It’s easy to throw a bottle of all purpose-cleaner into the trolly when doing your weekly shop, but have you ever considered making your own?
It can be cheaper, safer and more environmentally-friendly to DIY your own spray cleaner. The best part? It’s easy to make and you probably have most of the ingredients at home already.
In this article we explain how to make your own homemade spray cleaner and provide instructions for making four different cleaners, depending on your needs.
Why Should You Use a Homemade Cleaner?
Natural cleaning products are better for the environment as the ingredients used are biodegradable and are not harmful to our water waste systems.
Almost all of the ingredients in these homemade spray cleaners can be used for other purposes. Lemon, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda can be used in cooking, baking and food preservation.
Not only that, but you can reuse the same bottle, which allows you to avoid the plastic waste you would create from buying a new spray cleaner each time.
As if the environmental factors weren’t enough, it can also save money in the long-run to make your own all-purpose cleaner.
Of course, there are some very cheap spray cleaners on the market, but anything branded ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ usually comes with a higher price tag. You can make a spray cleaner without any harsh chemicals for a relatively low price.
Finally, DIY cleaning products give you peace of mind as you know that the ingredients are not harmful to children or pets.
Many shop-bought cleaners contain harsh chemicals that are toxic when ingested but can even provoke allergic reactions when touched or inhaled.
What You Need to Make a Homemade Spray Cleaner
1. Spray bottle
First, you’ll need a spray bottle. You can use plastic or glass, both work well, but glass is a more environmentally-friendly option as it can be recycled easier than plastic.
Consider whether you’re going to make one or several of the below cleaners, because you may need different bottles.
You can buy spray bottles from home, or DIY, shops such as Ikea, or even online at Amazon. You can also reuse an old spray bottle that you already have lying around, just be sure to clean it thoroughly first.
2. Measuring cup and funnel
A measuring cup and funnel will also come in handy for measuring and transferring liquids.
3. Water
Each spray calls for water, however, for the most effective clean, it’s best to use either distilled water or tap water that has been boiled then cooled down. Especially if you live in a hard water area.
Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipes
These four cleaners would all be a great addition to your cleaning line-up, but you can also choose whichever one suits your needs. Unless specified otherwise, you just need to mix each ingredient into your spray bottle and your cleaner is ready to use.
Optional: 10 drops of your preferred essential oil to neutralise the vinegar odour
The lemon serves to mask the vinegar smell but is also a great cleaning agent in itself.
2. All-purpose cleaning spray with citrus infusion
If you don’t need to use your cleaner immediately, you can infuse your spray with citrus fruits to remove the vinegar smell. Here’s what you need to make this spray cleaner:
½ cup white vinegar
½ cup distilled or boiled then cooled water
A small jar of citrus fruit peels such as lemon, grapefruit or orange
Pour the vinegar over the fruit peels, seal the container and leave at room temperature for two weeks. When the infusion is ready, add water and the rest of the vinegar, and you’ll have a citrus-scented cleaner without needing to add essential oils.
3. All-purpose cleaning spray without vinegar
Vinegar is not recommended for all surfaces, especially stone such as marble or granite, so this recipe is an alternative if you have these surfaces at home. To make this spray, mix the following:
