Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner (Natural, Non-Toxic, Cheap & Effective!)

As someone who works in the kitchen recipe testing all day long, there's a lot of cleaning that happens in our house. I don't love the idea of using harsh chemicals at home, so over the years I've tested all kinds of homemade cleaning sprays using a wide variety of ingredients. Everything from orange peels, castile soap, dish soap, lemon juice, salt, fresh herbs, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and countless DIY cleaner recipes with different combinations. After all that experimenting, I finally nailed the perfect natural cleaner recipe… and it just so happens to be the simplest one! Just water, vinegar, and a few drops of essential oil. That's it!

I know some people are hesitant to use cleaning products with vinegar because of the scent, but in this homemade cleaning spray, the essential oils do a great job masking it, and any remaining vinegar smell disappears quickly, leaving everything fresh and clean. We use this spray everywhere: kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living room, and even our home office. It truly performs better than anything else I've tried, including the store-bought cleaners!

This homemade all-purpose cleaner leaves my countertops sparkling without any residue. It cuts through grease, freshens the air, and I love that it's safe, eco-friendly, and super cheap to make. Just grab a clean, empty spray bottle and shake up a batch! You can upcycle a bottle you already have or pick one up at the store. Tip: I prefer using plastic spray bottles as glass spray bottles are heavy and can shatter if dropped.

Essential Oils for Cleaning & Their Benefits

Essential oils not only help mask the vinegar smell, but they also boost cleaning power. You can buy individual essential oils, or if you want to experiment, picking up a kit (like this one) that contains all of the essential oils mentioned below can be a great way to get started. It allows you to explore different scents and combinations to find what you like best.

Here are some of the best essential oils for cleaning, along with notes on which ones are pet-safe. (While essential oils should never be applied directly to pets, these pet-safe options are generally considered safe when used in diluted cleaning sprays).

Scent Combinations to Try

You can absolutely use just one kind of essential oil in your DIY all-purpose cleaner. Lemon, peppermint, and grapefruit are three of my favorites that work great on their own and smell lovely in any room of the house. But if you want to experiment with some unique scent combinations that also boost cleaning power, here are some fun blends I came up with (and yes, I gave them cute names)!

How to Make DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

The full instructions are in the printable card below, but here's a brief overview.

1. Choose your scent: You can use a single oil, one of the blends above, or come up with your own.
2. Mix: Shake together vinegar, water, and essential oil(s) in a bottle.
3. Use: Shake before each use and spray directly onto surfaces, then wipe clean.
4. For stubborn grime or odors: Sprinkle a little baking soda on the surface first, then spray the cleaner over it. It will foam and bubble and offer a little extra scrubbing power.

✅ Safe for: Countertops, sinks, glass, appliances, and more

❌ Avoid using on: Granite, marble, or other natural stone (vinegar can damage the surface)