This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

It’s high time we make a natural house cleaner. Using natural cleaning products is a great way to save money, reduce waste, live more naturally. This 3-ingredient DIY all-purpose house cleaner is great for cleaning nearly any surface with simple ingredients.

A bottle of all purpose cleaner with a bucket and rag behind it.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

This post was originally published in August 2019

It has been over nine years since I began incorporating natural products into my home and daily routine. Starting with homemade laundry soap and moving on to making homemade shampoo, homemade conditioner, and even DIY body washes.

The goal was to switch every product in my home to an all-natural, homemade version. It was quite overwhelming at first.

But slowly, one item at a time, I finally met my goal! This homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe is one of the simplest DIYs to make and use if you’re just starting out.

Why Use Natural Cleaning Products?

  • Eco-friendly: Making your own cleaning products reduces waste! You can make your spray in a reusable glass bottle and skip the single-use plastic. Natural cleaning products also use eco-friendly ingredients that are gentle on the Earth.
  • Natural ingredients: I like to know exactly what I’m cleaning my home with and keep it as natural as possible. Making my own all-purpose cleaner does just that!
  • Save money: You can save so much money by making your own cleaners. This recipe uses just a few inexpensive ingredients, which will save a lot in the long run.

Ingredients

All-purpose cleaner ingredients labeled on a kitchen table.

Vinegar 

Vinegar is an excellent cleaner. The acidity in vinegar makes it effective in dissolving soap scum (like in this DIY soap scrum remover), hard water stains, mineral deposits, and detergent residue. 

With a number of different kinds of vinegar out on the market, I would suggest sticking with white vinegar for cleaning, as I do in my homemade window cleaner. It doesn’t contain any coloring agents and has a slightly higher acidity than other vinegars.

Vinegar shouldn’t be used on every surface, such as granite and marble. It can ruin natural stone, so be careful with this. Use a cleaner specific for granite instead.

Lemon essential oil

Lemon oil is found in many of my homemade cleaners, from homemade cleaning wipes to DIY toilet bombs. It is a natural cleansing agent that can help tackle stickiness, grease, and grime.

Feel free to stick with lemon in this cleaner, or see the list below for other recommendations.

For a 16-ounce spray bottle, I use up to 25 drops of essential oils. You can adjust this according to the amount of cleaner you are making. 

Water 

Water is crucial for many DIY products. In fact, it is found in most conventional products as well. The water in this recipe is necessary to dilute both the vinegar and essential oils properly.

Distilled water is best for this all-purpose cleaner; it will make the product last longer by reducing bacterial growth. Tap water can also work, but be aware that if you have hard water, it may leave white streaks on the surfaces being cleaned.

How to Make All-Purpose Cleaner

Pouring water into a spray bottle.

Step 1. Fill a 16-ounce glass spray bottle halfway with white vinegar.

Adding essential oils to a spray bottle.

Step 2. Add your desired amount of lemon essential oil, or a blend of your choice.

Pouring vinegar into a spray bottle using a funnel.

Step 3. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water.

A bottle of all purpose cleaner with a bucket and rag behind it.

Step 4. Shake well and you’re ready to start cleaning!

Essential oils for cleaning

Typically, citrus oils are my go-to for cleaning because of their cleansing properties and refreshing scent. You can learn more about this in my citrus oil highlight.

Each of the following oils also makes a great DIY all-purpose house cleaner: 

  • Lemon 
  • Lime 
  • Wild Orange 
  • Grapefruit 
  • Thyme
  • Rosemary 
  • Cinnamon 
  • Clove 
  • Tea Tree
  • Lavender 
  • Peppermint 

Essential Oil Blends for Cleaning

I’ll be the first to tell you: nine times out of ten, I’ll reach for the lemon essential oil when making this all-purpose vinegar spray. It covers up the vinegar scent quite nicely! But, occasionally, I will mix and match. Below are a few of my favorite blends. Simply use equal parts of each oil in each blend.

  • Wild orange, lemon, lime
  • Rosemary and lemon 
  • Thyme, lemon, lime
  • Lime, lavender, clove
  • Cinnamon, clove, wild orange 
  • Tea tree, lavender, lemon 
  • Thyme and lemon 
  • Peppermint and lemon 
  • Lavender and peppermint
A bottle of all purpose cleaner next to a lemons and a cleaning bucket.

How to Use All-Purpose Cleaner

Always give your cleaner a good shake before each use. 

