Today we are sharing a very simple, homemade cleaning starter kit!

More and more people have been coming to Chemistry Cachet since the pandemic started because they want to understand cleaning, disinfecting, but also want alternative options for their homes.

Last year it was impossible to find basic cleaners and store-bought disinfectants, so it brought many to our website for the first time. Everyone wanted to know about making things from home the right way.

If you are starting to make cleaners from home, this post is fantastic to bookmark and reference. We are sharing how to create a homemade cleaning starter kit with just a few items. You can make so many things with this simple kit.

Homemade Cleaning Starter Kit

There are dozens of products you can collect for DIY cleaning, but below are the essentials for creating your own homemade cleaning starter kit. You can literally clean EVERYTHING with these few ingredients. I will explain a little more below each one, and don’t forget to pin this post to Pinterest for later or bookmark it.

Step 1: Get a Good Container or Caddy to Keep Everything in One Spot

One of my top tips for starting to make your own cleaners at home is to make sure you have a good cleaning caddy that is easily accessible. If your ingredients are all over the house, it makes it difficult to find things, and will make mixing things up inconvenient. You want this process to be very easy and convenient! I started using this Mollie Ollie caddy, and it is my new favorite case. The inside of it has polyester lining, so it is easy to wipe off and clean. It is the perfect size for all of my cleaning kit essentials too. It has a zipper on the side and pockets all around. It is super convenient and perfect for cleaning supplies! You can purchase it from Amazon and use code: 10AlexisR at checkout!

Step 2: Add A Bottle Of 70% Rubbing Alcohol

Any homemade cleaning starter kit wouldn’t be complete without basic rubbing alcohol. We use rubbing alcohol for SO many things! We use it in our eBook for many recipes especially our popular all-purpose cleaner on page 13. You can also read more about using it for disinfecting here. Rubbing alcohol is so versatile and a must have in your cleaning kit.

Step 3: Add A Bottle Of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

Another important ingredient is regular 3% hydrogen peroxide. It is almost just as versatile as rubbing alcohol! You can do so many things with it around the house. You can also make a homemade Lysol spray.

Step 4: Grab A Container of 5% White Distilled Vinegar

Vinegar is an important homemade cleaning kit tool. It is great for hard water stains and cleaning bathrooms. You can view our complete guide to vinegar here.

Step 5: Add A Bottle Of Dishwashing Liquid

Most of our homemade cleaners use dish soap because it is the best surfactant! It makes homemade cleaners work better, and it is really the best ingredient for home cleaning! I always use blue Dawn because it performs better than any brand I have tried. Just make sure your use a good concentrated dish soap in your cleaning kit to get the most out of your homemade cleaning recipes. You can read more about all the things we do with dish soap here.

Step 6: Get A Box Of Baking Soda

Baking soda is also  one of those basic ingredients for homemade cleaning. I love it for making anything into a scrub like our DIY soft scrub recipe. Read more in-depth information on baking soda here.

Step7: Get A Few Good Spray Bottles

You need two types of spray bottles for this basic homemade cleaning starter kit. First, just a basic plastic bottle for quick solutions. The pink and blue you see in these pictures is this one. You can use a cheap plastic spray bottle for many types of solutions. Pretty much anything except hydrogen peroxide based cleaners or anything with a high level of essential oils. For essential oils or hydrogen peroxide cleaners, I highly recommend these dark glass bottles. They come with a funnel too, but are great quality. I use the dark bottles for DIY Lysol and room sprays with essential oils.

Step 8: Put A Funnel and Measuring Spoons In

The dark glass bottles above come with a funnel which is convenient! It is always a good idea to have funnels for easy pouring into bottles, measuring spoons or cups are also a good idea. I like to just keep them in my caddy so I don’t have to search for anything when I am ready to mix up cleaners.

Step 9: Add In Some Sponges

There are two types of cleaning tools that are important in this starter kit. Sponges and microfiber clothes. Sponges are great for scrubbing surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms, really any kind you have will do. I always keep at least one or two in my cleaning caddy.

Step 10: Add In A Few Microfiber Cloths

The last item to add in is your microfiber cloth. I use the Mr. Sigma brand from Amazon. I don’t recommend using super expensive microfiber cloths. Just a basic, affordable brand will work just fine in your homemade cleaning caddy. Check out this post on all the awesome ways to use microfiber and how it works.

Extra Homemade Cleaning Tips

Below are a few FAQS to keep in mind when you start to use homemade cleaners. These are asked all the time by readers, so I wanted to include some for you today.

How long do DIY cleaning solutions last?

Two weeks is a good rule of thumb for any homemade cleaner. If it is rubbing alcohol based (like our all-purpose cleaner), it will last 6 months.

Do I have to have both hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol for homemade cleaners?

This is personal preference, but the simple answer is yes I think so. They both disinfect, but work so differently when it comes to cleaning. Peroxide oxidizes stains really well! Rubbing alcohol cleans food and things off hard surfaces. They both are very specific, so both are good to have in your cleaning starter kit. You can read about both on our website. Always follow Chemistry Cachet for the newest updated cleaning recipes too. We will make sure you are using both correctly 🙂

Do I have to use blue Dawn like you always use in your recipes?

No, you can use any dish soap you have on hand, but I do recommend using a concentrated dish soap for the best results. I have tested dozens of brands and types of dish soap, blue Dawn always worked best for cleaning, so it is my personal choice. I want the best cleaning results possible, so I stick with that brand.

What about essential oils?

We love essential oils and use them for so many things! I don’t think they are necessary for your basic cleaning starter kit though. They are just a nice addition. In fact, our eBook was specifically written so you don’t have to use any essential oils!

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask in the comments! Also, follow us on Instagram for more information and videos.

Follow on Facebook | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Hometalk