6 DIY All-Purpose Cleaners You Can Whip Up Right Now!

If there's one thing we all want for our houses, offices, and even self-storage units to be is that they're clean and tidy. While store-bought disinfectants and sanitizers are more convenient, our interest in using green products is also growing—and for good reasons!

Let's take a look at some of the best eco-friendly cleaning alternatives that are as effective and mighty at kicking grime and dirt to the curb without hurting your pocket.

An alternative to your laundry detergent
According to surveys, the average American spends at least $75 a year on laundry soaps and detergents. The cost does not include bleach, fabric softeners, and other laundry additives. If you want to use that money or at least a fraction of that amount to something else like a new storage solution or for your travel fund, then you might want to give this 2-ingredient laundry detergent recipe a go.

To make one, all you need is a biodegradable cleaner and baking soda. For a single load, mix two tablespoons of the biodegradable cleaner and 1/4 cup of baking soda. You may also add 4 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice to effectively keep your white clothes white.

An alternative to your window and glass cleaner
Glass is particularly challenging when it comes to keeping it clean. The good news is, you can remove the unsightly smears and dirty dust with cornstarch.

To make the solution, mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol, a cup of hot water, and 4 tablespoons of cornstarch in a large bowl. Whisk it well before transferring it to a spray bottle. Spritz the solution onto your mirrors and windows, and glass. Wipe the area with a microfiber cloth afterwards.

DIY brass cleaner
Are you one of those who collects brass fixtures and decorative wares? Keep them shiny using white vinegar and table salt. To begin, dampen a clean sponge with vinegar and then sprinkle some salt. Gently rub over the surface until you're happy with the result. You can also use lemon juice as an alternative to vinegar.

We recommend trying this method especially if you are planning to store your brass collection in one of our storage facilities in CA. These items should be clean and dry before packing for storage.

DIY grease cleaner
For most of us, cleaning our oven is such a pain because of the grease. This sticky icky gunk is also present in almost every inch of our kitchen from the cabinets to the countertop. The trick here is to clean it right away the eco-friendly way. To get rid of grease, prepare a mixture of liquid soap, baking soda, rock salt, white vinegar, and distilled water to make a paste.

Apply the paste to the grill grates, oven racks, and the rest of the surface. Leave the solution overnight. The following day, scrub the surfaces thoroughly using a sponge soaked in warm water. Once done, spray your entire oven with vinegar and wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth.

An alternative to your toilet bowl cleaner
We all love a squeaky clean toilet and bathroom. Keep these areas free from viruses, bacteria, and microorganisms by wiping the surfaces daily and deep cleaning weekly with baking soda, tea tree oil, and lemon essential oil. For the toilet bowl, in particular, mix 1 cup of baking soda with 12-15 drops of essential oils. Leave the mixture for about 30 minutes before scrubbing the bowl thoroughly with a brush. Flush accordingly.

DIY floor cleaner
To clean your marble floors and surfaces, mix 2 cups of warm water with 2 drops of mild dish soap. Sponge mop the floor before rinsing it completely to remove residue. Buff with soft, clean cloth afterwards. Unlike other DIY cleaners, never add lemon or vinegar when cleaning marble since it contains acid which can damage and etch the stone.

Meanwhile, you can use the same mild dishwashing soap with warm water to clean your hardwood floors.

These natural alternatives to soaps and detergents are not just safe, effective, and environmentally friendly, they are cost-effective too.

At Arco’s, cleanliness is one of our utmost priorities. For safe, affordable, and cheap self-storage solutions in Pioneer, feel free to get in touch with us by calling 800-789-STOR.