Homemade cleaning products can be inexpensive and effective. The Optimist isn’t in business anymore, but their formulas are still great.
For the last decade, I’ve kept an ugly, industrial-looking spray bottle of diluted white vinegar under my sink. I use it mostly as a simple, non-toxic countertop spray that’s good for quick clean-ups during meal prep. While it’s been effective enough, both the look of the spray bottle and the unadulterated scent of vinegar leave something to be desired.
Enter The Optimist Co. Founded by Devin Donaldson after conventional cleaning products left her with a nasty asthma attack, they focus on simple, effective, non-toxic cleaning products that will help you keep your home spotless without compromising your health or the planet.
Devin sent me The Optimist Co.’s Make Your Own Cleaning Products Kit to try out a few weeks back. It comes with two amber-colored spray bottles with the cleaning formulas printed on the labels, a small bottle of castile soap and three small bottles of essential oils to make your custom scents.
Add some white vinegar and flat club soda* from your pantry to the mix and you have everything you need to build both an all-purpose spray (Time to Shine) and a glass and surface cleaner (Bright Side).
I made up both bottles the same day that the kit arrived. I followed the suggested recipes almost exactly, making only one change to the Bright Side. It suggests that you use plain white vinegar but instead, I used some of the lemon-infused vinegar I’d made during my Meyer lemon frenzy back in January (that’s what’s in the smaller measuring cup in the picture above). Bolstered with the enclosed lemon essential oil, every spray of that cleanser is an olfactory pleasure.
I’ve been using these sprays exclusively since they arrived and could not be more pleased with their effectiveness. I use them without worry around food, because I know that if a few droplets land on the contents of the fruit basket, no one will be harmed. Plus, they are far prettier than my old bottle of watered down vinegar.
*When we talked, I asked Devin what the flat club soda added to the mix and she said that it helps the cleaner wipe away streak-free, particularly on stainless steel appliances. So clever!
Disclosure: The Optimist Co. sent me the make your own kit at no cost to me for review and photography purposes. No additional payment has been made and all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
I was using soda water, vinegar, baking soda and dish liquid, until…. One lovely summer day I was walking through Heritage Gardens when I came upon a table with brown glass bottles on it, and beside the table, a smiling young woman. She happily explained her natural cleaning products. I thought they were great and bought them right away!! That was a few years back, and because I love the products so much, I give them away as presents. Chemical free; every little bit helps. Thank you Devin for making these products and for working so hard to get them out there!
White vinegar in a spray bottle with a dribble of dish soap. Hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle.
I’ve been making my own laundry detergent. It’s been a whole lot cheaper and our clothes don’t have any heavy chemical fragrances on them and they seem to last longer.
I really like Mrs. Meyer’s products
Awesome! I just started dabbling with essential oils as cleaners.
I use orange peel and vinegar to clean kitchen counters. We need more a;;-purpose, non-toxic cleaners like this one!
I made meyer lemon vinegar cleaner for the first time this winter. I’ve been using it on everything.
I’ve been using baking soda and vinegar and some drops of essential oil for routine cleaning. I find I still something stronger for really deep cleaning though.
I make our laundry soap and vinegar has become indispensable with small kids!
I make glass cleaner with water and vinegar.
I have long wanted to switch to healthier cleaning methods, but wasn’t in the position to buy the more expensive natural products. I am glad to see there a company that will walk you through the steps of making your own. Look forward to checking it out!
I purchased a large bottle of peppermint castille soap and use it throughout my home in just about every room: in my bathroom diluted to clean counters, sinks, tub, shower; in the laundry room using just a few drops in a gallon or two of water to soak and or hand wash items; on my porch diluted to clean my porch furniture; and my favorite….a few drops on a hand held scrub brush to scrub burlap coffee bean bags to rid them of dirt, dust, and remnants of their trek half way around the world. After they’ve been hosed down and dry in the sun, I then sew these bags into great pillow covers for inside/outside use, message boards, and tote bags.
I’ve started using vinegar and baking soda more often.
I stopped cleaning! Just kidding – I’ve switched back to using just soap and HOT water on the kitchen cabinets and counters and vinegar and dish soap in the bathroom. I’m saving up to buy wool yarn to make yarn balls for the dryer, no more dryer sheets! These sound divine with essential oils!
I cut up old t-shirts for rags and we use far fewer paper towels (although admittedly not zero, yet!)
I use Theives essential oil blend in a spray bottle diluted with one cup water and one cup white vinegar. 99.6% natural disinfectant counter spray! Just love the fresh smell and no chemicals.
