How to Make an All-Purpose Cleaner That Actually Works (2024)

When you use the right ingredients, homemade cleaning sprays can tackle stains, spills, greasy fingerprints and bad odors throughout the house. Common household ingredients — think white vinegar, dish soap, baking soda and isopropyl alcohol — can be combined with lemon rinds, rosemary sprigs and essential oils to add your favorite scents. From all-purpose cleaners to air fresheners, window cleaners and natural stone cleaners, we've rounded up the best homemade cleaning sprays for nearly every surface.

Below, you'll find seven recipes for easy homemade cleaners, which all contain less than four ingredients. So the next time you're staring down a big mess but you're out of your favorite cleaning product, don't run to the store. Mixing up one of these homemade sprays will tackle mess, while also saving you money.

Important safety tip: Never combine ammonia-based cleaners with chlorine bleach or products containing bleach, such as powdered dishwasher detergent. The fumes they'll create are extremely dangerous. Before doing any mixing, read the product labels. Always label any bottles of DIY cleaners with all the ingredients inside. It's important to know what the mixture contains in case a child or animal gets into it.

1. Scented All-Purpose Cleaner

What you'll need:

• One part white vinegar
• One part water
• Lemon rind
• Rosemary sprigs

Combine the above ingredients together, pour into a spray bottle, shake and then let infuse for a week before using. (For a different scent, you can also try orange rinds, cloves or cinnamon sticks). After a week, use the homemade all-purpose cleaner to remove hard water stains, clean trash cans, wipe away wall smudges and much more. Besides a fresh scent, the lemon rind may help boost cleaning power.

Caution: Do not use acidic cleaners on granite, as they will etch the stone and proceed cautiously on stainless steel. Some manufacturers recommend against using vinegar on their appliance surfaces.

2. All-Purpose Cleaner With Dish Soap

What you'll need:

• ¼ teaspoon dish soap
• One cup water
• Optional: 4-6 drops of essential oil

Combine water and liquid dish soap into a spray bottle, along with a 4-6 drops of your favorite essential oil, and shake up the solution. This effective cleaning spray can be used to clean greasy fingerprints off painted walls, as well as spots and smudges on stainless steel appliances, countertops and the inside of your fridge. When used with a microfiber cloth, this cleaner can clear dust from baseboards, window sills and more — but avoid using dish soap on wood surfaces.

3. Air Freshener Spray

What you'll need:

• 1 tablespoon ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda
• 5 to 6 drops of essential oil
• Water

Combine one tablespoon of baking soda with five to six drops of your favorite essential oil in a small dish. (As for scent, we love peppermint, orange, grapefruit, lavender and rosemary). Using a spoon, mix the baking soda and essential oils until fully combined. Pour the baking soda mixture into a spray bottle, then add enough water to fill the bottle. Shake the solution before spritzing the stinky areas of your home — like around trash cans or inside the bathroom.

4. DIY Glass Cleaner

What you'll need:

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 70% concentration
• 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil for smell (optional)

This homemade cleaner will leave your windows and mirrors sparkling. Simply combine these ingredients and pour them in a spray bottle to make a homemade cleaner with ingredients you already have on hand. Not only does it do a great job cleaning but the orange essential oil gives it a pleasant natural citrus scent and the rubbing alcohol helps it evaporate quickly to minimize spots and streaks.

Hint: Avoid cleaning windows on a hot, sunny day or in direct sunlight, because the solution will dry too quickly and leave lots of streaks. For cleaning mirrors, spray the solution on a soft cloth before wiping.

5. Carpet Stain Cleaner

What you'll need

• ¼ teaspoon liquid dish soap
• One cup water.

Pour ¼ teaspoon of liquid dish soap and one cup water into a spray bottle, shaking to combine. Spritz stains on your carpet or rug and blot with a microfiber cloth. Once the stain is removed, fill another spray bottle with clean water and spray the area to rinse the soap. Blot well and allow to air dry.

6. Natural Stone Cleaner

What you'll need

• ¼ cup rubbing alcohol
• ¾ cup water
• 1 teaspoon dish soap
• Up to 10 drops of essential oil (optional)

Kitchen countertops, bathroom tiles, marble flooring and other stone surfaces require frequent cleaning — but cleaners with harsh chemicals or acidic ingredients, like lemon and vinegar, can break down natural stone. To create this natural stone cleaner, courtesy of @cleanmyspace, combine ¼ cup rubbing alcohol, ¾ cup water and a teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle and shake. Add up to 10 drops of an essential oil if you enjoy scented cleaners.

7. DIY Grease Cleaner

What you'll need:

• 2 tablespoons sudsy ammonia
• Water

Put it in a spray bottle to clean greasy stovetops, spot clean the oven or microwave. Get rid of grease with this homemade kitchen and oven cleaner. Sudsy ammonia contains detergent that helps remove tough grime on metal surfaces. Mix 2 tablespoons with enough water to fill a spray bottle. Spray the solution, then use a sponge or cloth to clean greasy stovetops and spot clean the oven, stove hood or microwave. Caution: Avoid using ammonia on aluminum. It can darken it and cause pitting.

Are homemade cleaners effective?

For many jobs, homemade cleaners can be just as effective as store-bought cleaners. However, depending on how dirty the surface is that you are cleaning, scrubbing a bit more or doing a second application might be necessary. And just like commercial cleaners, not every homemade cleaner is suitable for every surface or purpose, even those labeled
"all-purpose" cleaners. It's always best to try any cleaner — homemade or not — on a hidden spot to see if it's safe for your surface, especially if you are using it for the first time. And for safety, make sure to label any bottle or container of homemade cleaner properly, including the ingredients it contains. If you find that your homemade cleaner is not doing a good job cleaning, it may be time to switch to a commercial cleaner. Always keep all cleaners away from children and pets.

Meet the Expert

Carolyn Forté is the executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, where she has worked for 40 years. Previously, she was a textiles analyst for Montgomery Ward and she has a B.A. in Family & Consumer Sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.