A Professional House Cleaner Told Me the “Recipe” For Her DIY All-Purpose Cleaner — And I’ve Never Gone Back

In my household of two grown-ups and two kids, three-fourths of us have issues with eczema and sensitivities to artificial fragrances and dyes. For years, I (the one family member who doesn’t have skin issues) kept trying to find store-bought solutions for cleaning products that would effectively get the job done without lighting up my family’s eczema. Some products were useful but expensive, while others were a total waste of money. It was a frustrating journey.

But a few years ago, a kind professional house cleaner divulged her “recipe” for a DIY all-purpose cleaner to me, and I haven’t gone back to the store-bought version since then.

There are dozens of reasons why someone might want to make their own all-purpose cleaner. For my family, eliminating scents and dyes was the primary concern. For others, it’s about using a cleaning solution that has ingredients you can actually pronounce, rather than potentially harsh chemicals. Folks may also prefer to use a DIY all-purpose cleaner to reduce the proliferation of plastic waste that comes from bringing home bottle after bottle of store-bought cleaner. And, at the end of the day, making your own cleaning solution is also more cost-effective and better for the environment. 

It’s easier than you might think to make your own safe and effective cleaning solution. Here’s what you need:

• Distilled water (or boiled water)
• Distilled white vinegar 
• Optional: Essential oils, citrus peels, hearty herbs like rosemary

If you can pour, you can make your own DIY cleaner. It’s so easy, you can even do it with your kids! Here are the steps to take:

1. Fill a clean, empty spray bottle with equal amounts of distilled water and distilled white vinegar. Using distilled water avoids any trace minerals that can leave a residue, but if you don’t have distilled water, you can make your own.
2. Add about 10 drops of essential oil or other scent enhancers. 
3. Replace the lid/sprayer and gently shake to combine.

• An all-purpose cleaning solution made with just water and vinegar will last indefinitely, but if you’ve added natural ingredients to create a scented cleaner, you should plan to get rid of it after a month of use and make a fresh batch.
• Store cleaning solution in a plastic spray bottle with your cleaning supplies.
• If one of your goals is to lessen the amount of plastic in your home, use a glass spray bottle. Or, use recycled glass or plastic bottles that you find in the home to avoid buying more!
• In general, beautiful packaging creates a more joyful experience, so if making and using your own DIY cleaners becomes part of your routine, consider designing and printing your own cute labels to make it that much more lovely. 

Once you’ve started using a DIY all-purpose cleaner, you’ll probably want to find other cleaning products you can replace with your own homemade version. Here are some variations:

• For disinfectant cleaner: 1 ½ cups distilled water, ¼ cup 70% isopropyl alcohol, ½ tsp dish soap or castile soap, a few drops of essential oils.
• For a scrubbing bathroom cleaner (like Soft Scrub): 1 ¾ cup baking soda, ½ cup dish soap or Castile soap, ½ cup distilled water, 2 tablespoons white vinegar. (Combine baking soda and soap, add water, and then add white vinegar. Stir to combine and store in a jar.)
• For degreaser: 2 cups distilled water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ½ teaspoon dishwashing soap or castile soap, 1 tablespoon baking soda.