Since a gentle spring breeze motivates many of us to put a little more elbow grease into our cleaning, it's also a great time to consider overhauling your cleaning products. As a decluttering expert, I prefer a simplified approach to what cleaning products I use.
At Neat Little Nest, we recommend to many of our clients to go back to the basics including baking soda, Castile soap and essential oils. The tried and true will take up less space than having a cabinet filled with one-hit-wonders. Our NLN favorites can be found here.
Having a scrub cleanser in your house that can work on even the toughest dirt, grime and mildew is important to have in your cleaning arsenal. Thankfully, making a homemade version of popular cleansing scrubs is as easy as combining three dirt-fighting ingredients with a few drops of your favorite essential oils.
ingredient and supplies list
Below are the supplies you need to make your own DIY scrub. The ingredients are powerful, so we will look at what makes each of them special.
Large glass bowl
Measuring cups or measuring bowls
Baking soda - 4 cups
Castile Soap or Sals Suds - 1 cup
Hydrogen Peroxide - 4 TBSP
Essential Oils
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most versatile ingredients and it's a very effective cleaning ingredient because it both provides a little grit you need to give a bit of traction to your scrubbing and it is also an effective odor absorber.
Castile Soap or Sals Suds
Castile soap is an excellent cleanser and I use it in so many ways in my home from washing the dishes to giving the dog a bath using it. It is a concentrated vegetable-based soap so it is safe for people and pets. While I love Castile soap, I prefer using Sals Suds to make my DIY scrub because I find it more effective at some of the tougher jobs like on grease. Because Sals Suds has a pine scent, I chose to use rosemary essential oil to complement the scent.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is known for its antiviral and antibacterial properties, making it a more suitable cleaner for tubs and toilets. Hydrogen peroxide needs a little time to get working, so let it sit for a few minutes before you scrub away. Also, hydrogen peroxide will cause the cleanser to expand, so leave room at the top of your Ball® Storage Latch Jar to account for the expansion.
Essential Oils
Many essential oils both have cleaning properties and help to create an amazing scent experience that can make cleaning a wee more enjoyable.
instructions
1. In a medium-to-large sized bowl, combine the baking soda, Castile soap or Sals Suds, hydrogen peroxide and essential oil(s). Stir slowly and mix all of your ingredients until the scrub looks like thick glue.
2. Spoon the cleanser into the Ball® Storage Latch Jar. I chose this jar because it has an airtight durable latch system and the mouth of the jar is wide so it's easy to get the cleanser out when you need to access it.
NOTE: This cleanser will harden if exposed to air for a prolonged period of time. f the cleanser is kept at room temperature in a sealed container like the Ball® Storage Latch Jar, it will keep for several months.
Use this DIY scrub with a toothbrush, your favorite scrub brush or a microfiber rag on your hard surfaces. It shouldn’t scratch glass, steel, or ceramic. Having said that, I always recommend doing a test before applying anything new to a surface you haven’t before. Do not use this DIY scrub on clothing, blankets, cushioned furniture, throw pillows or carpet as the hydrogen peroxide can spot or fade colors.
Happy cleaning!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own.
Neat Little Nest,LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own.