This easy, frugal homemade soft scrub cleaner is a versatile scouring powder that gets surfaces clean and grime-free.
Homemade Soft Scrub Cleaner
Benefits
Using a scouring paste is an easy way to get rid of water spots and mineral buildup on glass shower doors. (Related: Homemade No-Scrub Soap Scum Remover.) It also speeds up cleaning grimy surfaces, like the dirty ring in bathtubs or tough messes on faucets and taps.
Essential oils are entirely optional in this homemade soft scrub recipe, but certain oils can provide added benefits. (Here’s an inexpensive starter set.)
- Peppermint essential oil deters a variety of household pests, so adding it to the recipe when cleaning sinks or grout can help keep your kitchen pest-free.
- Use tea tree oil if you’re cleaning bathroom surfaces to help prevent mold and mildew.
And, of course, liquid dish soap helps remove grease and dirt on surfaces, while hydrogen peroxide fights stains.
Uses for Homemade Soft Scrub
This cleaner is super versatile and features a gentle abrasion that scours through grime on a variety of hard household surfaces. (Related: Natural Homemade Cleaner Recipes)
- Spotty glass shower doors
- Dirty bathtubs
- Sticky bathroom vanities and sinks
- Nasty grout
- Stained and smelly toilets
- Crusty tile floors
- Dingy or tarnished knickknacks
- Moldy flower vases
- Lightly rusted flatware
- Stained mugs and cups
- Gray cutlery marks on plates and dishware
- Greasy baking sheets
- Grimy pots and pans
- Burnt food on ceramic or glass cooktops
- Filthy litter boxes
- Sooty fireplace surrounds
- Muddy doorway thresholds
- Grungy door handles
- Oily stains on cement
The same rules apply to homemade soft scrub as to the store-bought stuff: don’t use it on granite, marble, wood, or highly polished surfaces. (Related: Homemade Granite and Marble Cleaner.)
How to Use Homemade Soft Scrub
The easiest way to apply this mixture is by getting a microfiber or other cleaning cloth slightly damp, then adding a small amount of homemade soft scrub to it. Use this to gently rub the surface, then rinse it away with a spray of water or another clean, damp cloth.
Storage
Store any unused mixture for up to a month in an air-tight container away from heat and light, which can deactivate the hydrogen peroxide. (Related: How to Clean and Disinfect with Hydrogen Peroxide.)
If you find that your mixture is a bit dry after storage, you can thin it out with a little more hydrogen peroxide or washing-up liquid, or both.
Homemade Soft Scrub Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 tbsp. liquid dishwashing soap
- 2 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide
- 6-8 drops essential oil optional (I like peppermint to deter pests or tea tree to prevent mold)
Instructions
- Combine the baking soda and dish soap then stir in the hydrogen peroxide.
- Add essential oil if using.
- Increase the amount of peroxide if you prefer a thinner consistency.
- To use, apply with a microfiber cloth or a sponge, scrub, and rinse dry.
- For greasy jobs, let the homemade soft scrub sit on the spot for 5-10 minutes, apply elbow grease and a damp microfiber cloth, and rinse with hot water.
Note: This post first appeared in May, 2012. It has been updated for republication.
[email protected] says
This is awesome and another tip I’m very keen to try-perhaps on my kitchen sink this weekend 🙂 No nasty chemicals either. Love all of your tips Katie!
Katie B. says
Thank you, Raquel! I’m fanatic about cleaning my kitchen sink. It’s old, and if I don’t stay on top of it the thing stinks up my kitchen. This recipe saves me a fortune as a result!
Small Town Mommy says
These are great recipes and so much less expensive than Soft Scrub.
Katie B. says
Yes, it’s much less expensive and not toxic!
Katie B. says
Oh Mariette, I am so sorry your family is going through such a difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Jeff says
I am going to have to try this homemade soft scrub cleanser. I recently bought a new Maytag smooth top range and you can really get some tough, cook-on gunk on the top. You can buy stove-top cleaner at the store but it is fairly expensive. I am going to try this instead of the name brand stuff.
Thanks
Stephanie B. says
Jeff,
I used it on my smooth top range today, and it left a brilliant shine behind! I love how it cleaned it, BUT, I read on a car care website recently, that vinegar can pit windshield glass if used as a de-icer. I wonder if it can do the same thing to stove tops. Might be worth looking into more.
Mummy Pig says
The soft scub cleaner is brilliant 🙂
I used an organic dishwashing soap with orange essentials oils in it and my kitchen smells amazing!
Katie Berry says
I bet it smells divine!
Stephanie B. says
This is the BEST cleaner, EVER! I used it today to clean out my sink, and it leaves a beautiful shine afterwards, too. I cannot say THANK YOU enough – your website is permanently bookmarked for me. I use your any-type floor cleaner for all kinds of things, not just floors – I scent mine with peppermint, and it works fantastically – you ROCK!
Katie Berry says
I’m so glad you like the cleaners, Stephanie! Peppermint is one of my favorite scents to use because it makes the house smell so happy. Enjoy!
Katie Berry says
It’s not one you make and keep in the cupboard. I’ve used the same batch a couple of days in a row, thinning it the second day with a little more hydrogen peroxide.
Lori says
When it says liquid dish detergent, do you mean like dish soap or dishwasher liquid soap?
Katie Berry says
Hi Lori,
This recipe uses liquid dish soap. I use Dawn Original. Sorry for any confusion.
Marilyn says
Hi Katie….I have some Arm and Hammer natural washing soda on hand. Can this be used in place of the baking soda? I’m looking forward to making my own cleaning products. Thank you for a very informative website.
Katie Berry says
Hi Marilyn! That would work just fine since washing soda is ultimately baking soda with the water and carbon dioxide cooked off. ?