When it comes to cleaning many of us rely on chemical cleaning products such as clorox, Lysol, and other anti-bacterial cleaners. While these products are great for cleaning and generally safe, they can get expensive to buy over and over again and can trigger allergies and headaches. If you want to ditch the harsh chemicals but still get a sufficient deep clean of your home then you should follow these hacks:

1. Lemon vodka disinfectant spray

If you’ve decided to ditch the chemicals but still need a disinfectant, you will need to make your own natural disinfecting spray using lemon peels and some alcohol. To make this spray take a 16 oz spray bottle, add the peels of 2-3 lemons, fill the bottle with 1.5 cups of 120 proof or higher vodka (can substitute for 70% isopropyl alcohol), let lemon peels sit in the alcohol for 1-2 weeks to get the lemon oil from the peels, shake well and you’re good to go! When using it, spray it on surfaces and let it sit for a minute to disinfect before wiping it with a paper towel.

2. Baking soda on the carpet

Next time you go to vacuum your carpet add a dash of baking soda to the carpet first, before vacuuming it. This will leave your carpet odor free and fresh. This hack is especially useful if you have kids or pets. If you want your carpet to smell fresh, mix your favorite essential oil with the baking soda first and then leave the mixture on your carpet for one hour before vacuuming it up.

3. Salt your dirty pans

If you have a particularly dirty pan, it’s possible to get a deep clean of it using salt. That’s right, all you have to do is sprinkle a thin layer of salt onto the bottom of your pan, add a small amount of water and a drop or two of dish detergent, then scrub the pan with a soft bristle brush to get any grime off the bottom of the pan. A combination of coarse and fine ground salt works best and you may have to rinse and repeat a few times until the pan is fully clean.

4. Rubbing alcohol and lemon shower spray

While many people use bleach to clean their showers and baths, this may not be completely safe. Instead, a chemical free option to clean any built up scum is to use a mixture of rubbing alcohol and lemons. To make this shower spray pour 1 ½ cups of water, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol, lemon juice from 2 whole lemons, and 1 tsp of dish soap into a spray bottle using a funnel. It is also safe for natural stone, marble, tile, or travertine since it doesn’t contain hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.

5. Essential oil air freshener

A nice final touch to a deep clean is a fresh scented air freshener. You can make your own natural air freshener using a blend of your favorite essential oils, water, and witch hazel. All you have to do is mix 1 cup water and 1/4 cup of witch hazel, add 5-7 drops of one essential oil (lemon is recommended) and 5-7 drops of another essential oil (lavender goes well with this mixture), shake the bottle and attach the spray nozzle and you’re all set. You can spray this in rooms you frequently use, on upholstery, in the bathroom, even on your clothes or in your car. Wherever you spray it, it is sure to smell amazing.