DIY All-Purpose Natural Cleaning Spray: An Easy Recipe You’ll Love
Switching to a homemade all-purpose natural cleaning spray saves you time and eliminates harmful chemicals in your home.
If you want a simple way to keep your home clean without harsh chemicals, making a DIY all-natural cleaning spray is a great choice. It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients you probably already have, and it works well on many surfaces around the house.
I like using natural cleaners because they’re gentle, safe, and better for the environment. If you’re like me, you have kids, and spraying harmful chemicals near their growing bodies feels wrong. We all know that many of these products contain carcinogens as well. Who wants that in their homes?! Not us!
I’ll show you how to mix up your own spray that’s effective and affordable. Plus, it’s a good feeling knowing exactly what’s in your cleaner. You don’t need special tools or expensive products—just some simple ingredients and a little time.
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How to Make an All-Purpose Natural Cleaning Spray
Let’s jump right into the recipe. I know that’s why you’re here, after all. I’ve tried various recipes, but I always come back to this one. We’ll use three main ingredients: distilled water, white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol.
Rubbing alcohol is fantastic as a disinfectant agent. It penetrates cells and kills germs. You don’t need to grab anything special. The rubbing alcohol you have in your cabinet should be effective. Look for the 70% concentration that most stores carry for around $1-2 per bottle.
Unlike other products, mixing rubbing alcohol and vinegar together will not counteract. Some recipes suggest using other products, but you never know if something is going to cancel out the properties you want. For example, years ago, using vinegar and baking soda to clean TOGETHER was all the rage. Unfortunately, these two products counteract each other and eliminate any benefits you wanted from them.
An Easy All-Purpose Cleaning Spray Recipe
- 1 cup water (distilled is preferred)
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
- 20 drops of essential oils
- Grab an empty, clean spray bottle. I prefer these adorable glass spray bottles, but use whatever you have. If it’s a reused spray bottle, ensure you clean it well and that no residues are left behind.
- Measure out one cup of water in a measuring cup. I use one that has a pouring spout. Otherwise, you may need a small funnel to fill your spray bottle without losing everything.
- Add the vinegar and rubbing alcohol to the measuring cup. Then, if you want a scent, add around 20 drops of essential oils. Use one or use a blend to create a scent you like!
- Pour everything into your spray bottle, shake well, and use it whenever possible! This makes enough for my family for about two weeks of regular use throughout the kitchen. I make a separate bottle for other areas of the house.
Essential Oil Blends for Cleaning
I often grab whatever essential oils are close to me and toss them together when making a bottle of all-purpose cleaning spray. However, here are some blends you may want to try for this recipe!
I get all of my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs. They have a huge selection available at great prices. They even have a set of cleaning essential oils in a kit ready for you to buy. I always order a set when I put in my herb order for the year.
Lavender-Lemon Blend
- 1 part lavender
- 1 part lemon
You can also add 1 part peppermint to this blend. Lavender, lemon, and peppermint are beloved blends that smell great when combined.
Autumn Spice Essential Oil Blend
- 1 part cinnamon
- 1 part clove
- 1 part orange
Citrus Cleaner
- 1 part tea tree oil
- 1 part lemon
- 1 part grapefruit
A Simple Homey Blend
- 1 part clove
- 1 part lemon
This is a particular favorite of mine. It has a warm, inviting scent that I adore.
Clean Kitchen Essential Oil Blend
- 1 part rosemary
- 1 part clove
- 1 part orange
Minty Fresh
- 1 part eucalyptus
- 1 part peppermint
- 1 part lime
