DIY Natural Cleaning: How to Save Money, Feel Good, and Maybe Even Laugh a Little

You know that moment when you’re standing in the cleaning aisle at the store, staring at bottles of harsh chemicals with unpronounceable names, wondering if you really need all that stuff? Yeah, I’ve been there. And while I love a clean house, I don’t love the idea of filling my space with a bunch of toxic substances. So, I decided to try something a little different—and I’m here to share it with you!

Let me introduce you to my DIY Natural Dish Soap and Laundry Detergent recipes that not only save you money but are also totally eco-friendly, smell great, and have some serious emotional benefits (because let’s face it, cleaning isn’t always fun, but it can be therapeutic!).

1. DIY Natural Dish Soap with Cassia Essential Oil

First up, dish soap. We all know the struggle—mountains of dirty dishes piling up, the endless scrubbing, and trying not to get soap in your eyes every time you turn on the faucet. But here’s the thing: dishwashing doesn’t have to feel like a punishment. With this homemade dish soap, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a spa. (Okay, maybe not exactly, but it’s pretty close.)

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of Unscented Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (because I don’t need any extra fragrances when I have essential oils doing their thing)
  • 2 cups Distilled Water (nothing fancy, just pure and simple)
  • 2 tablespoons Baking Soda (for that grease-busting action)
  • 10–15 drops of Cassia Essential Oil (this one’s a personal fave—it smells like a warm hug from a cinnamon bun)

Instructions:

  1. Add the distilled water into a 2-liter jug. (You can use a cute mason jar for extra Pinterest points, but it’s not required.)
  2. Stir in the baking soda—trust me, it’s magic for cutting through grease.
  3. Pour in the Castile soap. Feel free to dance around a little while doing this. You’ve earned it.
  4. Add Cassia oil. Now, take a deep breath. It’s like autumn in a bottle, and I can’t get enough of that cozy, spicy scent.
  5. Seal and shake well. Feel free to give it a shake every now and then because, let’s face it, shaking things up is fun.

Now, every time you do the dishes, you’ll feel grounded and motivated thanks to the Cassia Essential Oil. Not only does it make your dishes sparkle, but it also helps boost your energy and mental clarity (because we all need a little more focus in our lives, right?).

2. DIY Laundry Detergent with doTERRA Balance & AromaTouch

Let’s talk about laundry. Oh, laundry. The never-ending, pile-on-pile, “please let me put this off for one more day” task. But what if I told you that you could turn this dreaded chore into a relaxing experience? Sounds too good to be true, right? Enter: Balance and AromaTouch essential oils.

These two blends don’t just clean your clothes; they make laundry day feel like a mini spa day. You’ll get that nice, calming aroma with every load, and your clothes will come out fresh, soft, and emotionally supported (because we could all use a little extra emotional support when folding towels).

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of Unscented Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
  • 2 cups Distilled Water
  • 1/2 cup Baking Soda
  • 1/4 cup Washing Soda (if you want to level up your laundry game)
  • 10–15 drops of Balance Essential Oil Blend
  • 10–15 drops of AromaTouch Essential Oil Blend

Instructions:

  1. Add 2 cups of distilled water to your trusty 2-liter jug. (I swear by these big bottles—so much room for creativity!)
  2. Stir in the baking soda and washing soda. This is the point where you feel like a chemistry wizard.
  3. Add the Castile soap. Pour it in slow—make it dramatic.
  4. Drop in your Balance and AromaTouch oils. The scents will instantly transport you to a peaceful meadow (or, you know, wherever you go when you need to relax).
  5. Seal, shake, and bask in the calming vibes. Your laundry is about to feel so pampered.

Bonus: DIY Fabric Softener (aka Your Secret Weapon)

Now, let’s talk about that Fabric Softener. You know how store-bought softeners sometimes leave a weird chemical residue on your clothes (that can’t be good, right?)? Not anymore! Vinegar is here to save the day. Not only does it soften your clothes, but it helps get rid of stubborn stains—and let’s be honest, we all need a little extra stain-fighting power in our lives.

Fabric Softener (Vinegar Recipe):

  • 1–2 cups of White Vinegar (because, why not?)
  • Optional: A few drops of essential oil (like lavender, because who doesn’t want their clothes smelling like a spa?)

Instructions:

  1. Pour vinegar into a bottle (get fancy with a glass one if you’re feeling chic).
  2. Add a few drops of essential oil for a lovely, light scent. I like lavender for the ultimate calming vibe.
  3. Shake it up and pour 1/4–1/2 cup into your washing machine during the rinse cycle.

Now your clothes will not only feel soft, but they’ll smell incredible and be stain-free.

How Much Money Can You Save?

Let’s get real for a sec: You’re going to save a lot of money. Like, a lot. I’ll break it down for you:

  • Dish Soap: You could save about $30 a year or more by switching to this homemade version. That’s like, two fancy coffees or a couple of extra trips to the farmer’s market. Your choice.
  • Laundry Detergent: You’ll save $93–$135 per year or more. That’s enough to treat yourself to a nice dinner out every couple of months. Or a spa day. (I’m rooting for the spa day.)
  • Fabric Softener: You could save $12–$17 a year or more by using vinegar. That’s an extra bottle of wine—or a small splurge on whatever makes your heart happy.

So, by making these products, you’re not only helping the environment, but you’re also putting money back in your pocket—and we could all use a little more of that.

Final Thoughts (and Probably Some Giggles)

I know, I know, cleaning isn’t exactly the most thrilling activity on earth. But with these recipes, you can make it a little bit more enjoyable (and definitely more budget-friendly). You’ll smell great, your house will be cleaner, and you might just laugh at how easy it is to ditch the store-bought stuff. Oh and one more thing, if you're bulk making these recipes into 2 litre jugs like me, repurpose the now 2 empty Castile dish soap bottles for your laundry, pour the detergent into one, and fabric softener (vinegar) into the other, this way you're not pouring from a GIANT 2 L jug each time. You can store the jugs in a cool dark environment till you need to fill it up again. 

So go ahead, make these recipes, save some money, and give yourself a big ol’ high-five for being an eco-friendly, DIY superstar. Your home—and your wallet—will thank you!

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do! Let me know how they work for you, or if you have any favorite DIY tips to share. Happy cleaning!

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