19:42 02-12-2025

Homemade cleaning solutions: effective, safe, low-cost

Generated by DALL·E

Make your own safe, effective cleaners for windows, ovens, brass, marble and more. Step-by-step recipes with common ingredients save money and cut chemicals.

You don’t always need to rush to the store when a familiar cleaning product runs out. Many formulas are easy to mix at home—budget-friendly, safe, and surprisingly effective. And most of the ingredients are probably already in the kitchen.

Window cleaner

This homemade mix handles glass just as well as a store-bought spray.

You’ll need:

• 2 cups of water, a quarter cup of vinegar, the same amount of alcohol, and a few drops of essential oil.
• Pour the blend into a spray bottle and use with a cloth or paper towel. It’s best to clean windows on a cloudy day so the solution doesn’t dry too fast.

Grease and baked-on residue

This solution helps clean grill grates or the inside of the oven.

Ingredients:

• a quarter cup of ammonia, about 4 liters of water, and a little dish soap.
• Soak a sponge in the solution, wipe the surfaces, then rinse with clean water.

All-purpose cleaner

Suitable for the fridge, kitchen surfaces, and appliances.

Mix:

• 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 liter of warm water.
• Apply the solution to a sponge and use it as a gentle cleaner and deodorizer.

For serious messes

This option works for heavily soiled or faded textiles.

You’ll need:

• 4 liters of hot water, plus 1 cup of laundry powder and 1 cup of liquid bleach.
• Soak items for 15–20 minutes, then wash as usual.

Fixing white rings on a table

Those cup marks come off with a simple mix.

Ingredients:

• toothpaste and baking soda in equal parts.
• Apply the paste to a damp cloth, gently rub the spot, then dry the surface with a clean cloth. Do not use on unfinished wood or antique furniture.

Dishwasher stain removal

Rust inside the machine can disappear after one or two cycles.

Mix:

• a quarter cup of citric acid or a little orange juice.
• Put the powder or liquid into the dispenser and run a normal program.

Polishing brass

A simple method refreshes bathroom and furniture hardware.

You’ll need:

• vinegar or lemon juice, plus salt.
• Dampen a sponge with the acid, sprinkle salt on it, and gently wipe the surface. Rinse the brass thoroughly and dry it well.

For marble and natural stone

A safe choice for delicate surfaces that can’t handle acids.

Mix:

• a couple of drops of mild soap and two cups of warm water.
• Apply the solution to the countertop, wipe, and rinse thoroughly. Vinegar, lemon, and other acids must not be used—they damage stone.