DIY Eco-Friendly Cleaners for Your Home’s Exterior

Spring cleaning is here! Daylight savings has officially started, which means we get just a little more sunlight in the evenings. I don’t know about you, but that usually motivates me to get some deep cleaning done and check in on everything now that winter is a not-so-distant memory.

Here at S&K, we are always trying to find the best, eco-friendly ways to keep our homes nice. While our energy efficient window options are a great way to do that, there are so many other ways that a home can stay eco-friendly, like cleaning supplies. Outdoor cleaning supplies tend to be harsh and heavy in chemicals since we don’t have to live with the fumes or worry about sleeping in the same room as the solution, but those chemicals can affect the environment. Check out some easy DIY cleaning solutions that will let you do your spring cleaning with a clean conscience.

Window Cleaner:

• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 10 drops essential oil of lemon

Mix the ingredients in a glass spray bottle to avoid the oils breaking down. To use, spray on a glass surface and use a microfiber cloth to polish.

All-Purpose Cleaner:

• 15 drops of essential oil of lemon
• 5 drops essential oil of sweet orange
• 5 drops essential oil of rosemary
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1-½ cups water

Mix ingredients together in a glass spray bottle (a funnel helps with this step). The vinegar scent will dissipate after use and leave a nice fresh scent behind. Lemon oil is a natural disinfectant, orange oil busts grease, and rosemary oil has some antibacterial and antiseptic qualities. This concoction is great for wiping down patio furniture.

Patio Cleaner:

• ½ cup baking soda
• 1 gallon of water
• ⅛ cup natural liquid dish detergent – I’m a fan of Dr. Bronners.

Mix ingredients and spray onto patio surface. Let the solution sit for 30 minutes, then scrub and rinse with your garden hose.

Image via The Greatist

Interested in creating your own cleaning solutions? Once you have an understanding of what natural options work well together, you can play with different essential oils that are heavy lifters in the cleaning department, or simply smell nice, to make a solution that is all your own.

Not only are these a great way to help the environment, these cleaners are a fraction of the cost of commercial cleaners. Happy cleaning!