DIY All-Natural Bathroom Cleaner

September 26, 2019 by Creative Healthy Family 41 Comments

Do you ever need that little spark of motivation to organize and clean your home? Let my DIY All-Natural Bathroom Cleaner give you the means and the motivation to refresh your bathroom without any harsh chemicals! Okay, so it may not make you say, “Yay! I can’t wait to clean the toilets!” but at least it can make the job a lot more pleasant (and far less toxic).

Toss the Toxins: Why All-Natural Is Just Plain Better

Did you know that many store-bought cleaners can contribute to indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested, and can be harmful if inhaled or touched? If you’re searching for the best all-natural bathroom cleaner, then chances are you already knew that, right? Well, just in case, let me refresh your memory on exactly what goes into most of those cleaners and why they’re so bad.

To learn more about each ingredient, I turned to the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. While best known for their Skin Deep database for skincare products, they also have one to help you find the best cleaners that works pretty much the same way. It lists different ingredients in a product along with their safety rating on a grading scale from A to F, with F, of course, being a failing grade.

Out of 290 ranked products, only 39 products passed with an A. On the other hand, 132 earned a failing grade, and another 90 barely passed with a D. That list includes almost all of the major cleaners you’ll find in your average store. Let’s see what they have to say about the most common household cleaner ingredients.

Ammonium Chlorides

While there are many different equally unpronounceable names for this common ingredient, they’re all pretty horrifying. None of them rates higher than a D (with many earning an F). They all come with a note saying, “this substance poses a high risk for human health.” Of its many offenses, it’s particularly nasty for those with asthma and may cause damage to your reproductive health. If that’s not enough to make you want to start using only all-natural cleaners, keep reading. It doesn’t get much better.

Silicon compounds

While silicone on its own isn’t particularly dangerous, when you break it down and pop it into a cleaning product, it’s a different story. Another failing grade on the EWG scale, silicon compounds have a “high concern” when it comes to developmental, endocrine and reproductive effects.

The effects are particularly nasty when it’s inhaled. Unless you’re basically wearing a gas mask while cleaning your bathroom, there’s a very strong chance you’ll inhale at least a little bit of the substances. For those who are concerned about the planet, the silicon compounds found in cleaning products are also fairly toxic to ocean creatures.

Butoxydiglycol

I can’t even begin to tell you how to pronounce this one, but I can tell you that it’s definitely not good for you! While it received a slightly higher grade than the first two (a D, so barely passing), it’s considered a “high concern” when it comes to your pulmonary function. You know, that system that keeps you breathing and keeps your heart beating? It’s pretty important, so anything that’s a “high concern” should definitely be eliminated from your home.

Hydrochloric acid

If you’ve ever watched a horror movie or a crime show, you know what Hydrochloric acid is used for. Not a scary movie fan? Let’s just say that it’s what the bad guys use when they want to get rid of all (and I do mean all) evidence of their crime. Oddly enough, it’s only a C on EWG’s grading scale, so it’s not quite as toxic as ammonia and silicon compounds. Still, most of us would rather not use ingredients capable of wiping an entire human body off the face of the planet, right? Its greatest offense is to your respiratory system, although there’s “some concern” about its effects on your skin and vital organs.

Fragrance

While fragrance is often the least offensive ingredient in most cleaners (aside from water, the only thing that gets an A), it’s still potentially problematic for those with allergies, asthma, or sensitivities. On the EWG scale, it earns between a C and D, depending on the product. Unfortunately, we’ve conditioned ourselves to believe that if something doesn’t smell like lemons, it’s not clean, which is why manufacturers include it even if they can make their product work just fine without it.

These are just a small handful of the most offensive ingredients found in the average bathroom cleaner. Depending on the brand and product, it’s possible to have 5, 10 or even more chemicals that barely manage a “passing” grade. So, now that you know why cleaning with natural products is just better, let’s talk about the how.

How to make your own DIY all-natural bathroom cleaner spray

With only a few simple non-toxic ingredients you can keep your bathroom fresh and sparkling. This DIY All-Natural Bathroom Cleaner works wonders, keeps my kids’ bathroom super extra clean, and it is safe for daily use. It’s one of my favorite hacks for a more natural home!

After you discover how easy it is to make your own bathroom cleaner spray and how good it works, you’ll never go back to store-bought cleaners again! You can get a spray bottle at a dollar store and label it with a simple sticker.

I’ll give you the exact recipe that I use in a moment, but first, a quick word about the ingredients I used. While my cleaner works great for me, I know some do find it challenging to mix the baking soda and vinegar. I believe the words “science experiment” and “volcano” came up.

Yes, if you mix baking soda and vinegar quickly, it will fizz all over the place. In fact, it’s this fizzing action that makes it such a great alternative to drain cleaner (try it, pour both down your drain and watch the clogs vanish). When you’re mixing up a batch to keep in a spray bottle, though, slow and steady definitely wins the race.

Of course, you can use other ingredients to make your DIY all-natural cleaner if you prefer. Read on for a few examples, along with some recommended products.

Vinegar + Pure Castile Soap

Castile soap is incredibly versatile on its own. You can use it to clean everything from your hands to your dishes. The added vinegar gives it a bit more oomph when it comes to dealing with soap scum, making it a great homemade cleaner for showers and tubs.

While we’re talking about soap, I know a lot of people use vinegar and Dawn for cleaning. Did you know, though, that even the mildest variety of Dawn only scores a C on EWG? By comparison, unscented Castile soap passes with an A.

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EWG Verified Castile Soap 33.8 fl oz - No Palm...

Plain diluted vinegar

Sometimes, the best natural cleaners for bathrooms are the simplest ones, and you can’t get much simpler than this DIY idea! Just fill a spray bottle up halfway with water, then the rest of the way with vinegar for a fantastic all-purpose spray. Use it on everything from your counters to your shower door. It’s also amazing for way beyond the bathroom! I use it as a kitchen counter spray, on my windows, and so much more.

Lucy's Family Owned - Natural Distilled White...

Baking Soda + Salt + Washing Soda

If you need a powerful scouring powder to use as a homemade tub cleaner, Wellness Mama shares an easy and inexpensive recipe that uses just three ingredients (the essential oils are optional). The washing soda is the only thing you may not have on hand. It’s fairly cheap, though. You can get a huge 5-lb bag for under $15.

Pure Original Ingredients Natural Washing Soda (5...

Essential Oils

Fragrances aren’t a necessity, but they’re a nice finishing touch. Skip heavy chemical perfumes and just use essential oils. Not only will your whole house smell great but essential oils have antibacterial properties, so they do double duty. Grab a starter set of the most popular essential oils, then experiment a bit to find a combo that you love. Orange, lemon, eucalyptus, and tea tree are all very clean-smelling oils. Just add a few drops to any of your DIY natural bathroom cleaners.

Natrogix Nirvana Essential Oils 10ml Natural...

With just a few simple ingredients, it’s easy to whip up natural products cleaning the tub, shower, sink, toilet, and pretty much everything else in your bathroom. In fact, you can use those same ingredients throughout the rest of your home. Ready for my recipe? Check it out below!