This DIY All-Purpose Natural Cleaner is So Easy to Make & Smells Amazing!
Love a clean house?
Then try mixing up this easy DIY all-purpose cleaner – it’s cheap and easy to make! Just grab an empty spray bottle and pour equal parts distilled white vinegar and water, with a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a nice scent (we like Plant Therapy) — it’s really that simple!
Don’t love the smell of vinegar?
Vinegar is perfect for wiping down kitchen counters and really everyday all-purpose cleaning, but it carries a pretty sharp odor. Thanks to the anti-microbial properties of some essential oils, they’re a great way to disinfect naturally and will make this DIY all-purpose cleaner smell amazing!
For this all-purpose spray, I’ve added just a few drops of both Plant Therapy tea tree oil (to help disinfect) and Plant Therapy lemongrass essential oil (for the amazing scent). Both of these scents together smell super clean and refreshing.
Important Note:
Vinegar is great for general clean-ups but will not disinfect viruses like coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a diluted bleach solution (4 teaspoons bleach per 1 quart of room temperature water) as a DIY disinfectant of appropriate surfaces.
Helpful tips when making this DIY natural all-purpose cleaner:
- Feel free to re-use any water bottle for this idea. I love this high-quality glass one I ordered from Amazon.
- You can also throw in some lemon rinds and fresh rosemary in the bottle if you happen to have them as well, but that’s an optional step.
- Need a recommendation on excellent reusable cleaning cloths? You’ve gotta check out all the reasons why our team loves these Swedish dishcloths!
- Warning: Avoid cleaning marble or granite counters with vinegar because it could etch the surface.
DIY All-Purpose Cleaner
PrintSupplies Needed
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- few drops of Plant Therapy tea tree oil
- few drops of Plant Therapy lemongrass essential oil
- optional: fresh rosemary sprigs and lemon rinds
Directions
1
To an empty spray bottle, add 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.
2
Add a few drops of each essential oil, as well as optional rosemary sprigs and lemon rinds (if using). Put the top on the bottle and shake contents up before spraying. That’s it!
This DIY natural cleaning spray works great to wipe up sinks, countertops, glass, and stainless appliances!
I enjoy using this in my kitchen area the most, and love that fresh lemongrass smell! It’s perfect for simple clean-ups throughout the day, and is convenient and fast to mix together!
Do you make your own all-purpose cleaner? Share in the comments your recipe or methods!
Does the rosemary and lemon get slimy and nasty?
Ya after a few days it’s not as pretty but works! Ha
I use this to clean my pergo and tile floors. Add a few teaspoons of rubbing alcohol. It adds to disinfecting and dries faster that way as well. Use hot water if using right away. Haven’t bought a traditional floor cleaner in 10+ years.
Wow I love that idea – thanks for sharing so we can try things too!
I use it on my pergo floors too. Works great.
I really don’t like the smell of tea tree oil. Is there an alternative that will disenfect?
Just a quick search and it looks like lemon essential oil has disinfecting properties too. also Clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, oregano, thyme and cinnamon….but they seem to be good at different kinds of germs. I would look them up to see which correspond to your specific cleaning surface.
Hi Lina! I love it! Thanks. I am a housekeeper (among other things) and find that many spray bottles just wear out and wont’ spray with essential oils. Can the glass one you mention tolerate essential oils?
Oh really? Well I do know that glass is usually recommended if using essential oils because it won’t react with the plastic. Some people prefer the amber colored ones so not as much light comes in.
I’ve used this one for a couple months and it’s been fine. 👍
Just as a heads-up, tea tree oil is toxic for dogs! This would be a good cleaner to use on surfaces that pets don’t come near 😁
Oh thanks for adding that!
We make our own with alcohol, vinegar and water. Mixed equally and add peppermint oil. We also make wipes with the same combination, just less water. We buy the Costco baby wipes. Open the end of the packages, fan the wipes and pour the mixture through. We store in a plastic Huggies box. Easy and cost efficient.
Oh nice – thanks for sharing!
I’ve used diluted vinegar on my granite for years and it’s fine. I used it on my wood floors also and they’re fine.
A Star Hip2Saver is a recognized member of our Hip2Save community hand selected by our team for demonstrating a long history of engagement with helpful & friendly comments across Hip2Save.com and our social channels. Our Star Hip2Saver badge acts as a verification for readers who know the ins and outs of all Hip2Save sets out to accomplish — assisting our community to live extraordinary lives on ordinary budgets. Readers cannot pay or provide any sort of exchange in order to earn this badge. Rather, they are invited to participate by a member of the Hip2Save team and opt to have the Star Hip2Saver badge added to their profile & comments.
I use vinegar, salt and a little dish soap to kill weeds. Totally safe around the kids, but kills the weeds really well.