Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipes That Are Natural, Cheap & Effective

Kitchen countertops to bathroom sinks, these DIY cleaning spray solutions have been our go-tos for as long as we can remember. We like to think we’ve perfected the recipe!

They’re all made with simple ingredients you can actually understand, so they’re safe and provide a natural way to clean without compromising your health or the environment.

Did we mention you can make them in no time at all?! We know, not everybody has the spare hours or minutes in a day to DIY, so no judgement if you need to buy non-toxic cleaning products as a back up (and that goes for all types of cleaning solutions), just be sure to choose those from vetted brands who walk the talk.

What’s great about making your own all purpose vinegar cleaner is that it’s so simple and versatile. You can safely and effectively use this on (almost) everything (save for stone surfaces, see below) from countertops and toilets to something you can use with an eco-friendly mop and clean floors.

Just keep in mind that vinegar is an acidic substance. While it is safe to use on most surfaces, experts recommend avoiding using it on natural stone surfaces—such as marble or granite countertops or raw tile floors—as it may cause a chemical reaction with the stone that will stain or erode it. Instead, this DIY house cleaning recipe is best for use on wood, porcelain tile, and laminate surfaces.

Creating this cleaner is as simple as gathering a few household items.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water: Use distilled water for the best results, as it helps prevent streaks and residue.
• 1 cup white vinegar: Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that cuts through grease and grime. If you dislike the smell, apple cider vinegar can be a substitute, though it may leave a slight tint on some surfaces.
• 1 tsp baking soda (optional): Great for neutralizing odors and boosting scrubbing power.
• 10 drops essential oil (optional): Any essential oils will do if adding scent is your only goal, but some offer specific cleaning benefits, too. For example, lemon oil offers a fresh scent and antibacterial properties, tea tree oil provides additional antibacterial and antifungal benefits, and Thieves Oil (a blend of lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, clove, and rosemary essential oils) naturally fights germs.

Instructions:

1. Combine the water and vinegar in a clean spray bottle.
2. Gradually add the baking soda to the mixture. It will fizz, so go slow to avoid overflow.
3. If desired, add 10 drops of essential oil to the spray bottle for fragrance and added cleaning power.
4. Shake or stir gently—emphasis on the ‘gently’ part if you’ve chosen to add baking soda, as mixing too vigorously will cause it to foam.

Pro Tip: To prevent the acidity of the vinegar from eroding components in your spray nozzle, store with a regular cap rather than the nozzle in between uses, and flush out the spray nozzle with water after use. We all know spray nozzles tend to have limited lifespans as it is, but doing this will help keep yours functional for longer.

If you notice a mother (a gelatinous blob) forming in your vinegar over time, remove this as it can get sucked up in the nozzle and clog it.

This DIY all purpose orange or lemon cleaner recipe is very similar to the previous one, but instead of using essential oils for scent, this one relies on good old-fashioned citrus food scraps—which makes this a 2-in-1 home cleaning and food waste solution. Win win!

Here’s what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water: Again, distilled or filtered water is recommended.
• 1 cup white vinegar
• Citrus peels: From 1–2 lemons, oranges, or other citrus fruits is sufficient
• A handful of pine needles (optional): If you want to naturally recreate the earthy citrus scent of Pine Sol without the chemicals, combine your citrus infusion with fresh pine needles.

Instructions:

1. Place the citrus peels (and pine needles, if using) in a glass jar, and pour the vinegar ONLY over to fully submerge them.
2. Seal the jar and let it sit in a cool, dark place for 2-3 weeks, shaking occasionally.
3. Strain the infused vinegar into a clean spray bottle and dilute with an equal amount of water. Do not transfer the pine needles and lemon peels over into your final sprayer bottle.

As with the first recipe, this is a vinegar-based recipe so it should not be used on natural stone and may cause erosion on any metal components of your sprayer if not properly flushed.

