DIY Vegan Household Cleaners - On the Cheap!

Being vegan spans way beyond what you put in your mouth and on your skin. It also extends to the clothes we wear, and the products we use in the rest of our everyday lives. Most people don’t give a second thought to whether or not there are animal products in their household cleaners, and frankly, sometimes it’s almost impossible to figure out whether they are or not.

Although there are plenty of plant-based alternatives for purchase, I haven’t met many people (vegan or not) who aren’t eager to save a few bucks and whip up their own cleaning products to use at home. Best of all, you can probably make these cleaners with things you already have in your home, or can pick up during you next visit to your local grocery store.

Here are a few simple recipes for creating cruelty-free cleaning products at a fraction of the cost of commercially-made cleaners.

All-purpose Spray Cleaner

½ cup distilled white vinegar
2 Tbsp borax
2-3 drops essential oil of your choice (I like orange, lavender, or mint)
Warm filtered water

Combine vinegar, borax, and essential oil in a 32oz spray bottle and squish around to mix. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with warm water, replace the spray nozzle, and shake gently to dissolve. Some of the borax may settle to the bottom in between uses, but just give it a gentle shake before spraying. This is a great cleaner for kitchen counters and cooktops.

Streak-free Glass Cleaner
½ cup distilled white vinegar
¼ cup rubbing alcohol
2-3 drops essential oil of your choice (lemon and orange are nice in this one)
Warm filtered water

Combine vinegar, alcohol, and essential oil in a 32oz spray bottle and squish around to mix. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with warm water, replace the spray nozzle, and shake gently to combine. Use with black-and-white newspaper for the shiniest, streak-free windows and mirrors!

Concentrated Citrus Cleaner
Quart-sized jar
1 ½ – 2 cups orange and/or lemon peels
Distilled white vinegar

Place citrus peels in jar, pack down, and fill the jar with white vinegar. Seal tightly and place in the fridge for two weeks to allow the citrus oils to infuse the vinegar. Strain into another container using an old t-shirt or cheesecloth. Discard citrus peels and use the infused vinegar to clean almost every surface in your home. Dilute it a lot for all-purpose cleaning, or just a little for tough jobs, like tile and toilets.

A Note about Cruelty-free Baking Soda

It’s not used in any of the recipes above, but baking soda is a common ingredient in homemade household cleaning products. Believe it or not, most major brands of baking soda on the market (like the one in the orange box) are not considered vegan. Baking soda is often tested on animals, which certainly doesn’t inspire a “whistle while you work” attitude when you’re cleaning your cruelty-free home. Fortunately, cruelty-free brands do exist, such as Bob’s Red Mill and Ener-G.