Yesterday I made orange vinegar cleaner. Peeled oranges, just the orange part, not the white pith. Almost boiled vinegar, poured that over the peels in a glass jar to cover and put the cap on. In 2 weeks I’ll strain out the peels and dilute when I use it, to 1/2 water and 1/2 orange vinegar mixture. Its already bright orange and smells delicious. I told everyone not to drink it, its a cleaner.
Neat! I do make my own laundry detergent. I would love to make more cleaners!
I keep a stack of kitchen towels and microfiber cloths in my kitchen for cleaning. I use them in place of paper towels.
What a great idea! I’ve always wanted to go more natural and this is easier and cheaper. Everyone above here has great ideas too. This sounds like a great opportunity to get rid of a bunch of ugly bottles!
I recently made my own granite cleaner using rubbing alcohol, water, a few drops of castile soap and essential oil. Am working toward all my cleaning products to be sustainable and chemical free.
we’ve begun ditching paper towels, for cloth! Switched to vinegar years ago, but interested in this!
I’ve switched to vinegar, water and essential oil mixture for my all purp cleaner.
My favorite scrub for the bathroom sink is plain old baking soda and elbow grease. It cuts right through the soap scum without any harsh fumes, and as a bonus my hands get a little exfoliation.
I made the lemon infused vinegar and have been using it (diluted with water) for the past week – love the fresh smell in my kitchen.
I just made laundry detergent from scratch
I use baking soda or citrus-infused vinegar diluted with water for nearly all my cleaning. My mil is skeptical (she uses bleach on everything) so I would love something more “official” to keep on hand for her sake.
I am a big fan of using rags instead of paper towels. I have also invested in a steam cleaner. There is an amazing amount of things that can be cleaned with hot water!
we only use cloth in this house (except for toilet paper) and it makes such a difference in the money we spend and the amount of trash we make!
I haven’t made my cleaning more sustainable – that’s why I’d love to win the kit. I need help!
I have reduced my paper towel usage quite a bit. I use a cloth towel when cooking for wiping hands and spills instead of paper now (unless it’s something icky/gooey, like egg). And, the few paper towels I use are put into the compost.
I started making my own laundry soap a few years ago out of fels naptha bar soap, washing soda and baking soda. It’s way cheaper than the kind you can buy and works great. I won’t be going back anytime soon. A great book on the topic is: The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier.
Purchased a large bag of baking soda at Costco and are using it for a variety of cleaning around my home.
I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle of the washing machine. I make my own glass cleaner by the gallon. I also use vinegar to clean fruits and veggies. To keep the shower drain running free I use baking soda, white vinegar and the hot water after water bath canning process.
I use ionized water for cleaning
Same as many people here, we’ve given up on using disposable paper products in lieu of rags cut from old shirts. We also do a lot of our cleaning with vinegar, baking soda and/or dish soap. I’d love to learn more about using essential oils as well.
I use a lot of baking soda and vinegar as well. We have a new baby and I want to keep things clean but safe!
I’m doing what my grandma does…using white washcloths/dishrags instead of paper towels or disposable cloths. She uses them to clean everything, and they bleach clean and hang dry beautifully!
Fabulous idea!!! Personally, I’ve been switching more and more to vinegar, baking soda, elbow grease, and steam to clean. 😉
I have been using vinegar for years. But I use anti-bacterial cleaners on the counters after cutting up poultry. It makes me feel safer.
I have been buying more natural cleaners for years, but it’s silly since I really should be just making my own!
I have been using vinegar and other natural products more but do still buy my cleaners.
I love vinegar as a sustainable cleaner! I use a vinegar and water solution to clean my fruits and vegetables, in the rinse cycle of my washing machine, and to wipe down my counter tops and my computer keyboard.
I have started using organic / natural cleansers. I also have some of the essential oils, but have not actually made any of me own cleansers yet.
What a great idea for a company! I’ve made cleaning products in the past, but like you said, they’re never as pretty as that is!
The non-profit I work for in San Diego has switched cleaning products in our group homes in order use the grey water to irrigate our organic orchard and urban farms. Essential oils are a great idea to add to our cleaning routines. Will take a look at The Optimist Cleaning products. Exciting stuff!
I also have an ugly spray bottle of vinegar under my sink!! I’ve been wanting to try some essential oils. Thanks
I’ve started using white vinegar to clean the kitchen recently- so much better than tons of chemicals!
-Kelsey
We make homemade gifts for Christmas – this year I made homemade chap stick, hand soap, photo thank-you cards, and laundry soap. I would love to try anything else new that smells good and is good for my house!
We also use diluted vinegar for cleaning most surfaces. There’s a bucket of old rags and washcloths under the sink to use for cleaning as well. Recently, I’ve gotten the ingredients to make my own laundry soap but haven’t tried it out yet.
I use a combination of vodka, wintergreen, and water for my dishcloths in the kitchen. Nice fresh scent and gets the bacteria away.