Flat lay of natural DIY cleaning products including amber spray bottles, baking soda, vinegar, lemon, essential oil, and microfiber cloth on a wooden table.

Make 16 Easy DIY Cleaning Products With Household Items

Ramona,

Keeping your home clean doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune on commercial cleaning products. As someone who runs a professional cleaning service and also manages a busy household, I’ve found that the simplest solutions are often the best. These DIY cleaning recipes use items you probably already have in your pantry and offer a safer, budget-friendly alternative to store-bought options.

Table of Contents

  1. DIY All-Purpose Cleaner
  2. DIY Glass Cleaner
  3. DIY Brass Cleaner
  4. DIY Heavy-Duty Scrub
  5. DIY Marble Cleaner
  6. DIY Oven Cleaner
  7. DIY Drain Cleaner
  8. DIY Quartz Countertop Cleaner
  9. Powerful DIY Shower Cleaner
  10. How to Clean Baseboards Naturally
  11. DIY Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polisher
  12. DIY Hardwood Floor Cleaner
  13. DIY Laminate Floor Cleaner
  14. DIY Carpet Cleaner
  15. DIY Upholstery Cleaner
  16. DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner
DIY cleaning supplies including fresh lavender, cinnamon sticks, a small rosemary plant, and a brown essential oil bottle arranged on a rustic wooden table.

1. DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients:

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Use it to clean bathroom surfaces, trash cans, and countertops.

Best For: General cleaning of non-porous surfaces
Avoid on: Marble, granite, and other porous stone surfaces

Amber glass spray bottles with lemon slices on a rustic wooden table, representing ingredients for a natural DIY cleaner solution

2. DIY Glass Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup 70% rubbing alcohol

Instructions: Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray onto a microfiber cloth and wipe down windows or mirrors—buff with a dry cloth for a streak-free shine.

Pro Tip: Clean windows on cool, cloudy days to avoid streaking.
Alternative: Use 3% hydrogen peroxide for glass and mirrors. (Hydrogen Peroxide for Cleaning)

Amber glass spray bottle and turquoise microfiber cloth resting on a windowsill with natural light, ideal for DIY glass cleaner use.

3. DIY Brass Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • Lemon juice or white vinegar
  • Salt
  • Sponge or cloth

Instructions: Dip a damp cloth into lemon juice or vinegar, sprinkle with salt, and gently scrub the brass. Rinse and buff with a dry microfiber cloth.

Best For: Brass knobs, railings, instruments
Note: Avoid using this on lacquered brass.

Close-up of a hand cleaning a brass doorknob with a lemon half and salt on a wooden surface—natural ingredients for an effective DIY brass cleaner.

4. DIY Heavy-Duty Scrub

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lemon
  • Borax powder

Instructions: Dip the lemon into Borax and scrub rust stains on porcelain or enamel. Rinse and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Best For: Stubborn stains in tubs and sinks
Avoid on: Marble or granite surfaces

Amber spray bottle on a wooden table with a halved lemon, measuring cup, and spring flowers—natural ingredients for DIY cleaning recipes.

5. DIY Marble Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 2 drops dish soap
  • 2 cups warm water

Instructions: Wipe the marble with a soft cloth soaked in the mixture. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.

Storage Tip: Store in a cool, dark cabinet and label the container.
Note: Never use acidic substances like vinegar or lemon on marble.

Hand wiping a white marble countertop with a soft microfiber cloth beside a bowl of soapy water—demonstrating safe DIY marble cleaner technique.

6. DIY Oven Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • A few tablespoons of water
  • White vinegar

Instructions: Make a paste with baking soda and water. Spread in the oven, let sit for a few hours, then spray with vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Storage Tip: Best made fresh for each use.

Close-up of a gloved hand applying homemade DIY oven cleaner paste to the black interior of an oven using a yellow sponge, with a bowl of paste nearby.

7. DIY Drain Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • Boiling water

Instructions: Pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. Let it sit for one hour, then flush with boiling water.

Pro Tip: Repeat weekly to keep drains odor-free.

Side-by-side comparison of a shower drain before and after using a DIY drain cleaner—clogged with hair and soap scum on the left, clean and shiny on the right.

8. DIY Quartz Countertop Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup 70% rubbing alcohol
  • 1/2 tsp Castile soap
  • 20–30 drops of essential oil
  • 16 oz spray bottle

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well, spray on countertops, and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Shake before each use.

Clean white quartz countertop with gray veining, styled with an amber spray bottle and microfiber cloth, demonstrating the results of a DIY quartz cleaner.

9. Powerful DIY Shower Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Dawn dish soap
  • 2 cups white vinegar

Instructions: Heat vinegar slightly, mix with dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray on shower surfaces, let sit for 30 minutes, scrub, and rinse.

Ventilation Note: Open a window or turn on a fan due to strong fumes.

Amber spray bottle and blue Dawn dish soap on a marble bathroom counter, representing ingredients for an effective DIY shower cleaner.

10. How to Clean Baseboards Naturally

Ingredients:

  • 8 cups of water
  • 2 tbsp Dawn dish soap
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • Tools: Swiffer duster, vacuum, bucket, Magic Eraser, toothbrush, microfiber cloth

Instructions: Dust, vacuum, then scrub baseboards using the cleaning solution. Use a toothbrush for grooves and dry with a cloth.

