The Best Homemade Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaners
So you’re in the market for good eco-friendly bathroom cleaners for your dirty bathroom, but you’re not sure which products fit the bill. I’m going to give you all the secrets to making the best homemade eco-friendly bathroom cleaners so you don’t have to use toxic chemicals for ease of use.
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Favorite Ingredients in Homemade Natural Cleaners
You may notice that there are a few common natural ingredients in homemade cleaners, many of which are typical household products you probably have on hand. A few of the ingredients to make your own cleaning supplies may include:
- Essential Oils
- White Vinegar (distilled)
- Citric Acid
- Dish Soap or Castile Soap
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Baking Soda
- Warm Water or Hot Water (distilled)
- Lemon Juice
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Rubbing Alcohol
Why Should You Use Homemade Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaners and Not Just Store Bought?
The most obvious reasons are cost-effectiveness and ease of use. Homemade cleaners made with natural products do require an initial investment but have definite long-term cost-effectiveness. However, I understand how busy life is and it definitely feels like a win just to actually have a clean house.
But I have become much more aware of the dangers of these “natural brands” (Mrs. Meyer, Seventh Generation, and even a beloved Grove Collaborative) and have started to avoid them altogether for health reasons.
And in an effort to be more intentional about the household cleaners I use in my own home I have started to be particular about what natural cleaning products I will use.
Here are several other really good reasons to avoid store-bought cleaners.
- Volatile Organic Compounds
- Plastic Packaging
- Artificial Fragrances (synthetic fragrances)
- Toxic ingredients
- Harsh chemicals level 1
- Harmful chemicals level 2
- Toxic chemicals level 3
What Simple Changes Can I Make Towards a Zero-Waste Lifestyle?
I’m far from perfect when it comes to living a zero waste lifestyle, but I have come leaps and bounds by simply switching out a few things in my cleaning routine.
- Plastic bottles to reusable spray bottles. (Amber or Blue Glass for use with Essential Oils, Clear Glass for any others).
- Paper Towels to Microfiber Cloths.
- Store-bought Cleaners to Homemade Natural Cleaning Products.
- Plastic Cleaning Tools to Tools made of Natural Fibers (or of a Biodegradable formula).
- Buying in Bulk of individual ingredients. Purchasing in bulk means less packaging.
Free PDF Ebook – “The Best Homemade Bathroom Cleaners: 6 DIY Eco-Friendly Cleaner Recipes”
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Tools & Supplies – The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
- Bamboo Microfiber Cloth Towels
- Eco-Friendly Toilet Brush
- Glass Spray Bottles – Amber Glass or Blue Glass
- Baking Soda
- Concentrated Vinegar
- Citric Acid
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Castile Soap
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Borax
- Biodegradable Sponges or Hemp Sponges
- Soft Bristle Brush
6 Homemade Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaners with Guaranteed Cleaning Power
After a lot of research, I finally have put together 6 natural cleaning products you can make to put conventional cleaners to shame. These all have the added benefit of being made with just a few basic ingredients.
01. Heavy-Duty Shower Cleaner
If the bathroom surfaces in your shower are looking a little dingy, especially from hard water, it’s time to break out the heavy-duty shower cleaner.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Castile Soap
- 1 C Distilled White Vinegar
- 1/2 C Water
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- Small Lemon Peel Strips *Optional
- 16 oz. Glass Spray Bottle
Makes: 16 oz.
Directions
- Add the ingredients to your spray bottle, shaking to combine.
- Spray the shower surface with the cleaner, allowing it to sit for five to ten minutes.
- Wipe down the shower mat, tub, and surrounding area with a sponge or soft bristle brush.
- Repeat as needed.
Notes:
- This simple solution also makes a really great cleaner for yoga mats or similar rubber surfaces like rubber bathroom mats, or the rubber backing on the back of bathroom rugs.
- If you want to substitute lemon juice for lemon essential oils like tea tree, lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, etc. be sure to use amber or blue glass spray bottle to keep the potency of the essential oils.
02. Daily Shower Cleaner
To avoid the need for heavy scrubbing it’s best to employ the use of a daily shower cleaner. Plus, it’s super easy to just wipe the entire area down when you’re taking a shower!
Ingredients
- 1/2 C Rubbing Alcohol
- 1/2 C Hydrogen Peroxide
- 1/2 tsp. Castile Soap
- 2 tsp. White Distilled Vinegar
- 3 C Water
- 1 Glass Spray Bottle
Makes: 1 qt.
Directions
- Mix all of the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake before each use.
- After the last shower of the morning or evening, spray down the shower surfaces.
- Wipe down lightly and walk away.
- Repeat daily for best results.
Notes:
- If you mix up an extra bottle of this solution you’ll have a great cleaner for your car windshield.