For surfaces that are really greasy and grimy where you might need a little more surfactant action, a DIY all purpose castile cleaner recipe is a gentle yet very effective solution—that’s also perfect for those who don’t love the smell of vinegar or have natural stone surfaces in their home.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water: Distilled or filtered water works best and using warm water initially can help the solution mix better.
• 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s brand): This is a traditional form of soap that comes from the Castile region of Spain, and doesn’t contain any animal fats or synthetic ingredients
• 10 drops essential oil (optional): If you’re using a scented form of Castile soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s, these may not be necessary, but essential oils like lemon or tea tree can enhance grease-cutting and antibacterial properties.

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a clean spray bottle.
2. Shake gently to mix. Note that you will want to re-shake this solution each time you go to use it, as the castile soap will otherwise settle toward the bottom.
3. Spray on surfaces and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

By making your own all-purpose cleaner you can save a fair amount of money over the long term while reducing exposure and reliance on harsh chemicals. How much exactly? We’ll, we’ve compared the costs of our three DIY cleaner recipes compared to the average price of conventional store-bought options (Method; Mrs Meyer’s; Lysol).

1. Vinegar & Baking Soda Recipe (Approximate Homemade Cost):

• Distilled water: Negligible
• 1 cup white vinegar: $0.25
• 1 tsp baking soda: $0.01
• 10 drops essential oil: $0.50 (optional)
  Total: ~$0.26 (without essential oil) or ~$0.76 (with essential oil) per 16 oz.

Store-Bought Average Cost:
$3–$5 per 16 oz for a conventional all-purpose cleaner.

Savings Per Bottle:
$2.74–$4.74 without essential oil, or $2.24–$4.24 with essential oil.

Annual Savings (1 bottle/month):
$32.88–$56.88 without essential oil, or $26.88–$50.88 with essential oil.

2. Lemon or Orange Peel Recipe (Approximate Homemade Cost):

• Distilled water: Negligible
• 1 cup white vinegar: $0.25
• Citrus peels (from leftovers): $0 (assumed waste from consumed fruit)
• Pine needles (optional): $0 (if collected outdoors)
  Total: ~$0.25 per 16 oz.

Store-Bought Average Cost:
$3–$5 per 16 oz for a citrus-scented all-purpose cleaner.

Savings Per Bottle:
$2.75–$4.75.

Annual Savings (1 bottle/month):
$33–$57.

3. Castile Soap Recipe (Approximate Homemade Cost):

• Distilled water: Negligible
• 1 tbsp liquid castile soap: $0.25 (based on $15 per 32 oz bottle)
• 10 drops essential oil: $0.50 (optional)
  Total: ~$0.25 (without essential oil) or ~$0.75 (with essential oil) per 16 oz.

Store-Bought Average Cost:
$4–$6 per 16 oz for a natural castile soap-based cleaner.

Savings Per Bottle:
$3.75–$5.75 without essential oil, or $3.25–$5.25 with essential oil.

Annual Savings (1 bottle/month):
$45–$69 without essential oil, or $39–$63 with essential oil.

You can see there are significant savings if you take the effort to make your own all purpose cleaner. If you opted to make the most expensive DIY solution here that would cost you $0.76 for a 16 oz solution and you would still at minimum save $32.88 per annual, with potential savings of up to $69 per year.

Our green cleaning rule of thumb is that the best natural cleaning products are those that don’t sacrifice one type of clean for another.

Store-bought cleaners often contain harmful chemicals that can impact your health and the environment. Here are some common culprits in commercial all-purpose cleaners that are known no-nos:

• Ammonium Compounds: Found in many antibacterial cleaners, these can irritate the respiratory system and skin.
• Triclosan: Linked to hormone disruption and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The FDA even recently banned its use in antibacterial products like soaps for this reason.
• Synthetic Fragrances: Often contain phthalates, which are associated with endocrine disruption and reproductive health issues.
• 2-Butoxyethanol: Used for its grease-cutting properties, it’s known to cause eye, throat, and skin irritation and has been linked to kidney and liver damage with prolonged exposure.

Unless you specifically opt for eco-friendly cleaning products from select brands, switching to homemade cleaners eliminate these risks and make your home a safer environment, especially for children or pets.