Best DIY All purpose cleaning spray (made in 1min & less than $2)

DIY all purpose cleaning spray will give you a sparkling clean home without the chemicals. It’s a non toxic all natural cleaner and takes less than one minute to make.

Jump to:

• Uses
• Why make it yourself
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Essential oil replacements
• Variation

I started with making my own cleaners long before I knew anything about the dangers of a lot of the chemicals found in regular supermarket cleaning products.

Originally, I did it to save money on cleaning products.

Even buying the cheapo stuff, by the time you bought all the different household cleaners for all the different purposes (I’ll give you a little spoiler alert – you don’t need them!), it added up every month.

Now, I make my own using just natural ingredients not only to save money but to reduce the number of chemicals in our home.

You really can have effective cleaning power without the use of chemicals. 

If you’re interested in learning more about top chemicals to avoid in products at the supermarket then listen to this episode of The Natural Life Academy podcast.

Uses

This diy cleaning recipe can be used pretty much anywhere you would use some sort of cleaning spray. 

• Use it to clean surfaces and counter tops in the kitchen, laundry and bathroom. 
• Use on door handles and light switches (make sure you spray the cloth then wipe the light switches)
• Use it to remove soap scum from the shower and bath tub.
• Use it for a streak-free finish on glass and mirrors. 

Why make it yourself

Reduce toxins

There’s a reason that you might get a headache when you clean your shower – fragrance.

Artificial fragrance is basically a code for ‘chemical concoction.’ 95% of the chemicals that make up fragrance are petro-chemicals which means they were derived from petroleum.

They have been linked to everything from headaches to skin irritations, allergies and other more serious conditions and are something I actively avoid.

I use 100% pure essential oils in all my homemade cleaning products.

Now let’s remember that we don’t have to swallow something for it to make its way into our bodies.

We can inhale the fumes or absorb it through our skin – which is actually worse because as least our digestive system has a filtration system that allows it to somewhat process toxins.

Our skin and respiratory systems don’t work like this and the toxins can go straight into our bloodstreams.

The other thing a lot of cleaning products have in them is antibacterial components that actually kill the good bacteria that we need as well as the bad bacteria.

We need a healthy balance of bacteria in order to be healthy.

Save money

Take a walk down the cleaning aisle of your local supermarket and the first thing you’ll notice is… well it’s an entire aisle.

Just to clean your bathroom you’re told you’ll need at least 6 or 7 different products and that’s just not true.

All-purpose cleaning spray can be used on all surfaces, the stove, the toilet, the shower, even glass, replacing so many products and saving you a lot of money.

Save time

It’s quicker to clean your house when you don’t have to keep swapping products but it’s also a lot more convenient to whip up another batch of homemade cleaning spray than run out to the supermarket.

It literally takes less than one minute to make.

Save waste

Refilling your one spray bottle (I actually have 3 so I can keep one in the cleaning kit, one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen but they’re all the same), means a lot fewer plastic spray bottles and cleaning product containers being sent off to landfill along with saving all the resources that would have been needed to make the bottle in the first place.

Help the environment

Yes you’re saving on waste which is great for the environment but you’re also saving all those toxic harsh chemicals from going down the drain and into our waterways.

Really is a multi-purpose cleaner

You can use this on a wide variety of surfaces from hard surfaces, non-porous surfaces all the way to hardwood floors. 

Ingredients

To make all purpose cleaner you will need the following simple ingredients: 

• Distilled or filtered water
• White vinegar (1tbsp per 500ml)
• Castile soap - you could use scented if you like. Alternatively you can also use a natural dishwashing liquid (or liquid soap if that's all you can find). 

Some recipes include citric acid as a preservative. 

I have never needed it before. 

You will also need a refillable glass spray bottle. 

You can use a plastic bottle but glass lasts longer in my experience. 

Note: some people say that white vinegar can disintegrate the spray triggers. I have never had this happen. 

Instructions

To make your all-purpose cleaner all you need to do is fill the spray bottle almost all the way with the distilled or filtered water. 

Add the white vinegar (or homemade scented vinegar if using) and then top with the castile soap. 

Make sure you add the soap last or it will foam up and you won't be able to get the water in. 

If using essential oils, add them last and very gently turn the bottle over a few times to combine. 

Essential oil replacements

If you don’t have or don’t want to use essential oils but still want a lovely fresh scent, you can create scented vinegar.

Fill a jar or glass bottle with any of the following:

• Citrus peels give a light and pleasant scent
• Rosemary stems
• Mint leaves
• Cinnamon quills

Cover with white vinegar and leave to steep for at least a week.

Strain and use in place of the plain white vinegar.

Variation

If you need a little boost to your cleaning, you can sprinkle sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda) on a surface then spray and wipe over (give a soft scrub if needed) with a soft, wet cloth. 

How to save money on paper towel for cleaning

I used to buy paper towel for cleaning the house and general good housekeeping. 

BUT the price adds up and generally I don't love buying things that are single use. 

For a zero-waste much less expensive option, use a microfiber cloth or any other soft cloth or even better - cut up an old towel or two. 

We keep a stash of them under the sink in the kitchen for quick clean up of spills. 

You just give them a rinse then throw them in the wash the next time you do a load. 

---

So if that’s reason enough for you then you will find the recipe below along with a little video to show you just how quick and easy it really is.