Mist the cleaner onto any soiled surface, such as countertops, bathroom vanities, mirrors, windows, and floors. DO NOT use it on any natural stone, such as marble or granite, since the vinegar can weaken and penetrate the protective sealant.

This stuff really is all-purpose. I use it for almost all my cleaning, and it even works great on vehicle windshields and mirrors, leaving no streaks. 

For heavily soiled surfaces, soap scum, or hard water stains, allow the mixture to sit for several minutes before wiping it with a clean microfiber towel.

Tips for Switching to Natural Cleaners

Begin by making a list of items you want to replace, then begin with one at a time. Don’t think you have to make this switch overnight or worry about all the conventional products still in the home.

Set a goal. Maybe it’s just one a week, but over the course of several months, you can easily have nearly every item swapped out.

How to Store Natural Cleaners

Store your cleaners in glass bottles. Any cleaner, beauty product, room spray, etc. that has essential oils in it should be stored in a glass container. Over time, essential oils can break down most plastics, so glass is always best.

In addition to glass, store out of direct sunlight and in amber or blue-colored bottles. Essential oils can lose potency when stored in clear bottles or in direct sunlight.

A bottle of all-purpose spray with lemons and a cleaning bucket.

Recipe FAQs

Do natural cleaners work?

The simple answer is yes, natural cleaners work. There may be a time or two when you’ll need to put a little extra elbow grease into your cleaning, but it’s worth it to save money, reduce waste, and use only natural ingredients.

How long does this cleaner last?

If stored properly, all-purpose cleaner should last around 6 months.

I hope you enjoyed this DIY! It’s one of my favorites, and I use it all the time. If you’re looking for more, I recently made a similar recipe for a homemade porch screen cleaner that I absolutely love—be sure to check it out next!

Related DIYs

If you tried this DIY All-Purpose House Cleaner or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

4.59 from 39 votes

DIY All-Purpose House Cleaner

Prep: 3 minutes
Total: 3 minutes
Servings: 16 ounces
Save money and reduce waste in your home with this natural DIY all-purpose house cleaner, made with only 3 ingredients.
Save This Recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Add lemon oil to the spray bottle.
  • Fill halfway with vinegar and the rest of the way with water.
  • Secure sprayer top and shake well.

Video

Notes

  • Shake well before each use.
  • To use, mist the cleaner onto any soiled surface, such as countertops, bathroom vanities, mirrors, windows, and floors, then wipe with a cloth or paper towel.
  • DO NOT use it on any natural stone, such as marble or granite, since the vinegar can weaken and penetrate the protective sealant.
  • For heavily soiled surfaces, soap scum, or hard water stains. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes before wiping it with a clean microfiber towel.
  • Store in a glass bottle out of direct sunlight. This cleaner should last around 6 months. 
  • Check out the post above for more essential oil options.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, I’m so glad you’re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

You May Also Like

4.59 from 39 votes (37 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




46 Comments

  1. Tina says:

    5 stars
    Thanks for all your recipes and inspiration. I will surely test this recipe out. As I love eucalyptus I propably will use this as an essential oil, I am wondering if there is a special reason for you to not include it in the essential oils for cleaning section?
    All the best from Europe.

    1. Laura says:

      Thanks! You could definitely use it for cleaning too.

  2. Elke says:

    4 stars
    Hello Laura, can I use this cleaner for washing floors?
    Thank you Elke

    1. Laura says:

      It will depend on the type of flooring. I do have another recipe specifically for hardwood floors.

  3. Briar Rose Deose says:

    Hi There! This might be a stupid question, but I was just wondering how long this will last? Will I have to dump it after a certain amount of time? Thank you!

    1. Laura says:

      If kept out of direct sunlight, it should last around 6 months.

  4. connie says:

    Can you clean your dishes with this recipe? I’m looking for and all natural and fast and easy way to clean my dishes ☺️

    1. Laura says:

      If you go to the top of my blog and search, you will find a dish soap recipe 🙂

  5. Samantha says:

    Hello Laura,
    I am slowly trying to switch my cleaners over to natural ones, so I’m excited to try this recipe! Currently, I’m pregnant with our fifth child, and I want to make up little cleaning kits for our older kids to help with chores. My question to you, since you have more knowledge than I do in this area is, do your kids use these cleaners (are they safe for them), and what EOs should I stay clear of since I am pregnant? I truly appreciate your response!