20 of Your Biggest Dirt, Stain and Grime Problems at Home, Solved With Homemade Cleaners!

Sometimes, when you encounter nasty stains and unclean areas at home, it seems as if the only way to get rid of them is to use cleaning solutions and equipment you can buy in the store. But these can often be pricey — nothing is more disappointing than buying something expensive and it doesn’t work you might not be sure whether they actually work.

Homemade cleaning solutions

The good news is it’s possible to DIY your cleaning solutions with the help of ingredients you already have in your home especially in the kitchen. Whatever issue you may be encountering in any part of your home, these recipes can answer your home maintenance woes!

To clean your kitchen counters, appliances, and the inside of your fridge

What you need: 4 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 quart of warm water

What to do: Combine the ingredients, then pour the solution onto a clean sponge. Wipe the surface of your kitchen counters, appliance, and the inside of the refrigerator with the soaked sponge. Aside from cleaning, it also gets rid of bad odors and can be used for shining stainless steel fixtures and appliances as well, according to Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.

To get rid of grease stains

What you need: Salt

What to do: Just cover the grease stains and splatters with salt. Let it sit for an hour, and then brush the salt away afterward.

To get rid of water rings

What you need: Non-gel white toothpaste, baking soda

What to do: Combine the ingredients. Get a cloth dampened with water, and add some of the mixture onto it. Use the cloth to buff the water ring, making sure to follow the grain. Then get another piece of dry cloth to wipe off the mixture, then use a third piece of cloth to shine the surface. Afterwards, polish the wooden surface as you normally would. Keep in mind this method cannot be used on antiques and surfaces made of unfinished wood or lacquer.

To deep clean and unclog drains

What you need: 1 cup of vinegar, ½ cup of baking soda, boiling water

What to do: Pour a pot of the hot water down the drain, followed by the baking soda, then let that sit for a few minutes. Next, mix the vinegar with a cup of the hot water, then pour it into the drain as well. Cover the drain with a plug to keep the reaction below the surface, and let it sit for five to 10 minutes. Flush everything down with another pot of boiling water.

To clean your stovetop

What you need: Baking soda

What to do: Pour baking soda onto a damp sponge, and use that to remove food residue from the surface of your stove tops. You can also use this technique on your refrigerator.

To clean your stove burners

What you need: ½ cup of baking soda, 1 gallon of warm water

What to do: Combine the ingredients, then soak your burners in the mixture for 30 minutes. Later, rinse the burners, then dry it well.

To clean your toilet bowl

What you need: 1 cup of vinegar, ¼ cup of baking soda

What to do: Combine the ingredients. Pour the mixture into the toilet bowl, then scrub the surface using a brush.

To get rid of mineral deposits on your showerheads

What you need: Vinegar, grocery bags, rubber bands

What to do: Pour the vinegar into a grocery bag, then secure it around the neck of your showerhead using rubber bands. Leave the showerhead to soak overnight, then in the morning, rinse it with clean water.

To clean moldy tiles

What you need: Vinegar

What to do: Spray vinegar on the areas with mold, then let it sit for around 15 minutes. Afterwards, rinse the tiles, then dry well.

To clean your bathroom tiles

What you need: Baking soda, vinegar

What to do: For quick and simple cleaning, rub baking soda into the surface using a damp sponge, then rinse it later with some clean water. For tougher and more heavy-duty cleaning, wipe vinegar into the surface first before doing the same procedure with baking soda above. Remember to use only a small amount of vinegar since it can break down tile grout.

To clean hardwood floors

What you need: 1 cup of vinegar, 1 gallon of water, 10 drops of peppermint essential oil

What to do: Simply combine all the ingredients together and use it to clean your floors!

To remove scuff marks on your hardwood floors

What you need: Vinegar, water, antiseptic essential oil (e.g., lavender, eucalyptus, pine, tea tree), baking soda

What to do: Combine equal parts of water and vinegar, along with 15 drops of any antiseptic essential oil of your choice. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Sprinkle some baking soda on the scuff marks, spritz the mixture over it, let it fizz for a couple of seconds, then scrub at the mark until it’s gone. Use a soft towel to dry the floor thoroughly.

To clean glass windows

What you need: 2 cups of water, ½ cup of white or cider vinegar, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol (with 70 percent concentration)

What to do: Combine all the ingredients, then pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Use this to wash your windows. This solution can also be used to clean mirrors, but don’t forget to spray it first on a paper towel or a soft piece of cloth before using it to wash the surface.

Note: If you’re planning on cleaning your windows, do it when the weather is not hot, to avoid leaving unsightly streaks and marks on the surface.

To remove rust

What you need: Salt, a lime or a lemon

What to do: Sprinkle some salt over the rust, then squeeze the juice of the lime or the lemon over the salt until it is soaked. Let this sit for about 2 to 3 hours, then use a lime or lemon rind to remove the rust.

Another method to remove rust

What you need: Baking soda, water, an old toothbrush

What to do: Sprinkle baking soda directly on the rust, then use the toothbrush to add water onto the rust and to scrub it away.

To get rid of carpet stains

What you need: White vinegar, water

What to do: Combine equal parts of the ingredients, then put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spritz the mixture on the stain, leave it there for a few minutes, then later, take a scrub or a sponge soaked in soapy, warm water and use it to clean away the stain.

To do a heavy-duty cleaning of your carpet

What you need: Salt, borax, and vinegar (¼ cup of each)

What to do: Combine the ingredients until you form a paste. Rub the paste into the carpet, then let it sit for a few hours. Later, vacuum your carpet.

To freshen up your carpets

What you need: Your favorite essential oil, 1 cup of baking soda

What to do: Combine the baking soda with 10 to 20 drops of the essential oil. Sprinkle the mixture all over the carpet, then let it sit there for a few hours. Later, vacuum your carpet.

To get rid of writings on painted walls and surfaces

What you need: Baking soda, a damp sponge

What to do: Add some baking soda to a damp sponge. Rub the sponge gently onto the wall writings, wipe it, and rinse afterward. You can use this method to get rid of marks like ink and marker spots, and writings from pencil or crayon.

To get rid of stains on upholstered couches

What you need: Vinegar, warm water, dish soap, olive oil

What to do: The kind of solution you need to clean stains on your couch will depend on the material your upholstery is made of. If you have a fabric upholstery, make a solution composed of ¼ cup of vinegar, ¾ cup of warm water, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. For leather upholstery, use a solution made of ½ cup of olive oil and ¼ cup of vinegar. For synthetic upholstery, use a solution made of ½ cup of vinegar, ½ tablespoon of dish soap, and 1 cup of warm water. Click here for more detailed instructions on how to clean your couch.