These 10 Natural & Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products Leave Others in the Dust
Do you know what’s in your cleaning products? 😬
If you’re like me, you may have an assortment of specialized soaps, detergents, bleaching products, softeners, polishes, and cleaners on hand to keep your home sparkling. ✨ But while the chemicals in many cleaners may make our floors, toilets, and countertops gleaming and germ-free, many also are poisonous if ingested, contribute to indoor air pollution, and can be harmful if inhaled or touched.
Most of the time, simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, water, or Borax can handle most of your household cleaning needs and can save you a lot of money, too! BUT which cleaning products are the safest to use, work the best, and won’t eat a hole in your wallet (or sink)?
We’ve rounded up 10 popular cleaning brands, as well as their all-natural, eco-friendly counterparts — complete with their EWG ratings — as well as a DIY option that uses safe, simple ingredients.
NOTE: The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an American environmental organization specializing in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability. The ratings for the products below are from the EWG site.
1. Glass Cleaner
There’s nothing better than a squeaky clean mirror or shiny window that you can see yourself in! However, most conventional glass cleaners are made with solvents like toxic alcohols (typically poisonous), ammonia (a respiratory irritant), or glycol ethers (which can cause systemic organ damage). Yikes!
- Popular Brand: Windex Glass Cleaner (EWG rating: D)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Aunt Fannie’s Glass and Window Vinegar Wash (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Fill a spray bottle with water + 1/4 cup white vinegar (OR 1 TB lemon juice).
2. Furniture Polish
Looking to keep your wood furniture clean, polished, and not greasy? You’ve likely heard of Pledge Furniture spray and may even swear by it. But before adding that yellow bottle to your shopping cart, consider purchasing this non-toxic Truce Wood Cleaner as it contains only four ingredients: olive oil, distilled white vinegar, guar gum, and aroma-therapeutic essential oils! Just add water, shake, & spray!
- Popular Brand: Pledge Furniture Spray (EWG rating: C)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Truce Wood Cleaner (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon olive oil. You can also add in your favorite essential oils, too!
3. Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Conventional toilet bowl cleaners contain synthetic dyes, chlorine bleach, petroleum-derived ingredients, ammonia, and other harmful substances, like Triclosan 😧. So before flushing Lysol down the toilet, consider grabbing a plant-based cleaner that’s safe for the environment yet still adds a sparkle to your toilet. Seventh Generation Cleaner is completely free of chlorine, synthetic fragrances, dyes, & ammonia, which means it won’t fill your bathroom with intense fumes — it’s also a cruelty-free product.
- Popular Brand(s): Lysol or Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner (EWG rating: F)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Seventh Generation Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Mix 1 cup of Borax and 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar or lemon juice into the toilet bowl. Let sit for a few hours, then scrub with a toilet brush and flush.
4. Dish Soap
Many conventional dish soap brands contain cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde, sulphuric acid, fragrances, and other substances. Before reaching for popular brands like Dawn or Palmolive, consider an option that’s friendlier on the environment and also non-toxic, plant-based, & family-safe.
- Popular Brand(s): Palmolive or Dawn Dish Soap (EWG rating: D/F)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Puracy Natural Dish Soap (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Add 1/4 cup grated Castile soap with 1 1/4 cups boiling water and stir until dissolved. Then add 1 TB washing soda and stir. Add 1/4 cup Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile liquid soap and stir. Let mixture cool, then add essential oils (optional).
5. Dishwasher Detergent
Although Cascade may be the #1 recommended dishwasher brand in North America, you may want to dig a little deeper to see if it’s the best cleaner for your health and the environment. Consider picking up Better Life Dishwasher Gel as it is 100% plant & mineral derived from coconut, corn, and natural minerals. It doesn’t contain phosphates, bleach, fragrances, dyes, SLES, or SLS — just the good stuff!
- Popular Brand(s): Cascade Gel Dishwasher Detergent (EWG rating: D)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Better Life Dishwasher Gel (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Mix 1 cup washing soda with 1 cup baking soda, 3 packages unsweetened lemonade drink mix, 1 cup kosher salt, and 1 cup water. Mix and spoon it into ice cube trays. Let dry. Add one cube per load.
