Last Updated on May 21, 2024 by Vannessa Rhoades, Three Bears Home Staging
During the pandemic, my family spent a lot of time at home indoors. Being the fastidious creature that I am, I decided to use the opportunity to get ahead on some serious spring cleaning and try some new, thriftier, healthier, and more effective DIY cleaner…and boy, did I hit the jackpot!
Which Is the Best Homemade Cleaner? How Can I Make My Own Natural Cleaner?
I did a little research, and y’all…I feel like I accidentally stumbled onto the secret sauce of cleaning. This DIY cleaner recipe (which, apparently, is NOT a secret at all if you spend even 30 seconds looking on Pinterest, as it’s featured on a number of different sites) is amazing. It’s all-natural has done the work for me on everything I’ve sprayed it on. (I’m fairly certain it will not disinfect anything, though — just make it clean. So don’t use it for trying to kill the coronavirus or any other germs).
The Best DIY All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
1/4 cup good quality de-greasing liquid dish soap (we like Dawn)
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup white vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
Combine and pour in a spray bottle. Spray on the surface to be cleaned and wait 30 – 45 minutes. Scrub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. *This cleaner is acidic, so you should NOT use it on quartz, granite, or other porous stone surfaces. Spot test before use.
Test Subjects for My Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
Oven
Ok, so full disclosure: I do not have a super dirty, crusty, burnt-up oven interior. I try to deep clean it at least once a year, but I dislike commercial oven cleaners. They’re caustic and emit horrible fumes, which make a loathsome job even worse. I sprayed this stuff in a cold oven, let it sit for about 30 or 40 minutes, and then wiped it with a nylon scrubby. WOW — all the spatters and burnt spots came right off! Then just wipe down with a wet paper towel to rinse.
I also got my best friend to give this stuff a test drive, and unfortunately, she did not have the same results. I think that’s because she was starting with a lot more gunk in the oven so if your oven is more spattered than mine, it might be worth trying the Self-Cleaning function on your oven first to burn off most of the grime, wipe it down after it’s cooled, and then following up with a round of Easy-Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner afterward for better results.
Oven racks
Same deal. Spray and wait for about 40 minutes. Wipe with a nylon scrubby. Clean!
Glass shower panels
We squeegee our shower panels after each use so my glass did not have a heavy build-up of hard water stains and soap scum. But of course, some crud was there anyway, so I sprayed it on, let it sit for 45 minutes, wiped with a nylon scrubby — BOOM! Clean!
Bathroom sinks and tubs
This stuff easily cuts through the crud my kids spit into the sink, as well as bathtub funkiness. Just spray and wipe with a Magic Eraser. Rinse.
White grout
I have light-colored tiles with white grout throughout the first floor of my home, including the entryways. Needless to say, it’s easy for white grout lines to start looking dark gray/blackish in certain spots. I sprayed the grout today then gave it a quick swipe with a wet scrub brush. Clean! Just did my regular steam mop routine after that, but the floors look like like they’ve been professionally cleaned!
***Word of caution: Test this solution on a small spot before spraying it indiscriminately. Do NOT use this cleaner on granite, quartz, or any other natural stone surface. It is extremely acidic and will etch the stone.***
Preparing a Home for Sale? We Can Help!
We love DIY cleaners! Do you need some help figuring out how to tackle tricky spots in your home? The experts at Three Bears Home Staging can teach you lots of useful techniques for making your home look its best and most beautiful for potential buyers! Take a look at our services below or contact us for more information.
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Vannessa Rhoades
Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.
