Alright folks, let me tell you about my weekend project – gentle care cleaners. It all started with a seriously grimy bathroom. I mean, seriously. Soap scum city.

I was staring at this bottle of all-purpose cleaner, thinking, "There's gotta be a better way." You know, something less…harsh. So, I decided to dive down the DIY rabbit hole. First thing I did was hit up Google. Spent a good hour just reading recipes and forum posts, trying to figure out what works and what's just Pinterest fluff.

Based on what I found, I grabbed a few things from the store: some white vinegar (the MVP, apparently), baking soda (for that fizzing action), and some essential oils – lemon and tea tree, 'cause I like the smell. I also snagged some empty spray bottles. You can't clean without a good sprayer, right?

Okay, so the first thing I tried was a simple vinegar and water mix. Equal parts in a spray bottle. Sprayed it all over the shower, let it sit for like 15 minutes. Then I scrubbed. It...did okay. Definitely loosened up some of the grime, but it wasn't the miracle I was hoping for.

Next up, baking soda paste. I mixed baking soda with a little bit of water to make a thick paste. Slathered that on the tough spots – the corners of the shower, the grout lines. Let it sit for another 15 minutes, then scrubbed again. This worked a lot better! The baking soda is slightly abrasive, so it really helped to scrub away the gunk.

Then, I decided to combine the two. I sprayed the vinegar and water mix first, then sprinkled baking soda on top. It fizzed like crazy! I let it sit for a bit, then scrubbed. This was the winner! The vinegar helped to break down the grime, and the baking soda scrubbed it away. Plus, the fizzing action was kinda satisfying.

For the essential oils, I just added a few drops to the vinegar and water mix. Mostly for the smell. The lemon oil made the bathroom smell nice and fresh. The tea tree oil is supposed to have some antibacterial properties, so I figured it couldn't hurt.

Now, for the toilet. I used the same vinegar and baking soda trick, but I also added a cup of baking soda directly into the bowl and let it sit overnight. Flushed it in the morning, and it was sparkling!

Here's a quick rundown of what I ended up using:

• All-Purpose Cleaner: Equal parts white vinegar and water, a few drops of lemon and tea tree essential oils.
• Tough Stain Remover: Baking soda paste (baking soda mixed with a little water).
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner: 1 cup baking soda (let sit overnight).

The bathroom is now sparkling clean, and it smells amazing. Plus, I didn't have to use any harsh chemicals. Win-win!

Lessons Learned:

• Vinegar and baking soda are your friends.
• Don't be afraid to experiment.
• Let the cleaners sit for a bit before scrubbing. It makes a big difference.

Honestly, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. And now I have a bathroom that I'm not ashamed of. Plus, I saved a few bucks by making my own cleaners. I'd call that a successful weekend project.