6. Scouring Powder
Scouring powder is great for getting the nitty, and especially the gritty, off your showers, tubs, and sinks. But most conventional brands emit harmful chemicals, including some that have been linked to cancer, asthma, and reproductive disorders. So instead of Comet or Ajax, consider Bon Ami, which uses natural ingredients, is hypoallergenic, and contains no chlorine, perfume, or dye — sweet!
- Popular Brand(s): Comet or Ajax Cleaning Powder (EWG rating: D/F)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Bon Ami Cleaning Powder (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Baking soda scours away most grime on tubs, showers, toilets, and countertops.
7. Surface Wipes
When looking at disinfecting wipes brands, avoid those with synthetic fragrances, ammonium chlorides, ammonia, and other unnatural ingredients. Also, be sure not to use disinfecting wipes for more than one surface or you might spread germs instead of kill them.
If soap/water or washing your hands isn’t enough to keep germs at bay, wipe surfaces or toys with a safer option like Babyganics All Purpose Surface Wipes which contain no ammonia, bleach, phosphates, phthalates, sulfates, artificial fragrances, or dyes — especially great if you have little ones running around 👶!
- Popular Brand(s): Clorox or Lysol Disinfecting Wipes (EWG rating: D)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Babyganics All Purpose Surface Wipes (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Cut a roll of paper towels in half and place in old coffee can. Pour 1/2 cup vinegar with 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, and 1 tsp dish soap over towels in the can.
Are you a visual learner? Collin made homemade wipes in this old video from 2014.
8. Multi-Surface Cleaner
Many multi-surface cleaners are great for tackling just about everything — they cut through grease and easily wipe up grime without leaving residue behind. However, they may also contain ingredients that are harmful to your health and the environment, so check the labels before buying.
- Popular Brand: Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner (EWG rating: D)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Mix 2 cups water with 1 tsp of Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile liquid soap, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of Tea Tree Oil (view our complete DIY here).
9. Cream Cleanser
Many cream cleansers are corrosive and may contain ingredients with the potential for negative respiratory side effects. So if you’re looking for a better cleanser that safely scrubs tough spots on your tubs, tile and grout, toilet bowls, stove tops, ovens, and more, consider snagging this Better Life Kitchen and Bath Scrubber… oh, and it’s free of VOCs, alkyphenol surfactants, and petroleum, too!
- Popular Brand(s): Soft Scrub Bath & Kitchen Cleanser (EWG rating: D)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Better Life Kitchen and Bath Scrubber (EWG rating: not rated)
DIY Option: Mix 3/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup lemon juice, 3 TB salt, 3 TB dishwashing liquid, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional).
10. Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Keep your wood floors clean and looking like new without harsh chemicals found in many popular floor cleaners, including Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Simple Green Naturals Floor Care contains 100% naturally-derived ingredients and relies on plant-based extracts and essential oils to remove dirt, stains, and more from unwaxed hard floors,* like finished wood, laminate, tile, and linoleum.
- Popular Brand(s): Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner (EWG rating: F)
- Eco-Friendly Brand: Simple Green Naturals Floor Care (EWG rating: A)
DIY Option: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 1 TB Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile liquid soap, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, and 2 cups warm water.
*Note: Don’t use castile soap on waxed wood floors as it will break down the wax.
⚠ WARNING: AVOID these toxic ingredients:
- Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs)
- Ammonia
- Antibacterials & Disinfectants
- Butyl Cellosolve (also known as butyl glycol, ethylene glycol, monobutyl)
- Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
- Glycol Ethers (ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, EGBE or 2-Butoxyethanol)
- Monoethanolamine (MEA) Diethanolamine (DEA) & triethanolamine (TEA)
- Petroleum Solvents
- Phenols
- Phosphates
- Phthalates (Fragrances)
- Triclosan
- And products with labels containing the words: “hazardous”, “corrosive”, “warning”, “danger”, “irritant”, or “inflammable”.
