This homemade all purpose cleaner is quick to make and super effective.
One of the main ingredients, white vinegar, is one of our go-to supplies. Vinegar is cheap and easy to find. It deodorizes while killing germs and unwanted bacteria. It’s acidic nature helps cut soap scum and other greasy build ups, making it the perfect addition to our homemade all purpose cleaner.
Citrus is also adds a powerful punch to cleaning DIYs, which is why we add lemon and orange essential oil to the recipe. Infusing your vinegar with citrus peels not only helps ditch the vinegar aroma, but it also amps up this cleaner. You can certainly use plain white vinegar instead, but I encourage you to get a jar of vinegar and citrus peels soaking. It’s a great use for the rinds of oranges too!
Why use cinnamon oil in this all purpose cleaner?
You’ll notice cinnamon essential oil listed too. I love citrusy-spicy aromas, so there’s that. BUT cinnamon is an amazing addition to DIY cleaning products because it is not only known for its amazing aroma but for its powerful antibacterial mechanisms as well. A 2018 study showed that cinnamon essential oil and its two constituents called cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid successfully inhibit bacteria by damaging their cell membrane. This makes the science-geek side of me super happy.
You need:
1/2 cup distilled water
1-1/2 cup citrus infused white vinegar (or plain white vinegar if that’s what you have)
12 drops each Lemon and Orange essential oils
10 drops Cinnamon (or Tea Tree) essential oil
16 ounce spray bottle
I mixed this up in about 5 minutes and had my counters cleaned and sparkling in no time. It worked great to wipe away soap scum and grime in my shower too (though I have to admit I just did a little bit of bathroom cleaning today for the photos….
We’ve done a lot to clean up our cleaning: vinegar is a powerful cleaner, as is hydrogen peroxide. You can keep your home clean without all the harsh chemicals that can also eat up your cleaning budget. If you’d like more help with a cleaning makeover, we’ve got a great free download to help.
Interested in those snazzy labels? Get free labels for this cleaner, our produce spray AND counter cleaner!
Printable recipe below! Pin this post to make sure you keep it handy!
If you make this amazing all purpose cleaner, let us know what you think in the comments! If you use different oil combos, let us know your favs.
Easy Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
Equipment
- 16ounce spray bottle
Materials
- ½ cup distilled or filtered water
- 1½ cup citrus infused white vinegar (or plain white vinegar if that’s what you have)
- 12 drops each lemon and orange essential oils
- 10 drops cinnamon or tea tree essential oils
One Response
I’ve been throwing a couple cinnamon sticks in with my orange peels when I infuse the vinegar. Adds extra cinnamon aroma. This is my FAVORITE ever cleaner.