Try a few of these natural homemade cleaners and you may re-think inviting Mr. Clean into your home.

Note: Borax is usually sold in boxes, near the laundry detergents or fabric softeners in the grocery store.

For more homemade cleaners, please see our article and recipes to make Homemade Surface Cleaners.

Non-Toxic Kitchen and Bathroom Floor Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
2 gallons water
2 tbsp natural liquid soap
1/4 cup baking soda
15 drops lavender essential oil
Combine the ingredients in a mop bucket, and mix. Mop your floor, then give a once over mopping of clean water.

Natural Grease-Fighting Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1 gallon hot water
1 tsp natural liquid soap
5 drops orange or lemon essential oil (alternatively use lemon juice)
Mix ingredients in a bucket and clean any greasy surface.

Gentle Sink and Tub Cleaner
1/3 cup borax
1/3 cup baking soda
10 drops lavender essential oil
1 tsp natural liquid soap (optional)
Combine in bowl. Use as you would scouring powder. Rinse thoroughly. Great for porcelain and enamel.

Appliance Polish
Try rubbing club soda onto your appliances and sinks; it cleans and polishes at the same time!

Natural Mold and Mildew cleaner
1 cup borax
2 cups water
1/2 tsp tea tree oil
Combine the ingredients. Apply to affected areas, and let sit for at least two hours. Rinse. Note: It is much easier to prevent mold and mildew than to clean it. Fungi like dark and moist areas, so let in the light and fresh air! Make sure you have good ventilation, and keep things clean so nothing icky has a chance to grow.

Toilet Cleaner
1 cup borax
1/4 cup lemon juice
Mix together. Pour into toilet and let sit (overnight is best). If toilet rings are a problem, take out some toilet water and scrub rings with a borax/lemon paste. Alternatively, scrub gently with steel wool or pumice.

Grout Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup baking soda
Combine together. The mixture should be a thick paste. Scrub the grout with a toothbrush and rinse.

Non Toxic Oven Cleaner
Spray the oven with water and sprinkle with baking soda. Leave it overnight, and scrub with steel wool in the morning.

Drain Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
Pour all ingredients down the drain . Wait half an hour, than follow with a kettle of boiling water (taking care not to scald yourself with the steam). This works best if done often to prevent accumulation. Always remember to see if a plunger will do the trick first, and never pour grease down the sink. Strainers are great for preventing clogged drains in the first place.

Homemade Dishwasher Cleaner
1 tbsp borax
3 tbsp baking soda
2 drops of a citrus essential oil
Combine ingredients and use in dishwasher. Remember to rinse dishes first! Tip: Vinegar makes crystal and fine china sparkle!

Combatting Dried or Baked on Food on Pots and Pans
If you have a pot or pan that you know is going to use up your elbow grease, put some water and dish soap in it and simmer for about 15 minutes before washing. Alternatively, sprinkle the culprit with water and baking soda and tackle it in the morning.

Automatic Coffeemaker
Put one cup of vinegar through the coffee maker just like you were making coffee. Follow with at least two full pots of water. This should break down the build up of coffee and mineral stains, and make your coffee taste better.

Natural Kettle Cleaner
Equal parts water and vinegar
3 tbsp salt
Put ingredients into kettle and simmer for 20 min. Leave overnight, and rinse well in the morining.

Easy Blender Cleaner
Fill the blender half-way with hot water and add a touch of vinegar. Puree away.

Refreshing Fridge Cleaner
1/2 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed if you have it)
2 cups water
1 tbsp baking soda

Cutting Board Deodorizer
Rub the surface of your cutting or bread board with lemon to remove unwanted odours. Or, you can try a baking soda paste.

Also see: Homemade Floor and Carpet Cleaners, and Homemade Surface Cleaners for more like this.

Learn how to make your own environmentally-friendly spray cleaners. These homemade cleaners are cheap to make yourself and always ready to use.

Natural All-Purpose Spray Cleaner
2 tbsp vinegar
2 cups water
1 tsp borax
10-15 drops tea tree oil
Combine the ingredients and put the mixture into a clean spray bottle. Shake well. Use as you would any all purpose spray cleaner. Ideal for countertops. Tea tree oil helps prevent mold and mildew.

Simple Surface Cleaner
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
Mix vinegar and water together and keep in spray bottle. This is a useful, everyday mixture to wipe down kitchen surfaces without the need for rinsing.

Non Toxic Heavy Duty Cleaner
1/4 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1 tsp borax
10 drops orange essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
Mix the water and the borax. Combine the rest of the ingredients to the mixture, and put into a clean spray bottle. Shake. Wipe surface clean and rinse. Ideal for grimy surfaces.

Homemade Glass Cleaner
1/3 cup vinegar
2/3 cup water
Combine the vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle. Use just like Windex. (If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, club soda works well too.) Tip: Dry windows with newspapers.

Anti-Streak Window Cleaner
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup isopropyl alcohol
Mix in a clean spray bottle, shake, apply and rinse. This mixture is great for windows that have accumulated build-up. If the glass is really greasy, you can add a drop or two of natural liquid soap. This cleaner should due the trick after one or two applications, and I recommend you return to a vinegar cleaner as soon as possible (due to the rubbing alcohol).

Natural Stain Remover
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp natural dish soap
1 tbsp vegetable glycerin
Mix together, shake and store in a clean spray bottle. Rub well into the stain (the sooner the better!) and wash clothes as usual.

Painted Cabinets Cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water.
Mix ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Spray onto painted surface and rub in with a sponge. Rinse with a clean sponge dampened with water. Wipe dry completely.

For more homemade cleaner recipes, see: Homemade Floor and Carpet Cleaners or How to Make Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaners.