Stop Wasting Money On Cleaning Productsโ€”This One Ingredient Works Better

Three images depict a woman with long blonde hair performing household chores: cleaning a floor, organizing a storage area, and holding a soap dispenser. She's donned in colorful outfits, showcasing that with just one ingredient, you can stop wasting money on expensive cleaning products.

Years ago, I opened my cleaning cabinet and realized something that made me sighโ€”I had at least 15 different cleaning products, each for a specific purpose. Not only was this expensive, but half of them had strong chemical smells that gave me a headache.

I started wondering: Why do we need so many different products just to keep our homes clean?

I knew there had to be a way to simplify and stop wasting money on cleaning products, and after experimenting with natural cleaning solutions, I realized the solution wasn’t different products for every surfaceโ€”it was versatile ingredients that could perform multiple jobs effectively. This discovery led me to create my Simple Clean Essential Oil Blend, which has been a staple in my cleaning routine ever since!

Here’s the truth: you don’t need a cabinet full of expensive cleaners that leave you wondering what chemicals you’re bringing into your home. What you need are solutions you can trustโ€”ones that actually work while saving you money.

My Simple Clean Essential Oil Blend combines lemon, cedarwood, lemongrass, balsam fir, cypress, sweet orange, pine, and tea tree essential oilsโ€”ingredients known for their grease-cutting, purifying, and odor-eliminating properties. Just one bottle can replace multiple expensive cleaning products in your home while actually working better than what you’re currently using.

Why Make Your Own Cleaning Products?

Before we dive into the recipes, you might be wonderingโ€”why bother making your own cleaners when you can just buy them? Here’s why it’s worth it:

  • You know exactly what’s in them. No mysterious chemicals or worrying about what your family is breathing in.
  • They actually work. These aren’t “compromise” cleaners that clean poorly but smell niceโ€”they truly get the job done.
  • You’ll save money. One bottle of Simple Clean can make multiple batches of different cleaners.
  • Your home will smell amazing. Not like chemicals or fake “mountain breeze,” but genuinely clean and fresh.
  • You won’t run out as often. Keep the ingredients on hand, and you can mix up more whenever you need it.

As a bonus, my husband Dave (who’s usually skeptical about my DIY projects) actually comments on how good the house smells when I use these recipes. That alone is worth it!

I’ve tested hundreds of cleaning solutions over the years, and I can confidently say these recipes aren’t just “natural alternatives”โ€”they’re genuinely effective cleaners that will make your life easier and your home healthier.

Below, I’m sharing 7 of my favorite ways you can keep your house clean with the help of this trusty cleaning essential oil blend.

3 Trusted DIYs Made With Simple Clean: Everyday Essentials For A Healthier Home

Simple Clean is the perfect base for natural, effective DIY cleaners. These three go-to recipes are easy to make and hard to live without!

A woman assembles money-saving cleaning solutions, using brown spray bottles, essential oils, vinegar, and baking soda on a wooden kitchen counter.

1. All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

A go-to cleaner for everyday messes, from wiping countertops to tackling sticky spills. Gentle yet powerful, it cuts through grease with ease.

Ingredients & Supplies

Directions

Remove the spray top and use a funnel to add the borax, washing soda, Castile soap, and essential oil to the bottle. Pour in hot water, replace the spray top, and shake gently to mix.

How to Use

Spray directly onto surfaces and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. For stubborn messes, let sit for a minute before wiping.

Note: Avoid using this cleaner on natural stone like granite or marble. Use this one instead.

Jilleeโ€™s Take:

This is my daily workhorse cleaner that I use on almost everything. The borax and washing soda cut through grease naturally, while the Simple Clean blend leaves a fresh scent that makes my kitchen feel truly clean, not just masked with fragrance.
A person carefully places cloths into a jar filled with blue liquid on the left, while efficiently wiping a bathroom counter with a cloth on the right. Discover how one ingredient can transform your cleaning routine without wasting money on unnecessary products.

2. Cleaning Wipes

Ditch disposable wipes and make your own! These reusable wipes are great for quick cleanups, disinfecting surfaces, and dusting baseboardsโ€”all without waste.

Ingredients & Supplies

Directions

Add rubbing alcohol, dish soap, and essential oil to the jar. Shake gently to mix. Add cloths to the jar, ensuring they soak up the solution. Seal the jar and turn it upside down for a minute to distribute evenly.

How to Use

Wipe down countertops, spills, baseboards, and high-touch surfaces. To disinfect, pre-clean surfaces with soapy water, then use a wipe and allow the surface to air dry. Collect used wipes, wash them with your laundry, and reuse them in a fresh batch of cleaning solution.

A person pours homemade liquid from a jug into a dishwasher, showcasing an ingenious way to stop wasting money on expensive cleaning products. Nearby, a spray bottle labeled

3. Scented Cleaning Vinegar

Vinegar is already a cleaning powerhouse, but this DIY takes it up a notch by adding antimicrobial essential oils. Perfect for laundry, surfaces, and deep cleaning.

Ingredients & Supplies

Directions

Add essential oil drops to the vinegar bottle. Shake well before each use.

How to Use

  • Fabric Softener: Add 3/4 โ€“ 1 cup to your washer’s final rinse cycle.
  • All-Purpose Cleaner: Dilute at a 1:2 ratio (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) for cleaning fridges, microwaves, pet stains, and floors.
  • Glass Cleaner: Dilute at a 1:1 ratio (1 part vinegar to 1 part water) for cleaning windows, mirrors, and glass.
  • Deep Cleaning: Use undiluted to freshen washing machines, remove limescale, and clean dishwashers.
Collage of four images: cleaning products like a spray bottle and plant on a wicker basket, a vacuum on patterned flooring, hands using soap at a sink, and someone spraying a pillow on a bed for effective cleaning.

4 More Ways To Use Simple Clean

Once you have Simple Clean on hand, youโ€™ll find more and more ways to use it. Here are some of my favorite DIYs and quick-cleaning tricks.

4. โ€œNo. 2โ€ Toilet Spray

Mix 50 drops of Simple Clean with 4 oz witch hazel in a small spray bottle. Shake to combine. Spray 3-4 times directly into the toilet bowl before you โ€œgo.โ€ The oils will create a vapor barrier to trap offensive odors.

5. Carpet Freshener

In a container with a shaker lid, combine ยฝ cup baking soda, ยฝ cup borax, and 30 drops of Simple Clean. Shake to mix, then sprinkle the powder over areas of carpeting that could use some freshening up. Let the powder sit for 20 minutes, then vacuum it up. This powder is also great for freshening up mattresses! Follow the same instructions outlined above to remove moisture and mustiness from your mattress.

6. Foaming Hand Soap

In a foaming pump bottle, combine 15 drops of Simple Clean, 2 tbsp Castile soap, 2 tsp fractionated coconut oil, and ยพ cup water. Shake gently to mix. This foaming hand soap will leave your hands feeling clean without drying them out!

7. Linen Spray

To a spray bottle, add 10 drops of Simple Clean, 2 tbsp rubbing alcohol (or witch hazel), and 6 tbsp distilled water. Shake to mix. Spritz over bedding, towels, curtains, throw pillows, upholstery, and more to infuse them with a light and fresh scent!

A cozy living room with a striped sofa and floral decor on the left. On the right, a person empties a vacuum cleaner, showing how you can stop wasting money on expensive cleaning products with just one ingredient for effective home care.

BONUS: Make Your Home Smell Fresh

The bright, citrusy-woodsy aroma of Simple Clean makes your whole home feel freshly cleanedโ€”even between chores. Use it in these simple ways to keep your space smelling fresh.

In Your Diffuser: Add 5-6 drops to a diffuser with water to fill your home with a fresh, uplifting aroma.

No Diffuser? No Problem. Make your own reed diffuser! Fill a small glass container about 75% full with fractionated coconut oil. Add 40โ€“50 drops of Simple Clean and insert 4โ€“6 bamboo skewers. Flip the reeds every few days to refresh the scent.

In Your Vacuum: Add a few drops to a cotton ball and place it in your vacuumโ€™s dust cup. The scent will circulate throughout your home as you clean.

No dust cup? Mix a few drops with baking soda, sprinkle it over your carpet, let it sit, then vacuum it up to freshen both your floors and the air.

A person in a cozy sweater holds a spray bottle over a storage basket on the kitchen counter, ensuring every item is spotless without wasting money on expensive cleaning products.

Praise For Simple Clean

Iโ€™m not the only one who loves Simple Clean! Just check out these reviews from our community:

โ€œI love this oil so much. It works great & makes my entire house smell absolutely amazing.โ€ – Angela A.

โ€œI knew I would love it but totally took me by surprise when my Hubby came in and said what are you using it smells great !! Thank you Jillee so much! Winning his approval was totally worth the purchase!โ€ – J.

โ€œI made the all-purpose cleaner and I am entirely impressed with how well it cleans, and how fresh and clean it smells! Canโ€™t wait to try out some of the other cleaners!โ€ – Karen B.

โ€œThis is my favorite ingredient in the homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe (from Jillee)! I also diffuse it when Iโ€™m deep cleaning. It really helps freshen my whole apartment!โ€ – Ang O.

โ€œI love this blend that really is simple and clean. I have used other brands with a blend similar to this and they have all been too strong. This is perfect!โ€ – Kimberly

Spray bottle and essential oil next to blue cloth on left; person efficiently spraying and wiping a countertop with a blue cloth on right, proving you don't need to waste money on cleaning products.

Get Started Today

The Cleaning Kit is my personal favorite way to get started using Simple Clean. Here’s what it comes with:

It’s a ready-to-go set that takes the stress out of switching to natural cleaning. Ready to simplify your cleaning routine with solutions you can trust? There’s never been a better time to try these natural cleaning solutions for yourself!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP

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Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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