21 Non-Toxic, Natural Cleaning Hacks That Are Actually Doable (No Complicated DIYs)
Discover non-toxic, natural cleaning hacks that are actually doable and realistic!
Keeping your home clean doesn’t mean you need cupboards full of specialty cleaners with a bottle for every job in your house.
Most conventional cleaning products are bad for our health and the environment anyway.
You also don’t need to try complicated, 12-step DIY recipes.
While I’m all for homemade cleaning products, sometimes we just need a simple cleaning trick that does the job effectively.
This article is just that!
I’m sharing 21 non-toxic, natural cleaning hacks that are actually doable and easy.
And you know the best part?
They don’t require you to buy stuff you’ll only need once; you’ll just need simple household items you probably already have at home and in your kitchen.
And if you’re looking for simple recipes to make your own cleaners or want to find effective, ready-made, non-toxic products, check out my guides to homemade cleaning products and natural, eco-friendly cleaning products.
This blog post contains affiliate links which means that if you buy something through such links, I will get a small commission without any extra cost for you. Please read my Disclosure for more details.
Natural cleaning hacks for the kitchen
With all the cooking and baking most of us do in the kitchen, this space can get dirty and messy quickly.
Here are a few natural cleaning hacks I rarely see other people talk about, but are truly game-changers!
1. Lemon and coarse salt cutting board scrub
Cutting boards can be tricky to clean thoroughly as they tend to stain easily and have lingering odors.
But I find this method particularly effective, especially if there are some light surface stains or onion smells.
Just pour some coarse salt onto the cutting board, cut a lemon in half, and dip the cut side into the salt.
Then, scrub the board in a circular motion and let everything sit for about three minutes before rinsing.
The citric acid in the lemon helps lighten stains and reduce odors, while the salt removes stuck-on residue.
2. Throw ice cubes down the garbage disposal
If you want to clean your garbage disposal without using toxic chemicals, drop six ice cubes into the disposal while it’s running and run cold water at the same time.
It will help remove debris and greasy buildup from the blades without damaging them.
I recommend doing this on a weekly basis to keep the disposal from developing unwanted odors.
And if you want to freshen it with a nice scent, you can add citrus peel or peppermint essential oils while the disposal is on.
3. Rice, soap, and water shake
I recently had a glass vase that I had kept flowers in, but the water left some residue on the sides.
This trick worked wonders to clean it!
You can also use it to clean a blender jar or coffee thermos with dried-on or built-up ring stains!
Fill the container to about a third with warm water, add some natural dish soap, and a handful of uncooked rice.
Then close the top, shake vigorously for a minute, and rinse.
Here, the rice grains work as small abrasive scrubbers and are much more effective than a bottle brush or a sponge.
Plus, they can get into all the nooks and crannies that are usually hard to reach.
Natural bathroom cleaning hacks
The bathroom is definitely the room I hate cleaning the most!
I always find hard water marks, soap scum, and moisture stains such a pain to clean.
Thankfully, these tips make cleaning easier, and they’re completely non-toxic!
4. Vinegar wipe-down after showering
To avoid needing to scrub shower doors covered in limescale every couple of weeks, consider adopting this small habit every day.
After showering, take a microfiber cloth and dampen it with diluted white vinegar.
Wipe the surfaces while they’re still wet to prevent mineral deposits and residue.
Or if you feel this is too much of a hassle, simply use a classic squeegee instead.
5. Baking soda paste on grout stains
To clean grout stains naturally, create a thick paste by mixing baking soda with a few drops of water.
Apply it to grout lines using an old toothbrush and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Finally, scrub everything and rinse.
What I love about baking soda is that it eliminates grime AND neutralizes odors.
Plus, it’s completely safe on grout and is 100% natural.
6. Pumice stone on toilet ring
For that super annoying toilet ring you’re struggling to get out, get a pumice stone!
Always wet the stone under running water first (so it glides easily), and then rub gently in small circles directly on the stains.
The pumice stone will remove mineral deposits, but keep in mind to never use it dry, as it could scratch the surfaces.
Also, only use it on porcelain toilets and never on fiberglass or acrylic surfaces.
If you prefer using a normal product instead, check out these non-toxic and natural toilet bowl cleaners.
Laundry and fabric tricks
Maintaining clean and stain-free clothes doesn’t mean we need to rely on toxic, chemical-filled products.
