Are you fed up with the synthetic scented mystery chemical cocktails in neon bottles that leave your home smelling like a car dealership? Yeah… so are we. Clean living means actually cleaning with ingredients with names you can pronounce and trust.
It takes less than five minutes to make better, more affordable DIY cleaning sprays than you can buy at the store! Read on for five blends that you can make at home that give you control, clarity, and a fast-track to cleaner living.
DIY #1: All-Purpose Spray
The most effective natural cleaning sprays are surprisingly simple and easy to make. No niche ingredients required, and you may already have most of the ingredients in your pantry. This spray lives on your counter, handles everything from toast crumbs to mystery stickiness, and makes your space feel instantly lighter. These are the ingredients you’ll need:
- 1 cup of white vinegar to disinfect your surfaces.
- 1 cup distilled water to dilute and extend the spray.
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil to cut grease and freshen the air.
- 10 drops of lavender or tea tree essential oil to fight bacteria and mold.
Add all ingredients to a spray bottle (preferably amber glass to preserve the potency of the oils), shake, and it’s ready to use. This spray is safe on most non-porous surfaces, including the inside of your fridge, but avoid using it on marble or granite because the acidity of vinegar can damage the finish.
DIY #2: Bathroom Spray
Bathrooms are the zone that need frequent cleaning, and many somehow never truly feel clean. Bathrooms accumulate more bacteria, moisture, and odor than any other part of the house, which means you need a spray that gives you a deep clean without chemicals that fog up your lungs. Here’s a simple, quick recipe for a potent natural bathroom cleaner:
- ¾ cup distilled water to dilute and blend the ingredients.
- ¼ cup rubbing alcohol (70% or higher) to disinfect and cut through grime.
- ½ tsp castile soap to lift dirt and residue.
- 15 drops tea tree essential oil to kill mold, mildew, and bacteria.
- Optional: 5 drops of orange, eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil for a crisp, refreshing scent.
Add all the ingredients together in a spray bottle and shake well before every use. Spray it generously on tiles, sinks, toilet seats, and handles, let it sit for 1-2 minutes to let the alcohol and tea tree oil do their magic, and then wipe it clean. Avoid using this spray on unfinished wood or natural stone because the alcohol and essential oils can strip protective finishes and cause permanent etching or discoloration.
DIY #3: Nighttime Spray
Some spray clean surfaces, others clean the air… but this one does both, while signalling to your brain and body that the day is done. These nighttime sprays deliver a scent and softness that creates a zone of calm with one simple habit. Unlike artificial fragrances masking stale air, this blend is light, breathable, and supportive of sleep:
- 1 cup distilled water to create a gentle base.
- 1 tbsp witch hazel to preserve the mix and help the scent linger.
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil to promote calm and relaxation.
- 5 drops cedarwood or Roman chamomile oil to deepen the soothing effect.
Combine these ingredients in a small spray bottle, and shake well to incorporate the oils and water before misting around your sleep zones. Focus on linens, inside your closet, or across your bedside longer. This spray helps create a calming sensory cue that tells your body it’s safe to slow down. Pair this relaxation with adaptogenic support from ashwagandha that will ease your nervous system into rest mode by regulating your cortisol levels.
DIY #4: Fabric and Pet Area Spray
The soft zones in your home like rugs, cushions, pet beds, and yoga mats, tend to hold on to whatever you’d rather not keep around: odor, dust, stale air, even subtle emotional residue. It’s unsurprising that your living room probably smells like wet fur and your couch sometimes smells like yesterday’s socks. A fabric-safe spray brings both function and freshness to your space without flooding your home with synthetic scents full of toxic “forever chemicals”:
- 1 cup distilled water to evenly disperse scent across fabrics.
- 2 tablespoons baking soda to neutralize odors naturally.
- 10 drops of lavender or cedarwood essential oil for a calming, pet-safe scent.
Dissolve the baking soda in a bit of warm water first, then combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Always spot test fabric first, especially with lighter upholstery. Spray lightly over couches, dog beds, gym shoes, yoga mats, or any fabric-based space that holds on to smell. Unlike store-bought fresheners, this one doesn’t just mask odors, it actually neutralizes them.
DIY #5: Kitchen Degreaser Spray
Cooking is joyful… until you’re left with oil splatter, sticky residue, and a stovetop that always seems to turn into a grease magnet. This spray cuts through the grime with real degreasing power and natural, healthy ingredients that work just as well as the overpriced store-bought chemical versions:
- 1 cup distilled water to dilute and help spread the cleaner evenly.
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar to break down grease and disinfect.
- 1 tablespoon castile soap to emulsify and lift oil from surfaces.
- 10 drops orange or lemon essential oil for degreasing and a clean citrus scent.
Combine all these ingredients in a spray bottle and then shake well before using it on stovetops, counters, range hoods, backsplashes, and even microwave interiors. Let the spray sit for a minute on tough spots before wiping, and avoid using it on natural stone surfaces like marble or granite.
Clean Clarity in a Spray Bottle
With a handful of trusted ingredients, a few essential oils, and less than five minutes, you can replace the synthetic noise with calmer and cleaner products that are aligned with how you actually want to live. Get in the habit of keeping these ingredients stocked so you can whip up a batch at any time. A few gallons of white vinegar, a bulk bag of baking soda, and a big bottle of rubbing alcohol are staples we all should have on hand. Now your home doesn’t have to smell like a gas station bathroom or a department store cologne counter, and you can rest assured that the “just cleaned” scent in your spotless home is actually healthy for you.