Environmental Working Group’s investigation of more than 2,000 cleaning supplies on the American market has found that many contain substances like the ones above which are linked to serious health problems.
Want to see where other cleaners rank and how safe/unsafe they are for your health and the environment? 🍃 Be sure to check out the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website.
Happy Green Cleaning! ✨
Written by Mary for Hip2Save. Mary is a proud mom to 3 kids in Austin, TX, who thrives off Jesus, running long distance, bargain shopping, warm Texas weather, a yummy latte…and a little Candy Crush from time to time. She also loves quality time with family & friends and sharing great deals with others.
I’ve been cleaning with clean products for years. I know H2S offers deals on the bad products – but there are more important things in the world than saving a few bucks – YOUR HEALTH!!! Does anyone sit down and think about the long term exposure is doing to themselves and their families? I for one have had too many family members die of cancer. My husband for one – at the age of 39! There’s a reason for all of this. Thank you Collin and team for posting this very important message
I completely agree. Thanks for sharing Laura and I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. 🙁
Thank you for the recommendations i’m always looking for natural cleaning supplies. I have not had any luck with the 7thgeneration cleaning spray it wouldn’t even clean my toilet that clean. I think baking soda and vinegar work better. Thanks for all that you do!
I am a big fan of the Better Clean products. I’ve been using them since I first saw them on shark tank. I can actually breathe while I’m cleaning! So that’s a plus 😜 I purchase from their website cleanhappens.com and get their emails so they send offers every once in a while
Oh cool – thanks for the tip!
Wow! I’m so excited to see this post. I agree with Laura that there are so many bad products out there and you can clean better and save on your health too! Women do A LOT of the cleaning so the products are going into your skin and lungs. I have been buying Pure Haven products for years and last year signed up as a consultant. They have both household cleaning products as well as body care items for adults, kids, and babies. They always rate well on EWG.org and are all toxin free. They are all about educating people to know what to watch for in products and why to avoid them. Let me know if you want a copy of their list and I’ll email it to you. They do have a 60 day money back guarantee, empty bottle or not. Also, if you want to order any of their products to try, email me directly and mention hip2save and I’ll give you 20% off your first order. View products here: purehaven.com/mary and email me at purebymary@arthmire.com or if you just want to follow me on FB, that’s fine too. I post various items on keeping your family and the world around you healthier as well as occasional Pure Haven posts. http://www.facebook.com/groups/purebymary
This is an awesome post and very much needed, Thanks Mary! I would love to see a similar post on natural cleaning products for laundry as well. Upon researching for many months, I finally stopped using dryer sheets and liquid laundry soap and switch to all natural methods; such as Nellie’s Laundry Soap, white vinegar, baking soda and dryer balls. Not only is it safer, healthier but I have saved so much money! I add a little bit of lavender essential oil to dryer balls and to the vinegar. It is better for our earth and safer for our kids. Again, thank you for posting these, it is very helpful, as I am still figuring how out to alternatives to cleaning products that work and rid all toxic chemicals from my house.
Thanks for the kind words…and stay tuned! We may do another laundry post like this in the future! 🙂
I love that you listed a DIY version for each of these, so helpful thank you!!
You’re most welcome Tam! Glad you find it helpful!
I cleaned screen door windows with vinegar and newspaper. Looks amazing and streak free! Wear gloves if you try this method otherwise newsprint will leave hands black. Eliminating multiple cleaning products down to a few. Started making mason jar orange peel concentrate. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks for posting more natural products!
So much YES to this post! So happy to see this! Cleaning products are awful and making your own costs pennies. My friend used to use comet cleaning Powder all the time and then she got a cancerous tumor at age 20!! Luckily she had it removed and is fine now. Women who stay at home are more likely to develop cancer from cleaners than anyone else. Your health is important and if we as the consumer stop buying the product the company will take notice and change the ingredients.
Oh goodness…that is so sad about your friend, but I’m glad she is fine now!
I buy Attitude products. They are EWG verified products and if you buy $100 you get 30% automatically. They sell everything for your household to shampoos and baby products. I just like that I can make one big purchase every 2 months or so and get everything shipped without having to remember to buy from different companies. If you would like $10 off coupon on top of the 30% just send me an email to kperales25(at)aol.com.
