For the past year at least, I have really been focusing on switching over to more natural cleaners for cleaning and disinfecting our home, washing dishes, and even doing laundry. Many commercially-made cleaning products are created with hazardous chemicals that can cause respiratory problems, skin irritations and can even pollute the air in your home.

I have started using things like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegars and essential oils and I LOVE how clean it makes everything, the rooms smell amazing and I can be at peace knowing I am using safe products to clean our home with.

In the kitchen and bathroom, especially, I really love vinegar-based cleaners to disinfect. Here are 4 cool ways you can make vinegar-based disinfectants for different uses around the home.

Making Vinegar-Based Disinfectants

1: BASIC VINEGAR-BASED SPRAY: In a standard-sized glass spray bottle (dark glass like amber or blue--not clear glass), add 1 part water, 1 part vinegar and 5-15 drops of 100% essential oil. Your choice of essential oil is up to you.

*Lemon essential oil is typically used in the kitchen, as the scent of lemons can neutralize strong kitchen smells.

*Tea tree and eucalyptus oils are perfect for the bathroom to neutralize bathroom odors.

*You can certainly use milder-smelling oils such as chamomile or vanilla in the parts of your houses where you are not worried about eliminating odors.

2: MAKE REUSABLE DISINFECTANT WIPES: To make disinfectant wipes instead of spray, follow the same recipe as if making a basic vinegar spray, but instead of putting the ingredients in a spray bottle, put them in a large glass jar and swirl them to combine. Cut 15-20 pieces of cloth in 10 inch squares and place them inside the jar of cleaner.

*Press the cloths down inside the jar so they are completely submerged and can soak up the cleaner. Then place the lid on the top of the jar and store the wipes in a cupboard or pantry.

*To use the wipes, take out a wipe and wring it out to remove excess cleaner, then use it to wipe surfaces clean.

3: MAKE A VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA SPRAY: In a clean bowl or bucket, add 4 cups hot water, ¼ cup white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons baking soda. Mix until the baking soda dissolves, then cut a lemon in half and squeeze both halves into the solution. Drop both rinds of the lemon into the mixture and wait for it to cool.

*Once it is cooled, add 4 drops of lemon essential oil or the essential oil of your choice. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove any lemon pulp, seeds or rind, then transfer the mixture into a spray bottle.

4: USE A VINEGAR AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE COMBINATION: Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work well to disinfect, but they should never be combined in the same container, as they make peracetic acid which can be hazardous. Instead, add undiluted white vinegar to one spray bottle and 3% hydrogen peroxide to another.

*To use, clean a surface, then spray with one mixture, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then wipe with a clean cloth and spray with the other. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then wipe with another clean cloth.

*It doesn't matter if you start with the rubbing alcohol or the vinegar.

GENERAL TIPS:

*Make sure that if you are using essential oils to put them in dark glass bottles (like amber or dark blue), as essential oils can react with plastic.

*Always make sure to thoroughly wash an area before you disinfect or the disinfecting will be much less effective.

*Shake well before each application of the spray.

Do you use natural cleaners at home? What is your favorite combination to work with? Please share in the comments below.