DIY Soft Scrub (Non-Toxic Recipe—Avoid These Mistakes)

This DIY soft scrub is a simple, non-toxic alternative to store-bought cleaners—and it actually works on tough bathroom grime. You only need a few basic ingredients, and it’s safe for your home, your kids, and your pets.

Store-bought soft scrub cleaners often contain stronger chemicals and/or synthetic fragrances that some people choose to avoid.

Not all DIY soft scrub recipes are created equal, though. Some popular versions online combine ingredients that cancel each other out—or worse, can create irritating or unsafe mixtures.

This recipe skips those mistakes and keeps things effective, simple, and truly safer.

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Cleaning bathrooms isn’t exactly my favorite chore (are you with me on that?). And when you’ve got multiple people (especially men?) using the same space… well, let’s just say things can get interesting.

I mean if you have a cleanie husband or at least one cleanie son, then things might be different but let's talk dirt and other “stuff” especially if you have littles or non-littles with bad aim.

Let's just say I do not like cleaning bathrooms, but definitely ones that are mostly used by other people.

That’s where this easy homemade soft scrub comes in—it gives you the extra cleaning power you need without bringing a bunch of questionable ingredients into your home.

I'm not saying it's going to make you happy to actually do the cleaning, but you will like it when it's done.

Is Soft Scrub Toxic?

Some store-bought soft scrub cleaners contain ingredients that many people prefer to avoid—especially when cleaning areas used by kids, pets, or for food prep.

While they can be effective, they often rely on harsher chemicals or strong fragrances that aren’t ideal.

The good news is that you don’t need those ingredients to get a great clean.

This DIY soft scrub uses simple, familiar ingredients that are generally considered safer while still being effective on tough grime. It skips unnecessary additives and avoids combinations that can be irritating, ineffective, or potentially problematic when mixed or stored.

This formula gives you an effective clean without those concerns.

Why Some DIY Soft Scrub Recipes Don’t Work (or Aren’t Safe)

You might notice that some DIY Soft Scrub recipes on the internet have hydrogen peroxide or vinegar in them.

While it sounds like both of these ingredients would add a more powerful punch than just plain old water, there are good reasons why I didn't include them in this recipe, or made them optional.

Why Vinegar Shouldn't Be Used for This Scrub

Vinegar reacts with baking soda, so if you choose to use vinegar instead of water for this scrub, you'll want to make only small batches and use the scrub immediately. If you don't, the result will not be any more potent than just using water, so you might as well save money and just use water.

Why Hydrogen Peroxide Shouldn't Be Used for This Scrub

Peroxide mixed with baking soda makes carbon dioxide so it's possible by storing this mixture (or the vinegar and baking soda mixture) you could break your container.

You also don't want to mix vinegar with peroxide. It will turn into peracetic acid which is corrosive and potentially harmful to you, your kids, and your pets (source).

Other Ingredients to Keep Out of Your DIY Soft Scrub

Just in case you're tempted to use other strong ingredients like bleach or isopropyl alcohol, the fumes from those aren't great for you, so it's best to skip them as well.

Ingredients

Following is a VERY short list of things you will need to make and use this scrub. For the amounts needed, scroll down to the printable recipe card.

• baking soda
• liquid castile soap
• essential oils (optional)
• tub and tile scrubbing tool (optional but recommended)

Directions

Following is a brief description of how to make the scrub. For the full information, scroll down to the handy dandy printable recipe card.

Place all ingredients in a bowl (photos 1 & 2).

Mix completely. Use more liquid soap as needed (photo 3).
Store in an airtight container (photo 4).

How To Use

Put a small amount of scrub on a damp cloth, damp sponge, toothbrush (a toothbrush is particularly good for cleaning small areas like tile grout or around the base and crevices of sink fixtures), or scrub pad. Apply to the surface, then scrub in a back and forth or circular motion.

Alternatively, put some of this all-natural DIY soft scrub cleaner on the area you want to clean, the scrub with a cloth, sponge, pad, or brush.

This tub and tile scrubbing tool is a great option for tackling tough jobs.

Where to Use

Making your own soft scrub is a great way to save money and be kinder to the environment.

AND there are all sorts of places you can use this around the home:

• showers
• bathtubs
• kitchen counters
• countertops
• tile floors
• tile grout
• stove top
• kitchen and bathroom sinks
• bathroom and kitchen faucets and knobs
• microwaves (inside and out)

Storage

You definitely want to store this homemade scrub in an airtight container. A glass jar like a shallow mason jar or jelly jar works well and that's what I like to use (basically because they're cute. Am I right? I mean, it really is true that mason jars make everything better), but you might choose a plastic container to avoid glass breakage in the bathroom.

These jars are for holding yogurt, but they'd be so cute with homemade scrub in them. Truth is, they'd be cute with ANYTHING in them.

Other DIY Cleaners

If you're looking for other ways to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in your home, try these homemade cleaners on for size.

• Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent – gentle enough for most anyone, with tips to avoid buildup
• Homemade Baby Laundry Detergent – even more gentle than the basic formula
• DIY Cleaning Paste – powerful and oh so simple
• DIY Dishwasher Rinse Aid (3 Ways) – skip the blue stuff and use this instead
• Homemade No Streak Window Cleaner – more blue stuff to skip. You'll love this!

I'd love to hear what you think once you've tried this!