Great to know – thanks!
Just throwing this out there… we thought our septic tank needed pumping (turns out it was just a toilet paper clog in pipes) and guy who came out said our tank was only 1/4 full for our family of 4 and hadn’t been pumped in 20 years! He said most likely because we never use conventional cleaners, only DIY or extremely natural products. Flushing toxic chemicals like bleach kills the good bacteria that eat up all that waste and TP. Something to consider when thinking about switching!
Hmmm… that’s really interesting.
Making a copy of this!
😀
Great info. Our parents and grandparents did not have or needed these chemicals infused cleaners. The natural and handy items over 100 years did well back then and now!!!!
The only times I regularly use safer products is when I am cleaning my floor tile grout, when scouring my toilet bowl, and getting rust off of metal utensils. I use a baking soda and water paste to clean floor tile grout, a pumice stick on toilet bowl rings, and vinegar to remove rust.
I use Clorox clinging bleach gel for deep cleans and the Clorox toilet wand between deep cleanings. I don’t stay in the bathroom while letting the gel soak in. I use Ajax or non-concentrated Dawn on dishes when necessary. I hand wash by choice. I use a Swiffer WetJet to mop. I use Purex or Arm & Hammer laundry detergent. I don’t have any preferences on dryer sheet brands. I just don’t want overpowering scents. I also use Purex scent booster beads because of a musty smell in my apartment due to alot of moving boxes. The smell has gotten into my clothes. I use peach Renuzit cones to freshen up my master bedroom, walk-in closet, and my bathroom. I sometimes use two boxes of baking soda in my master bedroom in addition to the cones.
If I had children or pets, I might be more interested in possibly using natural/DIY products. I am renting my apartment. I will eventually have to return my apartment to the owners. When moving, I take two days to clean my entire apartment after getting my stuff out. I have to make sure it is really clean so I will get back as much of my deposit as possible. I am going to use what I know works well, works quickly, and that I can acquire easily and immediately.
I think processed foods are a big culprit for chemicals as well as cleaning products. Thank you for posting diy cleaners. I,m going to try some.
Thanks for this post, Mary. I think it is so important to be “greener” wherever possible. if you haven’t tried Norwex products, I would love for you to try them at cost. With Norwex microsilver technology, you can clean the vast majority of your home with just water. I have been using the products for years and I love that I don’t have to deal with cleaning supplies anymore! I even clean raw meat drippings from my counter top with just water! Let me know if you would be interested in trying the products 😊
We love Norwex! Use natural cleaners (vinegar, baking soda) when needed but you can’t get any easier than cleaning with just water
Oh yes! I love my Norwex!! It amazes me how great it cleans and with so little!! Thank you so much for this post. The word needs to be spread to help make people aware of what is in these chemical based cleaners. I would so so appreciate it if you made a similar post on personal care items. Once I became aware of these toxic chemicals, I immediately starting switching out all my products. It’s a work in progress but I’m getting there. They are just in everything!!!!
Thank you for doing this post! I like that you not only gave an alternative product, but that you also listed a way to do a DYI product.
You’re most welcome HipMomof3!
I tried to make my own natural cleaner with vinegar and orange pills …it just did work for me so I’ll have to stick with what I been using or try a different recipe for natural cleaners.
I used hip’s deals on cleaners getting them free for years. (Thank you!) but about 5 years ago switched to Shaklee basic G and H cleaners for everything. Wow. We noticed instant dramatic changes in allergies and while it cost me about $50 to start (a few other cleaners were in there plus bottles). I just recently purchased a new set ! Yes. 5 years. Not free but it made over 50 bottles of cleaners and 5. 5 years ! Totally saved me time, our health AND money !! love it so much I started selling it. 🙂
Wow that’s impressive!
I use Shaklee and Norwex! Love them both!!!😊
I only use Melaleuca and am in love toxic free company! The best!!