Pro Tip: Rub with dryer sheets to repel future dust.

Close-up of a hand using a pastel green microfiber cloth to clean a white baseboard, with a sponge and bucket nearby—part of a DIY baseboard cleaner routine.

11. DIY Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polisher

Ingredients:

  • White vinegar
  • Olive oil
  • Microfiber cloths

Instructions: Wipe with vinegar to clean, then buff with olive oil to polish.

Best For: Kitchen appliances
Tip: Always wipe in the direction of the grain.

Close-up of a hand wiping a stainless steel refrigerator with a microfiber cloth, next to an amber spray bottle, white vinegar, and rosemary—demonstrating a DIY stainless steel cleaner routine.

12. DIY Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp Castile soap
  • 4 cups water
  • 10 drops of essential oil

Instructions: Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray a section of the floor and clean using a microfiber mop.

Shelf Life: Up to one week. Store in a labeled bottle.

Amber spray bottle, Castile soap, essential oil, and a microfiber mop arranged on a polished hardwood floor—ingredients and tools for a DIY hardwood floor cleaner.

13. DIY Laminate Floor Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
  • 1/2 cup distilled water
  • 5 drops of essential oil

Instructions: Mix in a spray bottle, spray in sections, and mop using a microfiber mop.

Pro Tip: Use a spray mop for best moisture control.

Spin mop, amber bowl with clear cleaning solution, and a mop bucket arranged on gray laminate flooring—representing a DIY laminate floor cleaner setup

14. DIY Carpet Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • Baking soda
  • 1 part white vinegar
  • 3 parts warm water
  • Scrub brush

Instructions: Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, scrub with vinegar solution, and repeat as needed.

Caution: Test on a small area before full use. Do not oversaturate.

Person with medium brown skin scrubbing a carpet stain with a cleaning brush, producing visible foam—demonstrating the use of a DIY carpet cleaner.

15. DIY Upholstery Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • 2 cups vinegar
  • 2 tbsp laundry detergent
  • Scrub brush

Instructions: Spot clean with baking soda paste. Then clean the entire area with the vinegar-detergent mix. Wipe with a damp cloth and let air dry.

Tip: Use fans to speed up drying time.

Person with medium brown skin cleaning a light gray fabric couch with a cloth and natural DIY upholstery cleaner, removing a visible stain from the surface.

16. DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Borax
  • 1/4 cup Borax
  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • 1 cup white vinegar

Instructions: Mix 1/2 cup Borax with lemon juice. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of borax into the toilet, scrub, then pour in vinegar and scrub again.

Storage: Store lemon-Borax mix in an airtight jar for later use..

Person with medium brown skin scrubbing a toilet bowl with a brush as foamy DIY toilet bowl cleaner made from lemon juice, vinegar, and Borax lifts stains.

⚠️ Safety Disclaimer: Always test DIY cleaners on a small, inconspicuous area first. Do not mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or other cleaners. Store all products in clearly labeled containers away from children and pets.


💚 More on Eco-Friendly Cleaning: EPA Safer Choice Program

🧽 Frequently Asked Questions About DIY Cleaning Products

❓ What are the best natural DIY cleaning products for beginners?

If you’re just getting started, begin with easy recipes like an all-purpose vinegar and Castile soap spray or a baking soda scrub. These cleaners are effective on most non-porous surfaces and use simple ingredients you already have at home.

❓ Can I make a non-toxic cleaner that works on multiple surfaces?

Absolutely! A homemade all-purpose cleaner with essential oils and white vinegar is a safe, non-toxic option that works on glass, countertops, and sinks. Just avoid using it on natural stone like marble or granite.

❓ What’s the safest DIY cleaner for kitchens and food prep areas?

A mix of warm water, unscented Castile soap, and essential oils like lemon or tea tree creates a gentle but effective kitchen cleaner. It’s great for wiping down food prep areas without harsh chemicals.

❓ How can I naturally disinfect surfaces without bleach?

A solution of rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and essential oils acts as a powerful natural disinfectant. This is one of the most recommended homemade disinfectant sprays for bathrooms and kitchens.

❓ Are homemade cleaning products safe for homes with pets and kids?

Most DIY cleaning solutions made with vinegar, baking soda, and mild soap are safer than store-bought alternatives. However, be cautious with essential oils—some, like tea tree or eucalyptus, can be irritating to pets.

❓ What’s a good DIY cleaner for hardwood and laminate floors?

Mix Castile soap, water, and essential oil in a spray bottle and use with a microfiber mop. For laminate floors, add a splash of rubbing alcohol and vinegar to help the solution dry quickly without streaking.

❓ How long do homemade cleaning products last?

Most DIY cleaners have a shelf life of 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the ingredients. Solutions made with vinegar or rubbing alcohol typically last longer, while baking soda-based pastes are best used fresh.

❓ Can I use essential oils in homemade cleaners?

Yes, essential oils like lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree not only add fragrance but also offer natural antibacterial properties. Use them in DIY glass cleaner, surface spray, or even toilet bowl scrubs.

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