Do you worry about harmful chemicals in your home? I know I do! I avoid using conventional cleaning products in my home as part of my cancer prevention routine. I feel very strongly about this, especially because I have two young children and I know they are highly susceptible to the effects of harmful chemicals.
If you want to drastically reduce exposure to chemicals in your home, start by replacing toxic cleaning products with natural ones. Watch out for greenwashing (when a brand markets their product to look natural, but it’s not really eco-friendly at all). Ecover and Method are both decent brands I use in my own home.
Even better, make your own child and pet friendly, natural cleaning spray. Natural cleaning products with essential oils are healthy for you, your family, your pets, and the environment.
I have been using my own multi-purpose natural cleaning spray for at least nine years now, and it has never failed me. It literally takes 30 seconds to make and it’s very inexpensive. This is an easy way to drastically reduce the amount of chemicals in your home and it smells fabulous. I think you’re going to love it!
This Natural Cleaning Spray Is multi purpose!
- Natural kitchen cleaner. Clean your kitchen countertops and workbenches (tile, granite, vinyl)
- Natural stainless steel cleaner. Clean stainless steel (just spray, wipe down with damp cloth, and then buff with a dry cloth)
- Natural bathroom cleaner
- Natural ceramic surface cleaner (toilets, tiles, etc.)
- Natural fridge cleaner (it also deodorises)
- Natural multi-purpose cleaner for plastic surfaces (large toys, bins, pet crates, cribs, etc.)
Discover our 100% Natural Perfume Oils; a healthy way to wear fragrance.
This DIY Natural Cleaning Spray Is Not for:
- Painted surfaces. This will remove some water-soluble paints
- Cleaning floors (this formula isn’t concentrated enough, but you could easily adapt it to make one that is)
- Unsealed wood surfaces
How to make child + Pet friendly cleaning products with essential oils
MATERIALS (Makes Approx. 14 Refills)
- 1 x 500ml Spray Bottle (reuse an old one or buy one like this)
- 500ml Liquid Castile Soap
- Essential oils of choice* (Peppermint + Lavender are nice together)
*If you have pets, please research your essential oil blend to ensure that the ones you use on pet surfaces are not harmful to them.
HOW TO MAKE IT
Step 1) Fill your spray bottle almost to the top with cold tap water. Leave space for the Castile Soap and the spray pump
Step 2) Add 3 big squirts of castile soap (about 3 Tbs)
Step 3) Add 15 – 20 drops of essential oil. I like to blend peppermint and tea tree (1 : 1) because of their high antibacterial properties and their wonderful aromatherapeutic values. Orange and peppermint are nice together, and so are lemon and rosemary. You don’t need to use organic oils if you don’t want to, and this is also a great way to use up any older oils stashed away in the cupboards.
HOW TO USE IT
Just like any other multi-purpose cleaner, apply your natural cleaning spray to an appropriate surface and wash off with a damp cloth. For shiny or stainless steel surfaces, an additional buff with a dry cloth is required to avoid streaks.
NOTES
- You may have noticed this isn’t an exact science. That’s because I’m not inclined to care about following an exact recipe for natural cleaning products. Who on earth is?! But although the recipe is a little rough, it’s forgiving – even if your ratio isn’t always perfect.
- One important tip is to add water, then add the soap. If you do this the other way around you will end up with a bottle full of bubbles.
- Don’t add vinegar to this natural cleaning spray recipe. Vinegar with counteract the Castile Soap.
VALUE FOR MONEY
This works out to £0.67 per refill every time you make a new batch of natural cleaning spray (as long as you reuse an old spray bottle).
PS. My daughter has been using this pet friendly, natural cleaning spray to clean Cinnamon’s cage for almost two years now. So, I can safely say this is a hamster-friendly cleaning product!
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Hi, just wanted to say that describing this as pet-friendly might not be accurate – tea tree and peppermint are both toxic to cats. This is something I only found about fairly recently, so try to spread the word, as many people who would prefer more natural cleaning products might not realise this is actually endangering their pets.
It would be great if you could add a disclaimer to this effect, just to prevent harming cats.
Thanks.
Hi Valerie, great point. I have added a note to that effect. Thank you very much for your insight.