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Three reasons to make your own bathroom products
Your bathroom should be a calming sanctuary where you can be alone with your real self. Whether your bathroom space is roomy or cosy, it should feel welcoming and soothing. Commercial bathroom cleaning products not only cause visual clutter with competing colours and container sizes; the mix of ingredients from the various products can also be a cause of irritation to our senses, which in turn affect our mood and emotional state.
As well as being fun, creative, and personal, here are three more reasons for you to make your own bathroom products.
#1 Calming and Mindful
Making your own natural cleaning products for your bathroom is an opportunity to relax and enjoy the simplicity of the process. Thinking about how you will feel while using your new homemade bathroom products is an opportunity to create a new emotional and mental relationship with your private space. These simple yet important tasks also contribute to healthy self-care behaviours that we can begin to expand and appreciate in our everyday activities.
#2 Control
There is a great feeling of control from choosing which natural products you want to use in your bathroom and then creating them yourself. The smallest things can make me feel physically or emotionally dysregulated, and it can take a few hours or even longer for me to understand the cause. As I move about my personal space, I feel a greater sense of calm and control; this is because I get a boost of a sense of achievement knowing I made the things I am looking at.
#3 Simplicity
Probably the most important outcome of making my own natural cleaning products for the bathroom is that I am able to simplify and follow my cleaning routines when I know exactly what I am using, what purpose it serves, and where it is located.
I no longer feel that overwhelming dread (I’m not exaggerating) of thinking ‘I need to clean my bathroom’. This is because I know exactly what is required – I don’t have to remember which products have a strong smell, which ones to use, and in which order; I don’t have to try to remember where they are stored, and whether there is enough of all of the products before I can start cleaning.
Natural bathroom cleaning products you can make at home
Note that some of these cleaners do not require exact measurements, as they are often used as powders or liquids.
1. Make your own natural toilet bowl cleaner
Ingredients
- 240 ml (1 cup) of baking soda
- 240 ml (1 cup) of white vinegar
Method
- Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda around the inside of the toilet bowl and leave for ten minutes. Make sure to cover the sides as well as the bottom.
- After ten minutes, Pour 1 cup of white vinegar slowly into the bowl, over the baking soda. The mixture will fizz and bubble as the two ingredients react.
- Allow the mixture to sit for about 10-15 minutes. This will give the reaction time to break down stains and disinfect the bowl.
- After the fizzing reaction has stopped, use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl thoroughly. Take time to focus on any persistent stains or mineral deposits.
- Flush the toilet to rinse away the cleaning solution and any loosened grime.
- Extra step: Pour a 1/4 cup of vinegar slowly around the bowl to coat it and leave for ten minutes.
- After ten minutes, rinse the toilet bowl again.
Key Benefit
- This simple recipe naturally disinfects and removes stains from your toilet bowl.
- The chemical reaction between the two ingredients will neutralise the acidic properties of vinegar with the basic properties of baking soda.
- Both baking soda and vinegar are good at deodorising and this is why we apply the ingredients in three stages. Baking soda neutralises odours by absorbing acids, while vinegar kills odour-causing bacteria.
- When the two ingredients are mixed in the second stage, the fizzing action helps dislodge grime and debris. For more effective long-term odour control after cleaning, it is better to use the two ingredients separately.
2. Make your own natural bathtub scrub
Ingredients
- 240 ml (1 cup) of Baking Soda
- 60ml (1/4 cup) of Unscented Liquid Castile Soap
Method
- Combine the baking soda with the liquid castile soap in a bowl and stir the mixture until it forms a creamy paste. If the paste is too thick, you can add a little more soap or water to reach the desired consistency.
- Apply the paste directly to the surface of the bathtub using a sponge or cloth. Make sure to cover all areas with grime or stains.
- Use a scrubbing brush or a sponge to scrub the bathtub. The mild abrasiveness of the baking soda will help to remove grime and stains, while the Castile soap will help to clean and lift any dirt.
- Rinse the bathtub thoroughly with warm water to remove all traces of the cleaning mixture..
Key Benefit
- This easy-to-make mixture combines the gentle abrasive action of baking soda with the effective cleaning power of Castile soap, making it a great option for cleaning bathtubs and removing soap scum and grime.
3. Make your own natural drain cleaner
Ingredients
- 120ml (1/2 cup) of Baking Soda
- 240ml (1 cup) of White Vinegar
- 1 to 2 litres (1-2 quarts) of Boiling Water
Method
- Pour the baking soda in the drain, followed by the white vinegar.
- Using suitable care and protection, slowly flush the drain with boiling water.
Key Benefit
- This mix of ingredients is strong enough to clear your drains without damage to pipes or releasing harsh chemical waste into the environment.
Share your ND experiences and insights
Is cleaning your bathroom a chore that you enjoy doing or do you avoid it as much as possible? Are there any natural homemade bathroom cleaning products that work well for you? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments!