03. Bathroom All-Purpose Cleaner
I’m a huge fan of all-purpose sprays because they’re kind of like the cleaner to rule them all and get any job done effortlessly.
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp. Washing Soda
- 1 tsp. Borax
- 1 tsp. Liquid Castile Soap
- 4 drops Lemon Essential Oil*
- 10 drops Orange Essential Oil*
- 4 drops Lavender Essential Oil*
- 2 C Hot Distilled Water
- 1 Amber or Blue Glass Spray Bottle
*optional. Feel free to use different amounts or mixes of essential oils. However, these three are specifically chosen for their abilities to clean and disinfect.
Makes: 16 oz.
Directions
- Boil your distilled water and add your borax and washing soda. Let them disintegrate.
- Let the water mixture cool completely.
- Then add all the ingredients to your spray bottle and shake to combine.
- Use this cleaner to wipe down the bathtub, shower surround, tile, countertops, and outside or inside the toilet bowl.
- Wipe off with a clean microfiber towel.
Notes:
- Heating the oils may retain the aroma, but the therapeutic value of the essential oil is greatly diminished. So only add them to cool liquids.
- This cleaner also works well to clean tile floors and wood cabinets (like a bathroom vanity).
04. Eco-Friendly Toilet Bowl Cleaner
The worst place on earth that most of us will ever clean, especially with boys in the household. It’s always been my least favorite chore. But a great smelling cleaner that won’t kill my brain cells always makes the job easier!
You may think that all toilet cleaners are equal. Coming from the perspective of someone who deals with serious hard water issues I can tell you, they are not. So, any natural bathroom cleaner for the porcelain throne needs to have an extra kick.
Ingredients
- 3/4 C Borax
- 1/2 C Baking Soda
- 1/2 C Hydrogen Peroxide
- 2 Tbsp. Citric Acid
- 2 Tbsp. Liquid Castile Soap
- 15 drops of Essential Oil of choice*
*Optional.
Makes: 16 oz. of a powder cleaner
Directions
- Combine all of your ingredients in a bowl first, then transfer to a glass Tupperware container.
- Wet the inside of your toilet bowl walls. You could do a quick flush or use your toilet brush to do it.
- Sprinkle 2 Tbsp. of mixture onto the sides of the toilet bowl and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Try to make sure your family members don’t flush the toilet in the meantime!
- Scrub the bowl and flush the toilet to rinse.
Notes:
- For heavy-duty stains spray white distilled vinegar on top.
05. Tile Cleaner
I don’t have shower tiles or floor tiles in my bathroom, but there is ceramic tile in my kitchen and dining room so I like to keep this on hand regardless. With five kids in the household, there is always a mess that needs cleaning, even if it’s just soap scum, and this does the job well.
Ingredients
- 3/4 C White Distilled Vinegar
- 3/4 C Rubbing Alcohol
- 1/4 C Hot Distilled Water
- 1 tsp. of Liquid Castile Soap
- 1 tsp. Lemon Juice or
- 10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil* (or another essential oil of choice)
- 1 Amber or Blue Glass Spray Bottle
Makes: 16 oz.
Directions
- Mix the liquid ingredients to your spray bottle excluding the essential oil.
- Let the liquid cool before adding the essential oils of your choosing.
- Shake to combine.
- Use this cleaner to wipe down any tile surface.
- Wipe with a clean microfiber towel.
Notes:
- If you’re wanting to mop a tile bathroom floor spray the floor down with this cleaner and use a microfiber mop head.
06. Glass Cleaner
I don’t know about your household, but the bathroom mirrors in this household get more toothpaste spittle than I would care to admit. So, I need a good glass cleaner on hand to help fight that battle. However, this would also be great for those of you who have glass shower doors or windows in your bathroom.
Ingredients
- 1 C Water
- 1 C Rubbing Alcohol
- 1 Tbsp White Vinegar
- 2 Drops Lemon Essential Oil*
*Optional
Makes: 16 oz.
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Spray on windows, glass, or mirrors.
- Immediately wipe away with a paper towel or lint-free dry cloth.
Notes: Other great uses include Car windows, Oven Glass, Washer or Dryer Glass, etc.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope these cleaners help you not only clean your bathrooms of all those nasty germs but also give you peace of mind. It’s a great feeling knowing you aren’t harming yourself or your family with toxins!
Sincerely,
Julie
Meet the Author
Hi, I’m Julie! Mother to five beautiful kids, Homeschool Educator, Writer, Handicraft & DIY Enthusiast, Photographer, Thrifter, and Furniture Restorer. Follow along for fun DIY projects creating a handmade home on a budget! Read more about me here→
With my wife and one of my kids being severely asthmatic, most cleaners are a big no. This is a helpful way to combat this issue