3 easy, natural (and cheap!) recipes for homemade cleaning products

Melissa Maker knows a thing or two about cleaning. Her popular YouTube channel is filled with easy how-to tidying videos for just about every corner of your home. And her newly released book Clean My Space teaches you tips and tricks to help you clean better in less time — including handy recipes for cleaning solutions you can make at home. Not only is making your own is incredibly cost-effective, it's super easy. Here are three of Melissa's favourites to get you started:

All-purpose cleaner Use this to clean just about anything. Melissa's recipe is safe to use on natural stone and stainless steel, too. She says:

"I like to include rubbing alcohol in my all-purpose cleaner because it helps the solution dry faster and leaves fewer streaks. Use an essential oil of your choice, such as lavender, peppermint, or tea tree, if you want fragrance. Always remember to mix up any product in a clean spray bottle and to label the bottle so you know what's in it. Keep cleaning solutions out of reach from pets and children."

1 1/2 cups water 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol 1 teaspoon of gentle dish soap (Note: If you prefer, you can swap out dish soap for castile soap, but beware that castile soap should never come into contact with vinegar.) 10 drops of essential oil (optional)

Combine all the ingredients in an empty spray bottle and shake well.

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Degreaser This solution helps lift kitchen grease.

1/2 cup baking soda 1/4 cup dish soap 20 drops sweet orange essential oil (Note: This contains d-limonene — a known degreaser. If you don't have that on hand, you can use another citrus fruit's essential oil instead.) A non-scratching sponge A microfiber cloth

Mix together the ingredients in a container and apply with a damp sponge. Allow the degreaser to sit on the greasy area for 10 minutes. Scrub the area with the damp sponge, rinse surface well, and buff dry with a microfibre cloth.

Tile and vinyl floor cleaner Use for a shiny, streak-free floor.

1 cup white vinegar OR 1/2 teaspoon dish or castile soap (Note: I try to use vinegar where possible since it cuts grease and leaves no reside (and no odour); however, if you choose to use a detergent-based product, use a tiny amount.) 5 to 10 drops of essential oil (optional; pet owners, please discuss safe use of essential oils for your pet[s] with your veterinarian before proceeding) 1 gallon hot water Add the vinegar (or soap) and essential oil to a bucket, then fill with hot water.

Excerpted from Clean My Space by Melissa Maker. Copyright © 2017 Melissa Maker. Published by Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

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