inhibits mold, freshens; reportedly kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of viruses
• Essential oils – freshen, disinfect
• Kosher salt – scours, disinfects
• Water

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Jars
• Spray bottles

In a jar or spray bottle, combine:

• 1 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil-based liquid soap
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons vinegar

Combine baking soda and liquid soap together first before adding water and vinegar. Shake before using. Apply with a cloth or sponge and rinse well.

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup kosher salt

Combine in a jar. Sprinkle on area to be cleaned, wipe with a sponge, and rinse.

• 1/4 cup borax or baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar

Mix directly in the toilet. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or longer, if necessary), scrub, and flush.

• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 4 cups warm water

Combine in a spray bottle. Use to clean glass or mirrors with a dry cloth or piece of newspaper.

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar

Pour baking soda into drain followed by vinegar. Let it sit and fizz for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot or boiling water. May need to repeat or leave baking soda and vinegar in overnight.

• 1/2 cup borax
• 2 gallons hot water

In a bucket, mix borax with hot water. Apply with a mop or sponge. Rinsing is not necessary.

Sprinkle baking soda over surface, scrub with a cloth or sponge, and rinse. Vinegar or kosher salt also work.

For calcium or lime deposits on a chrome faucet, soak a towel in vinegar and wrap it around the faucet. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight.

• 1/2 cup borax
• 1/2 cup vinegar

Mix to make a paste. Scrub with a brush or sponge and rinse with water. For tough mold, let it sit for an hour before rinsing with water.

• Baking soda: baking section
• Borax: laundry section
• Vegetable oil-based soaps: cleaner section
• Vinegar: salad dressing section
• Essential oils: health food stores
• Kosher salt: spice section

• Add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance and/or cleaning power. Eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, tea tree, and thyme are among the essential oils considered to be antiseptic and antibacterial.
• Using a label or permanent marker, write recipes directly on jars and bottles for future reference.

Do you have any bathroom cleaner recipes or tips to share? Leave a comment!

Re-edited from a post originally published as a Home Hack 2010-02-08 – AB