The Simple Art of Real Home Cleaning
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Natural Home-keeping
Gentle natural homekeeping for real women & real homes — no pressure, no perfection. Natural cleaning in a real home isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about creating a simple, repeatable rhythm—one that supports your people, your pets, and even the barn-life moments (boots, tack, bins, buckets) without adding extra overwhelm. My life is flat crazy some weeks, especially if my husband is traveling, and by no means do I live in a home that looks like we’re ready for a magazine photoshoot(if only). Quite the opposite actually. My home is old, and most of the time in desperate need of some sort of straightening and cleaning, however, we live here, and what I mean by that is, this is not the highlight reel of my life, some days the schedule just doesn’t include the dishes, or yesterdays mail is still sitting in a pile on the dining room table waiting to be opened, and there is dog hair on the floor that needs to be vacuumed, you know, real life. I am thankful for the simple routines I can turn to when the overwhelm of everyday just gets to be too much, and feel better about what I am using on the surfaces that we touch everyday. This natural cleaning is a process, replacing store-bought synthetic products, and containers, or bottles, or jars to store things in, it doesn’t just change overnight. I am actively trying to figure out a “dupe” for something, most days. Every single product on store shelves contain some sort of synthetic ingredient, I am not saying that they are all bad, but I just want to do better. I may never be 100% completely free of some of those products, but I am not going to stop looking for natural dupes. I hope you’ll follow along and find something here that helps you. This is Cedar & Linen Living, you are welcome here.
Why Natural Cleaning Matters in Real Homes Natural cleaning in a real home isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about creating a simple, repeatable rhythm—one that supports your people, your pets, and even the barn-life moments (boots, tack, bins, buckets) without adding extra overwhelm. A gentle approach helps you: Keep fewer products on hand (less clutter, less decision fatigue) Reduce the “chemical cloud” feeling in your home Create routines that feel doable with kids, pets, and busy schedules
And you don’t have to go “all natural” overnight, start with one ingredient. Then one recipe. Then one small habit you can repeat.
The Heart of Natural Cleaning – This is the shift that changes everything:
1) Fewer ingredients – When you rely on a handful of basics, you stop hunting for the “right bottle” and start building confidence with what you already have. 2) Less overwhelm – A simple system lowers the mental load. The goal is a cared-for home—not a perfect one. 3) Safer rhythms for real life – When you’re cleaning around kids, pets, or barn items, the best routine is one that’s mindful, well-ventilated, and not loaded with intense synthetic fragrance. Gentle note: Even natural ingredients can be irritating if misused. Use good ventilation, label your bottles, and keep mixtures out of reach of children and animals. If you use essential oils, use them lightly and cautiously around pets.
The 5 Foundational Ingredients (and Why They Work)
1) Distilled White Vinegar Best for: mineral buildup, hard-water spots, glass shine, deodorizing wipe-downs. Vinegar is your “dull-to-bright” ingredient—especially around faucets, sinks, and shower glass (not natural stone). If I purchase this from Amazon, here’s what I use; https://amzn.to/44PCNbc [Distilled White Vinegar] 
2) Baking Soda Best for: gentle scrubbing, deodorizing, sticky messes, sink/tub refresh Think of baking soda as your soft scrub + odor helper. also what I use; https://amzn.to/4jdELb7 [Baking Soda] 
3) Castile Soap Best for: everyday grime, greasy fingerprints, counters, dishes, general wipe-downs. Castile soap is your workhorse for “life mess.” It’s especially helpful in kitchens. Honestly, this is strictly personal preference; you may want to get a small bottle at first, and make sure the fragrance, if scented, is what you are wanting; https://amzn.to/4pUAMCO [Castile Soap (unscented or lightly scented)
4) Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) Best for: heavy-duty laundry boost, grimy rags, deep cleaning jobs, grease cutting. Washing soda is stronger than baking soda. It’s incredible for deep-clean moments—especially for towels, mop heads, work cloths, and sticky buildup. what I use; https://amzn.to/45mcvNR [Washing Soda] 
5) Essential Oils (Optional + Gentle) Best for: light scent, “fresh” feeling, plant-based support in small amounts. Essential oils can add a gentle, clean scent—but they’re optional. If you have pets (especially cats) or sensitive family members, it’s completely okay to skip them and stay unscented. [This is also personal preference as far as the brand] but this is the brand I like; https://amzn.to/3M3uTok Cliganic Essential Oil 12 pc Set “The All Stars” (they also have a great carrier oil, Jojoba Oil) 
Important pairing note: Don’t mix vinegar and castile soap in the same bottle (they don’t play well together). Use them separately: soap for grime, vinegar for minerals.
Real-Life Tips (The Part That Makes This Sustainable)
You don’t need a perfect routine—you need one you’ll actually do. “Set a timer for 10 minutes“, yes, just 10 minutes! Ten minutes keeps it small. You’ll be surprised what shifts when you stop waiting for “enough time.” Pick one: Wipe counters after dinner. Quick sink reset before bed Spray trash can lid twice a week One load of “cleaning rags” weekly
Create a “cleaning caddy” Put your basics in one spot:
- All-purpose spray
- Microfiber cloth
- Baking soda
- Castile soap
- Scrub brush (natural bristle is best, less abrasive, but still strong, happy to suggest one if you would like, let me know in the comments)
This is also personal preference, whatever kind of caddy you choose to use, make sure you like it, and that it goes with the aesthetic of your home, but if you need a suggestion, this is a great one; https://amzn.to/4sV6Rwt [Cleaning Caddy].
Label your bottles (future-you will thank you)
Write what it is + what it’s for. Keep it simple. I have some great examples, and links if you’d like them for containers and spray bottles. Some of the Natural cleaning products that we are making may be sensitive to sunlight and UV rays. I suggest dark amber bottles and containers, jars, and pots, for storage. I also have some great labels that my Momma made for me. If you’d like the links for these items, just let me know in the comments.
and Finally…
If you’re new to this, don’t worry about doing it perfectly. Choose one ingredient, try one easy job, and let that be enough for today. A home is meant to be lived in—and caring for it can be simple, steady, and even peaceful when you stop trying to do everything at once.
Start Here This Week (and tell me what you need!)
Start here this week: Pick two from the list and keep them easy to grab for seven days. My suggestion:
- Vinegar + water spray for spots and shine
- Baking soda for quick scrubs and deodorizing
Try just one “go-to job” from each and you’ll feel the difference fast. I appreciate your time and want to make sure you get something out of this, besides just advice, so here is a freebie; [#], download, print, and enjoy.
I’d love to hear from you: what’s the one area of your home that always feels like it needs attention—kitchen counters, the bathroom sink, floors, or something else? Tell me in the comments and I’ll share the simplest natural starting point for that space (and it helps me plan future recipes and articles too).
I am a child of God, a wife, bonus-mom and Mimi, dog mom, daughter, and sister. I am just like you, and I am so glad you are here. Let’s take this journey and learn together.
Be blessed,
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