These genius laundry tips prove it!
7. Wool dryer balls
If you’ve used dryer sheets your entire life, this one is for you.
Finish your stash and get this awesome natural alternative to dryer sheets: wool dryer balls.
These are super easy to use: you simply throw two or three of them into the dryer with damp laundry, as you would with your typical dryer sheets.
As the dryer runs, the balls bounce and help hot air circulate more evenly.
This makes clothes dry faster and reduces static.
The major benefits of wool dryer balls are that they are reusable hundreds of times, so they’re very cost-effective (and sustainable!), and they’re completely natural.
You can even add a drop of your favorite essential oil for a nice scent if you want.
8. Chalk on fresh grease stains
Just got a new grease or oil stain on your favorite top?
Rub white chalk directly onto the stain, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then brush off the chalk and wash as usual.
Chalk contains calcium carbonate, which can absorb some of the oil from a stain before it sets into the fabric.
However, keep in mind that it works best on fresh stains, so try to always do it as soon as you can.
9. Salt on fresh wine or juice spills
Another multipurpose, all-natural ingredient that can be useful for treating stains is salt!
If you ever spill juice or wine on your outfit, immediately blot up as much of the liquid as possible, and cover the spill with a generous layer of salt.
Let it sit for five to ten minutes so it can absorb some of the liquid.
Then gently brush off the salt, rinse with cold water, and wash as usual.
Salt can help prevent the stain from spreading deeper into the fabric.
However, just like the previous tip, this works best on fresh (still wet) spills and on washable fabrics; avoid salt if the spill happened on a carpet or upholstery, as it could remain trapped in the fibers.
10. Direct sunlight for stains and odors
This is one of my favorite natural cleaning hacks of all time; I’ve been using it ever since becoming an adult!
Direct sunlight is excellent for brightening your white fabrics, breaking down molecules responsible for stains, and reducing odors.
You just need to hang damp fabrics in the sun, either on a line or a drying rack, and let them dry for a few hours, ideally when the sun is strongest.
It’s completely free, and air-drying your fabrics can also help them last longer than using a tumble dryer.
Furniture and surface natural cleaning tips
Companies want us to believe that every surface needs its own product.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
An all-purpose cleaner handles most jobs, and for the few surfaces that require special maintenance, you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen.
11. Olive oil on wood scratches
If you have wood flooring or furniture with a few disgraceful scratches, olive oil can help hide them, or at least make them less visible.
Take a soft cloth and pour a few drops of olive oil onto it.
Then rub it into the scratch, following the wood grain.
Let it sit for 15 minutes, and buff off the excess.
The oil darkens the wood fibers in the scratch, making it less visible.
Of course, this mostly works on light scratches, not deep or large ones, but this tip is always handy to know.
12. Banana peel for leather shine
People with leather couches, leather shoes, or bags will love this natural cleaning hack!
Keep the peel of a banana after eating it and rub the inside (the white part) directly onto the leather.
Then leave it for ten minutes and buff it off with a clean cloth.
This will condition dry leather and give it a nice shine.
From my experience, this only works on real leather, not faux leather.
13. Vodka spray for odors
Not everyone has vodka in their kitchen, but if you do, it makes a great natural freshener for couches, mattresses, upholstery, clothing, and other home textiles!
Pour unflavored vodka into a spray bottle and mist lightly onto fabrics to kill odor-causing bacteria.
There’s no need to dilute the vodka; use it as is, but make sure to let it air dry before using the fabric and keep the mixture out of reach of children and pets.
I love that this makeshift freshener leaves no residue and doesn’t stain or discolor fabric.
14. Damp sock over your hand for cleaning blinds
This is my go-to way to reuse old socks instead of throwing them away!
Worn-out socks or socks without a mate are a completely free, zero-waste alternative to Swiffer dusters, and we all have them.
There’s no need to buy anything.
Dampen your sock with a vinegar-water mix (water alone works just fine too), slide it over your hand, and run it along each slat to remove dust.
Glass, screens and windows
If you’re tired of seeing fingerprints and streaks on your windows, glass surfaces, or screens, these options will help you solve the issue without toxic chemicals.
15. Newspaper for streak-free glass
If you or someone in your household reads newspapers, keep a few on hand for when you’re cleaning windows or glass shower doors.