Oh awesome – I’ll have to check them out! 😀
I agree…Melaleuca has amazing stuff! I LOVE their laundry detergent and Tub and Tile cleaner especially well. I also love Norwex products…their powdered laundry detergent is a great all purpose cleaner. I use microfiber cloths and mops (my floors shine with no wax). I have used some of these natural products in the post, and I have found that Melaleuca and Norwex outperform them cleaning wise.
Thanks for sharing the DIY versions as well. I love baking soda for cleaning–it’s a miracle worker!
Thanks for all the great info.
I just wanted to throw in my two cents about them cancer causing chemical infused pesticides and mosquitoe repellents that are out there on the shelves as well. Some ingredients in them products are banned in other countries due to the dangers they pose on us and the environment. It’s so important that we get the awareness out on these problems to prevent future deaths and illness.
Such mixed feelings on this topic but mainly feel everything in moderation! My daughter had horrible eczema which got infected with staph… the cure was 10 minute bleach baths prescribed by derm. And was sure feeling grateful for this invention… so many have died and suffered from infections that natural products cant kill bacteria for…. so just saying we dont want to start a frenzy of fear of these things but use as directed and in moderation, the FDA is a legit thing!! My rule of thumb in life!😊✌🏻
Love love love this post!! Thank you so much for the product recommendations and DIY versions! I would LOVE to see a post like this for DIY and safer beauty products.
Thanks for the post! While the more conventional cleaning agents and (other things, like sunscreen) may be “cheaper,” especially with coupons abound, we also have to take into consideration their impacts on our health and environment. There is always a tradeoff between price and quality. Would love to see more money-saving deals on the healthier and better-rated natural products!
I noticed that you have listed Borax in some of the DIY recipes. The EWG has Borax listed with an “F” rating…fyi.
You might want to look into that some more. There is a lot of conflicting information about Borax. This is one example that lays it out well, I feel: https://crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not/
The dose makes the poison- which means that virtually everything is fine in moderation. There is no reason to be afraid of “chemicals”…literally everything is made up of chemicals. And just b/c something is “natural”, that doesn’t mean that it’s harmless or helpful. Cyanide and hemlock are natural too, after all.
Obviously you should not ingest household cleaners or stand there breathing in their fumes and letting them sit on your skin…they are not intended to be consumed or applied topically. But let’s not jump to conclusions based on anecdotal evidence, like “someone that used Comet got cancer so the Comet is what caused the cancer”….that isn’t very scientific. Cancer or any other disease can have a variety of causes, and plenty of people use “chemicals” every single day at home and at work safely for decades without ever getting sick.
And good luck killing things like the flu virus, Staph, and mold spores using vinegar or baking soda. Sorry but you will need disinfectants to kill certain germs that cause disease.
So agree with your post!!!
Harmful chemicals even in small doses are still harmful, especially when one is exposed to them regularly. Obviously, household cleaners are not supposed to be applied to skin or ingested but their residue stays behind (on dishes from dish detergent, on clothes from laundry detergent., etc’) and comes in contact with our skin, lungs, or even digestive system, which can pose great health risks. There is plenty of scientific evidence out there if you just want to find it that links harmful chemicals in household cleaners, detergents, cosmetic products, etc’ to cancer and other serious illnesses. Also, there are non-toxic disinfectants available on the market that can and will kill the flu virus and staph. Oh yeah, and vinegar does kill mold spores.
I have a science degree so please don’t try to convince me that the body can’t handle exposure to “chemicals” even in small doses. That claim is based on fear and paranoia alone and not factual evidence. If you stand there breathing in fumes or you can’t be bothered to crack open a window or use gloves when cleaning then I don’t know what to tell you. Otherwise obviously the exposure is limited and our bodies can handle that- they do everyday because we are exposed to those things everyday in the environment whether you want to believe it or not. Also, if you have remaining residue on your dishes and clothes then sorry but you need to re-evaluate how you are cleaning them. Didn’t think that it needed to be said but you’re supposed to make sure that they rinse completely clean. Water is more than efficient at accomplishing this. If you choose to believe that household cleaners are causing cancer then you are entitled to that opinion- but since you’re making a claim, the burden of proof is on you and not on me to find the “plenty of scientific evidence” that you believe exists.
