Before COVID-19 pandemic, going to the local grocery store to buy cleaning products was nothing out of the ordinary. But now that most states have mandated that you stay home, the new norm is becoming make it yourself (MIY) with the ingredients and products that are commonly in every household. And even if you absolutely had to leave your house to visit the nearest store, the odds are they could be out of the cleaning products you need. Now that you, your family members, and pets are spending more time indoors, it’s important to keep your home clean and odor-free. Read on to see how easy it is to make homemade cleaning solutions with these simple recipes.

Window Cleaning Solution

The most effective window cleaning solution is always made from at least two easily-obtainable ingredients: white vinegar and water. Why is vinegar so effective? Apart from being all-natural and fatal to bacteria, white vinegar is a little bit acidic. Vinegar’s slight acidity helps to break down accumulated dirt and filmy grime that builds up on your windows. To make a simple and powerful homemade window cleaning solution, you’ll need:

• 2 cups plain water
• ¼ cup white vinegar (never apple cider vinegar!)
• ½ teaspoon dish detergent

After you’ve made this cleaning solution, you can place it in a spray bottle or bucket. If you place it in a bucket, apply the solution with a soft-bristled brush or mop. Use an extended pole if you have one, to reach higher windows. Scrub the windows to get the grime off, then douse the windows with a hose after a minute. Remove any remaining water with a squeegee. Never let the solution dry on your windows. If you can’t reach the windows that are higher up and don’t have a ladder, you can call a window cleaning services company in Seattle to handle them.

After you’ve done your first wash, you can use a simpler solution composed of a cup each of vinegar and water—no need for the dish detergent. Apply this solution at least twice a year and wash as usual to keep your windows squeaky-clean.

Natural Drain De-cloggers

Does your kitchen sink drain slower than usual? Then it must be clogged with built-up grease from washing your dishes. When this happens, you’ll probably reach for a commercial drain cleaner like Drano, then switch to another drain cleaner if the Drano didn’t do the job.

NEVER do this. Why? You can’t tell if the Drano or other drain de-clogger you used is still in your pipes, and drain cleaners are from different chemicals. If you follow up with another chemical drain cleaner, they could have a nasty reaction and result in unpleasant smells at the least, or toxic gases at worst.

Do this instead: use hot water and dish soap. Dish soap is formulated to neutralize grease on your dishes, utensils, pots, and pans. It can do the same to grease that’s clogging your sink. Here’s how you use the dish soap and hot water combo:

1. Prepare a kettle of boiling water.
2. Place the dish soap bottle’s nozzle as far as it can go down your drain. Give it a generous squirt of the dish soap.
3. Follow up immediately by pouring the boiling water down the drain. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.
4. Open the faucet and see if the water drains normally. If it does, the job’s done; repeat the process until the drain clears up.

Another natural drain de-clogger is made from this simple formula:

• ½ cup Baking Soda
• 2 cups White Vinegar

If you attended your Science Fair as a kid, you’d know what combining these two materials will do. This chemical reaction also makes it great at clearing out drains. Here’s what you should do:

1. Place a funnel down the drain and pour the ½ cup of baking soda into it.
2. Heat the 2 cups of white vinegar, bringing it to a simmer. Don’t bring it to a boil, as the higher temperature can result in an explosive mess. The vinegar need only be warm enough to cut through any grease buildup.
3. Slowly pour the vinegar down the drain.
4. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes, then run the hot tap to wash away any remaining debris.

Why You Should Make Them

Apart from being simple to make, here are a couple more good reasons to make your own cleaning solutions.

They’re Cheaper

You’ll notice that one of the main components for making the most effective homemade cleaning solutions is white vinegar. You can buy a whole gallon of the stuff for less than $3. Enough said.

You Already Know What’s in Them

Another advantage of making your own cleaning solution is that you have full control over what ingredients you use. You won’t get any nasty surprises like finding out you or a family member is allergic to one or more of the ingredients. You also know what sort of effects they might have on certain materials or surfaces, so it’s easier to avoid damaging items like furniture fabrics. And since they’re mostly natural ingredients, you don’t have to worry about mixing the wrong chemicals.

MIY Can Keep You Healthy

A good reason to make your own cleaning solutions is that it will keep you indoors. Going out on a run to get cleaning supplies can only put you at more risk of exposure to COVID-19. Regularly making your own cleaning solutions and using them is good for your mental health as well; having a routine reduces the effects of cabin fever.

Cleaning around the house can be time-consuming and back-breaking work. Homemade cleaning solutions saves you time, money, and more importantly, keeps you away from public places during this unprecedented time. For the more difficult exterior cleaning around the home such as pressure washing, window washing, roof cleaning, and moss cleaning, contact us for a free quote 206-941-2959. We are planning ahead and setting tentative schedules to come out and service you as soon as social distancing is lifted.