All-Natural DIY Bathroom Cleaner
If you’ve been looking for a cheap, quick and easy DIY bathroom cleaner recipe then look no further. I’ve got the formula right here! But first, allow me to tell you why turning your back on chemicals and embracing all-natural cleaners is so, so important.
I had the opportunity to visit my local waste-water treatment plant a couple years ago when I was studying Environmental Education as part of my teachers’ degree. That course really opened my eyes! I became much more conscious of the damage we do to our environment (and ourselves) just through carrying out our normal daily activities.
As part of the program, we visited the water treatment plant and walked the length of the pipeline that carried the treated water all the way out to the ocean. At the end of the line, where the wastewater met the sea, the water was murky and covered in a layer of olive green foam. Our instructor told us about the way our wastewater is treated and about the fact that it’s nearly impossible to filter out all of the contaminants before it gets mixed into the ocean. Then he regaled us with horror stories of all the crazy and dangerous things that humans flush down their drains.
Of course, there are some pretty icky solid waste items that end up down there. But perhaps the most insidious of all is that which we cannot see.The chemicals we flush down our toilets and rinse down our drains pollute our water. Much of the chemical residue can never be fully eradicated even with sophisticated water treatment processes.
Everything from household cleaners to medications and illegal drugs get flushed down the drain, and they are taking a toll on our planet and on our health. If you’re anything like me, you can’t bear the thought of cleaning your bathroom with tough chemicals that will inevitably end up flushed down the drain and out into the ocean. Those chemicals could even leach into your soil if you’re on a septic system, and could contaminate the very ground you grow your food in! If you care about natural health, eating organic food and keeping your family and our planet chemical-free, you’re probably not too crazy about having standard household cleaners in your home at all. Have you noticed that some of them even have “poison” or “flammable” symbols on them?
Related: Spring Cleaning Recipes With Essential Oils At the same time, you don’t want poop smears in your toilet bowl! You need some sort of cleaner that’s strong enough to tackle the yuck but gentle enough to get on your skin, breathe in and flush without fear. Well, here it is my friend:
Easy DIY bathroom cleaner in under 5 minutes
You begin with a little baking soda, which you probably already have in your pantry. Now, if you’re feeling especially lazy, you could stop right here. Baking soda is really all you need to clean your porcelain without using chemicals. Just sprinkle a little in your sink, bathtub or toilet bowl, then add water and scrub away the grime. BUT, you can take a couple more steps to make this cleaner even better and more effective… I like to grate a little lemon zest into the baking soda to add some lemon scent to it. You can add fresh or dried lemon zest, or you could substitute orange, lime or grapefruit peel instead. Next, I like to add a few drops (5 or 6) of lemon essential oil. Again, this isn’t necessary, but it smells so good, and anything that smells like lemon smells cleaner to me. 
Once you mix up your baking soda solution, spoon it into a jar (I just use a pint-sized Mason jar) and use it right away or store it in a cool, dark place (I store mine under the sink). When you are ready to use it, sprinkle a generous amount in your sink, bathtub or toilet. 
Then, spritz with a little vinegar and the baking soda will fizzle and foam. Let it sit like that for a few seconds up to a minute or so and then scrub with a rag or a toilet brush, depending on what you’re cleaning;) 
Rinse and repeat if necessary. One application usually works just fine. Here’s a before and after of my sink after one application: 
That’s it! Baking soda, a little lemon zest, essential oil and vinegar. You’ll have a sparkling bathroom by the time you’re done and the air in your home will be safe to breathe and smell like lemons! You’ll also save yourself some coin as this costs pennies to make, and, of course, the planet and future generations will thank you. Got any natural cleaning tips or recipes to share? Let me know in the comments below! 
- 2 cups Baking Soda
- Zest from 1 lemon
- 3-4 drops of lemon essential oil
- Combine all ingredients until well mixed.
- Sprinkle on sinks, bathtubs, showers and toilets as you would any powdered cleaner.
- Spray with vinegar and let sit for about 30 seconds.
- Wipe clean and rinse.
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With all that's going on, I've been making a point to find my way back into the garden, which is not only needed to feed my family, but also for some personal spiritual nourishment.
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I've got an entire post on How to Grow Broccoli from Seed here: https://thehouseandhomestead.com/how-to-grow-broccoli-from-seed/ if you're looking for any tips or tricks.
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Sometimes you've gotta take a step back and look at the life you've created for yourself and ask yourself "is this truly what I want?"
The other day I shared about losing two of our rabbits this week to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease. The stress of losing them comes amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions around here...
From work pressures for Ryan to me trying to run a business and handle a very fussy, colicky 2-month-old (and a very busy 6-year-old), to things ramping up in the garden again and all of the other million things that need to get done (including multiple loads of laundry a day thanks to more spit up than I ever knew a baby was capable of producing), I finally felt like I was ready to crack this week.
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I am really not a fan of the way vinegar smells. Is there a substitution? Thank you!
Hi Jenna,
I use the vinegar to make it foam up and I have been infusing my vinegar with orange or lemon peel for a nice citrus scent instead of using essential oils in the baking soda. But it should work and clean just as well with water if you prefer.
Can you store the baking soda mix in a container?
Yes, Alycia, you can store the mix in any air tight container.
It needs to be air tight because baking soda will absorb odors of all kinds if given a chance. You will want to keep the scent you chose fresh as can be.