Cite some sources. Vinegar does not kill *all* kinds of mold spores FYI. Nor does it or baking soda kill the flu and Staph. That’s what I said earlier, you seem to have misunderstood that part.
Really, I was not trying to convince you of anything. I was simply responding to the comment that you left here. There is no burden of proof on me, if you’d like to research this, you can do so yourself. And if you do not, oh well…
I make sure that my clothes and dishes are rinsed clean, but unless one obsessively scrubs and rinses for hours- there will be some detergent/soap residue left. As a matter of fact, some detergents/cleaners even leave a film, even if you rinse them off well. Yes, some people’s body’s are able to handle all those chemicals, but some other people are not as lucky. The ever rising number of cases of childhood cancer in the US can serve as a very sad evidence to that. For these reasons, I believe it only makes sense to try and limit one’s exposure to those harmful chemicals, at least in an environment one can control- their own home.
Obviously, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I do think that you should research this some more, especially since since, in so many words, you said that the person who wrote this post along with 99.9% of people who commented simply suffer from paranoia and are either in- or undereducated on this topic.
And I was responding back to you. When you make a claim but are unable to back it up w/ scientific evidence, then it’s just conjecture. You can’t prove what you are saying, so you’re telling me to “go Google it”. I have no idea why your clothing/dishes don’t rinse fully clean…or why you would need to be “scrubbing for hours”. Sorry, but that much fear and anxiety over some extremely small amount of leftover residue from plain old soap just doesn’t sound healthy to me.
Some people can experience allergies/irritation from certain substances more than others do, but you were trying to suggest that dish soap and laundry detergent “pose great health risks” and can even cause cancer. Childhood cancer has *always* existed, long before people used household cleaners. It’s a worldwide epidemic. Countless people that don’t use these household cleansers and eat only organic, vegan, gluten-free food get cancer every single day too, while billions of people that eat conventional food and use these household cleaners are perfectly healthy. Even the American Cancer Society debunks this idea that “chemicals” give you cancer.
You’re entitled to limit your exposure to household cleaners if it makes you feel better, but as an actual student of science I’ll stick to facts instead of fear and misinformation. Not sure what sort of “research” led you to believe that Dawn and Tide cause cancer, but that is pretty paranoid to me.
I’ve discovered Norwex as of last October…bought the safe haven package at my best friends party and fell in love with the products! I haven’t bought any harsh chemicals to use in my home since then and I love it! Who would ever think u could clean 90% of your home with just a couple of cloths and water! If anyone is interested I am a consultant now feel free to check out my link!! https://amandablankenship.norwex.biz/en_US/customer/party/3028671
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. While I am familiar with some of the products, some of them were new to me along with some of the DIY recipes, which I will definitely give a try.
I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good and effective non-toxic carpet cleaner. I tried the Biokleen carpet and rug shampoo but unfortunately it did not work wonders on the stubborn stains on my carpet. I would appreciate any suggestions.
For years, I ignored Mrs. Meyer’s products because I felt they were over-priced “luxury” products. Then I came across a travel size Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap when I was preparing for a trip. I loved the scent (radish), and was very happy with how well it performed. I started buying the regular sized bottles of Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap, and have been disappointed when I go “cheap” and buy less expensive “safe” dish soap (Ecos was the most recent one). The others don’t work as well – they require a lot more product for the same results. I also happily buy the all purpose cleaner when there’s a decent sale on it – I love several of the scents, they make my home smell very nice, and they never give me a headache like Pinesol does.
Been using a DIY recipe for glass cleaner for years made from rubbing alcohol, vinegar and corn starch. Also, for toilet cleaner, baking soda and vinegar. DIY bug spray with essential oils. I just got all the ingredients to try making my own dishwasher tabs with oils as well.
Baking soda + vinegar neutralize each other and make salt water, folks. You are not going to clean anything by using them together lol
Let me clarify my usage of them for my toilet – vinegar spray on all surfaces to clean and baking soda in the bowl to scrub hard water stains.