If you are tired of using harsh chemicals in your home, you may be looking for a safer alternative. Rather than using a variety of different brands and searching for the one that fits your needs, you can actually easily make your own cleaning products.

Making your own cleaning product ensures that you know exactly what is being used in your home. You do not need to try and decipher labels and try to figure out what each thing is or isn’t. It is definitely nice to have peace of mind knowing that you are not exposing yourself and your family to harsh chemicals and irritants.

If you are looking to make your own cleaning products, you can use this simple guide to mix basic ingredients to make the perfect concoction.

1) White Vinegar

This natural ingredient is one of the versatile ingredients that you can use in all areas of your home. White vinegar can help you get rid of rust, water stains, and build-up. It works great in all areas of the home where you eat or prepare food at. For instance, you can use white vinegar in your dishwasher or coffee pot to help cleanse them with minimal work. This reduces the exposure that you have to harsh chemicals but still makes your home a clean and fresh environment.

2) Baking Soda

Another great and natural cleaning product is baking soda. This ingredient naturally absorbs odors in the air and works as a gentle surface cleaner. This inexpensive ingredient can be immediately found in every grocery store you walk into. You can add a box to your refrigerator, trash can, or bathroom to help remove odors from the air. You can also mix this with water to make your own whitening toothpaste or mild surface cleaner.

3) Borax

If you are sensitive to bleach and other chemicals, you may want to use borax as an alternative. This is a natural bleach that can help you remove surface stains from carpets, laundry, and other areas. It can act as an irritant if not used properly but is much less harmful than chemical bleaches in general.

4) All-Purpose Cleaner

If you are looking to make your own all-purpose cleaner for household use, try mixing 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 6 cups of hot water. Mix this in a bottle and use it around the home. If you want a stronger solution only use four cups of hot water and if you want a weaker solution try using 8 total cups of water. You can add some lemon or orange peel to the spray bottle if you want a citrus scent and a little extra cleaning kick. If you plan on storing this cleaner for an extended time, try using essential oils instead to give you a fresh scent.

While all of these homemade products are considered to be natural cleaning products, they should still be kept away from children and pets. If they are consumed, it could cause harm to them. While they can still irritate sensitive areas, they are much less harmful than the toxic chemicals found in most cleaners.