Spray the glass surface with your usual glass cleaner, or for a 100% natural option, water mixed with white vinegar.
Then crumple a full page into a ball, wipe in tight circles, and finish with straight vertical strokes.
You’ll be left with shiny, streak-free windows!
Newspaper sheets are more absorbent than paper towels, so they lift moisture without leaving streaks.
16. Coffee filter for dusting screens from electronics
For the coffee lovers out there, your coffee filters can have another use: they can clean your screens without any additional product.
Take a dry, flat coffee filter and wipe your screen with it.
Because it’s slightly antistatic, it picks up dust instead of pushing it around.
If you want to get rid of fingerprints, you can very slightly dampen it before wiping, but always finish with a dry pass.
17. Cornstarch for streak-free glass
If you don’t have newspapers on hand, no worries!
You can easily use cornstarch to achieve streak-free glass surfaces too.
Simply mix one to two tablespoons of cornstarch into a vinegar-and-water spray cleaner, or just sprinkle a small amount onto a damp cloth.
Wipe the window or glass door as usual, and buff dry with a separate, dry cloth.
Cornstarch has a mildly abrasive texture, so it will remove grease or fingerprint residue without leaving any streaks.
Floor and carpet tricks
If you’re wondering how to effectively clean your floors and carpets without harsh chemicals, I have two guides to the best non-toxic floor cleaners and natural carpet cleaners.
But sometimes, we need a little trick rather than a cleaner.
Here are four that will help you address specific problems, using simple household items.
18. Walnut on wood floor scuffs
If you have scuffed wood floors, have a look in your pantry and grab a walnut.
Crack it open and rub the nut directly on the scuff mark.
Finally, buff with a cloth.
While this trick will not magically repair the damaged floor, the natural oils of the nut can help fill in and disguise the mark, making it much less visible.
19. Bread slice for broken glass cleanup
For those unfortunate times when we accidentally drop a glass and it shatters into thousands of pieces on the floor, a brush and dustpan may not catch every last shard.
However, a slice of bread can generally pick up the tiny fragments that were left behind.
Yes, that sounds weird, but it really works!
Press a slice of bread (ideally one going stale to avoid food waste) flat onto the floor where the glass broke.
Press down gently, lift, and discard it.
The soft texture of the bread helps grab the tiny glass fragments super easily.
20. Ice cubes on carpet dents
If you have carpeting in your home and you’ve moved furniture around, you probably have carpet dents that you are struggling to get rid of.
Look no further than your kitchen for the solution!
Place an ice cube directly on the dent left by the furniture legs, let it melt completely, and fluff the fibers with your fingers once everything has dried.
Yes, it’s that easy!
21. Squeegee on carpet to get rid of pet hair
For those lucky enough to have pets, your carpets are probably always covered in pet hair.
To remove the hair effectively, you can use a simple rubber-bladed squeegee and run it across your carpet in one direction.
Do this over the entire surface you want to clean, gather the hair into a pile, and finally, vacuum or pick it up by hand.
The rubber surface creates static and friction that help grab hair that has become embedded in the carpet fibers, which a vacuum might not be able to reach.
This also works on upholstery and car seats if you ever need to clean those too.
On a similar topic, I have an entire post about the best reusable lint roller alternatives, so definitely check it out if you’re struggling with pet hair in your home.
Final thoughts on non-toxic, natural cleaning hacks
I hope you’ve found these natural cleaning hacks helpful and that they inspired you to take care of your home without toxic chemicals!
Not only do these help you tackle everyday messes while preserving your health, but they also involve using things most of us already have in our cupboards and pantries.
No need to buy an expensive product!
Plus, these are much more sustainable options than using a conventional cleaner.
If you liked this post, you might also want to read:
- 7 best natural & non-toxic laundry detergent brands that are tough on stains, not on health
- 6 best non-toxic, natural oven cleaners that break down grease effectively
- 9 best natural & non-toxic dishwasher detergents, tablets & pods for a safe clean
- 10 best reusable paper towels to clean messes sustainably
- DIY laundry detergent recipe (all-natural, zero-waste and budget-friendly)
Which of these non-toxic cleaning hacks have you decided to try?
Please leave a comment below!
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends and family so they can learn how to clean their homes naturally too.
Looking for more non-toxic & sustainable brands? Check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory!
It features conscious brands in various categories, from home goods and furniture to fashion and clean beauty!
