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Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home|DIY Homemade Cleaners
DIY Citrus Wood Polishing Wipes
April 29, 2019
I typically use a microfiber duster and cloth for dusting but have been trying out a couple other sustainable solutions. This one reminds me of how my grandma would keep her dusting cloth and oil on the basement steps. Every time I’d help her dust I’d grab that same cloth, add a little oil and dust away. Shake it outside when I was done and put it back on the basement steps. This recipe is my spin on her method, modernized and with a DIY recipe. I hope you give it a try – I keep a jar in my dusting caddy and use it weekly. Use a small jar and only keep 4-6 wipes in there at a time to ensure that the solution stays fresh or mix it up and use in a spray bottle.
DIY Citrus Wood Polishing Wipes
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons fractionated coconut oil or almond oil – find these in my DIY cleaning category in my Amazon shop
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops orange essential oil
4-6 small cloths – I cut up an old flour sack towel, but you could upcycle old t-shirts or microfiber cloths
mason jar or spray bottle if you’d prefer the spray version (see below)
In a mason jar or container, mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Put the cloths in the mason jar or container and make sure that the liquid is soaked up by the cloths completely. You want the cloths to be barely damp but not wet. Prefer a spray bottle? Just double the ingredients and combine them in a spray bottle instead. Spray your cloth, not the surfaces.
You can find a version of this recipe and more in my newest book, Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home. If you don’t have the book, I highly recommend that you grab it and get started with my simple, room-by-room plan for a natural home – it’ll change your life!
Bonnie Gwilliam Says...
I just discovered your site a few days ago and am happily making changes to my cleaning routines. I was surprised how much dusting I got done today in only 15 minutes! I’m interested in putting together these wood polishing wipes and was wondering about laundering them. Do you run them in the sanitary wash along with all your other ones or do them separately?
b r Says...
Post authorHappy to hear this Bonnie! I wash them separately on a normal, warm/hot load, not sanitize.
Desi Says...
Love this idea! I used those really cheap dollar store wipes. Its perfect!
Julia Says...
These are perfect! I made them up two weekends ago and used just one the other day to dust all of my living room furniture! The cloth was folded in fourths, so I just kept folding it back on itself until I was finished. Super clean, polished and really quick! Thanks, Clean Mama for another winning idea!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorGlad to hear it worked so well for you Julia!
Shruti Says...
I live in India and I stumbled across your site a few days back. I love all your DIY cleaners. I got everything I needed today and am making my first batch! Really excited about making the switch to organic and safe cleaners!!! Thank you!
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Karen Marrotte Says...
Hi Mama,
Would I be able to use Jojoba Oil in place of Almond Oil? If I use Coconut Oil wouldn’t it solidify again?
I have reusuable paper towels from Bambooee. Every time they are washed they get softer and softer. Great product. I love ’em!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorI haven’t tested it with jojoba oil but you can try it and fractionated coconut oil is a liquid that won’t harden – I love it!
Anne Says...
I have everything on your list, except that I don’t have fractionated coconut oil and I’m almost out of almond oil. Would olive oil work instead? Traditionally I’ve seen olive oil used for wood furniture. I love the smell of lemon and orange, can’t wait to put this together.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorOlive oil will work – it’ll have a scent but it’ll still do the job 🙂
Anne Says...
This might seem like a silly question, but what size did you make your cleaning cloths (from the old flour sack towel)? 🙂
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorI cut them into 4ths 🙂
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Linda Says...
Definitely a blast from the past. My grandmother always had her dust rag in a metal tin under her sink. I loved the smell everytime I opened that tin. Thanks for the recipe.
Vanessa Says...
I don’t have lemon or orange essential oils. Can I use something different?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorThe citrus works the best!
Celeste Says...
I have an allergy to coconut and almond. Can you recommend a substitute please?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorYou could try Argan or Jojoba oil.
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