DIY All Purpose Cleaner without Vinegar
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Ever found yourself needing to clean your counters or wipe down the outside of your refrigerator only to realize you were out of your usual all purpose cleaner? I absolutely love creating natural cleaning recipes and this DIY all purpose cleaner without vinegar is a simple recipe that will leave your counters sparkling!
Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
Homemade cleaner recipes abound, and a lot of them have one thing in common: vinegar! I used to make an all-purpose cleaner with white vinegar until my husband complained that he hated the smell of vinegar. Bathing your home in a solution that reeks of vinegar becomes less appealing after that, so I set out to find a DIY all purpose cleaner that smells good.
I first became interested in making my own natural cleaning products when I had my first two children. I was concerned about their exposure to toxic chemicals and my oldest daughter developed eczema and couldn’t handle traditional soaps and lotions. I knew that I needed to look for more natural and healthier options, so I started making my own cleaners.
There are many reasons to make your own cleaners:
- Natural Ingredients: You can control what you put in your cleaners and cut down on chemicals that often cause reactions.
- Inexpensive – Most homemade cleaners are made with common household ingredients.
- Easy to make – All you have to do is mix things up in a bottle and shake.
Another problem with vinegar besides the smell is the acidic component. There are several things you should NEVER clean with vinegar, or you risk ruining your finish or dealing with other problems. Here’s a common list of items you should never clean with vinegar:
- Marble/Granite
- Stone Floor Tiles
- Hardwood Floors
- Egg Spills (eggs will coagulate with vinegar)
- Irons
While I love using vinegar as a produce rinse, to remove built up soap scum, and to clean my refrigerator, I no longer use it for my everyday cleaning. There are a lot of other great options for cleaning your harm without using harsh chemicals while keeping your home smelling fresh!
Homemade All Purpose Cleaner with Dawn
My homemade all purpose cleaner is made with my favorite simple dish soap: Dawn. Dawn is a tried and true gentle soap that has been used for decades. My grandfather will use no other dish soap, and it works great.
If you have granite or marble countertops in your kitchen, you need an all-purpose cleaner that is safe to clean them. Soap and water is a great way to clean your countertops, and if you need some disinfecting properties, a little rubbing alcohol works great, too.
For an incredibly easy DIY all purpose cleaner with dish soap simply combine 2 tsp. Dawn dish soap (or other concentrated dish soap) with 16 ounces of warm water in a spray bottle. Swirl to combine. Spray anywhere that needs a good clean. This solution is particular helpful with greasy messes.
My favorite way to get clean floors is to add a squirt of Dawn dish soap to my mop bucket of hot water. This mop bucket system is my favorite! The Dawn really helps with taking the ick off of the floors.
DIY All Purpose Cleaner with Alcohol
If you’re looking for a DIY all purpose cleaner with some disinfecting properties, simply turn to rubbing alcohol. It’s cheap and safe for your granite or marble surfaces. Here’s the recipe:
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 3 drops of dish soap (can also use Castile soap)
- water
- 16 ounce spray bottle
- essential oils (optional)
Just pour all of the ingredients into the bottle, swirl, and use!
If you’re missing the great smell of your old favorite all-purpose cleaners, you can always add some essential oils. I would caution against using a citrus oil with any cleaner you may use on stone, but lavender and tea tree oil are wonderful options.
DIY All Purpose Cleaner without Vinegar
If you're looking for a DIY all purpose cleaner with some disinfecting properties, simply turn to rubbing alcohol. It's cheap and safe for your granite or marble surfaces.
Materials
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 3 drops of dish soap (can also use Castile soap)
- water
- 16 ounce spray bottle
- essential oils (optional)
Instructions
Just pour all of the ingredients into the bottle, swirl, and use!
Notes
If you're missing the great smell of your old favorite all-purpose cleaners, you can always add some essential oils. I would caution against using a citrus oil with any cleaner you may use on stone, but lavender and tea tree oil are wonderful options.
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It is nice to have some alternatives to vinegar. The kids have definitely commented on the smell! Thanks for the recipe.
I love this vinegar-free DIY cleaner! Simple ingredients and no harsh chemicals make it perfect for my home. Adding essential oils for a fresh scent is a great tip!