DIY All Purpose Cleaner: 3 Recipes That Actually Work
A DIY all purpose cleaner costs under fifty cents to make, takes three minutes to put together, and can help with everyday cleaning on compatible surfaces, but it is not a substitute for a registered disinfectant. It contains no synthetic fragrance, no harsh chemical residue, and comes in a reusable glass bottle rather than a single-use plastic one.
Most commercial all purpose cleaners are 90% water mixed with a surfactant, fragrance, and preservatives — ingredients that cost the manufacturer pennies per bottle but retail for four to six dollars. Making your own DIY all purpose cleaner replaces all of that with a few simple ingredients you likely already have: white vinegar, water, castile soap, and a little citrus or essential oil.
This guide covers three homemade all purpose cleaner recipes — one for everyday surfaces, one for kitchens and grease, and one for bathrooms — plus the surfaces you should never use them on and exactly how to store them.
What makes a DIY all purpose cleaner actually work
White vinegar is a mild acid (pH around 2.5) that can dissolve mineral deposits and help remove soap scum. Do not rely on vinegar to disinfect surfaces or kill pathogens. Never mix vinegar with bleach: the combination can release toxic chlorine gas. Use cleaning products separately, follow their labels, and ventilate the area.
Castile soap is a plant-based surfactant that lifts grease and grime from surfaces. It is used in the kitchen degreaser (Recipe 2), mixed with water only and never with vinegar, because acid and soap work against each other.
What You Need
🧴 Ingredients
- White distilled vinegar
- Water — filtered or tap
- Liquid castile soap (for the kitchen degreaser only)
- Essential oil or fresh citrus peel — optional, for scent
🫙 Equipment
- Glass spray bottle — 16oz / 500ml
- Small funnel
- Measuring jug or cup
- Labels or masking tape to mark each bottle
On the bottle: Glass is strongly preferred over plastic for any homemade cleaning spray containing vinegar or essential oils — acids and essential oils can wear down some plastics over time, and glass is a more durable choice. Amber glass spray bottles are inexpensive and last indefinitely. This is one of the zero waste swaps that genuinely pays for itself within a few weeks — the same is true of a natural laundry detergent made from similarly simple pantry staples.
Recipe 1 — Everyday DIY All Purpose Cleaner
This is the core homemade all purpose cleaner for countertops, appliance exteriors, glass surfaces, mirrors, and general wiping down. It is the recipe you will use most often.
Everyday Homemade All Purpose Cleaner — Makes 500ml
Method: Pour water and vinegar into your glass spray bottle using a funnel. Add lemon peel or essential oil if using. Seal and shake gently to combine. Label clearly and store under the sink or in a cupboard away from direct sunlight.
Best used on: Kitchen countertops, stovetop exteriors, appliance surfaces, glass, mirrors, tiled surfaces, and general household wiping.
Recipe 2 — Kitchen Degreaser
This DIY all purpose cleaner version handles cooking grease on stovetops, range hoods, and splashbacks — situations where the everyday recipe is not strong enough.
Kitchen Degreaser — Makes about 465ml
Method: Add the distilled water to the bottle first, then the castile soap, pouring it slowly. Add the lemon essential oil, seal, and tilt gently to mix. Adding the soap first causes excessive foaming. Label the bottle clearly.
Best used on: Stovetop, range hood, greasy splashbacks, oven exterior, and any cooking surface with built-up grease.
Recipe 3 — Bathroom Homemade Cleaning Spray
This version of the homemade all purpose cleaner uses a higher vinegar concentration for soap scum and limescale on compatible bathroom surfaces.
Bathroom Homemade Cleaning Spray — Makes 500ml
Method: Add the water, then the vinegar. Seal and shake gently. This spray helps remove soap scum and limescale. It cleans but does not disinfect, and it should never be mixed with bleach.
Best used on: Sink, bathtub, shower tiles, toilet exterior, taps, and bathroom mirrors. Do not use on natural stone — see the surfaces to avoid section below.
Surfaces to Never Use Your DIY All Purpose Cleaner On
This is the most important section in this guide. Vinegar is acidic — and acid damages certain surfaces permanently.
| Surface | Why to avoid | Use instead |
|---|---|---|
| Natural stone (marble, granite, travertine) | Acid etches and permanently dulls the surface | pH-neutral stone cleaner or warm soapy water |
| Hardwood floors | Vinegar strips the finish over time | Manufacturer-recommended wood floor cleaner |
| Cast iron cookware | Acid destroys the seasoning and causes rust | Hot water and a stiff brush only |
| Egg-based stains | Acid sets the protein and makes it harder to remove | Cold water first, then mild soap |
| Waxed surfaces | Acid strips the wax coating | Warm water and mild soap |
How Much Does a Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Save?
A standard 32oz bottle of commercial all purpose cleaner costs between $4 and $7. The average household uses 3 to 4 bottles per year — spending $15 to $28 annually on one cleaning product alone.
The same quantity of homemade all purpose cleaner costs:
- White vinegar — a 1-gallon jug costs $3 to $4 and makes 8 to 10 bottles of cleaner
- Castile soap — a 32oz bottle costs $8 to $12 and lasts 6 to 12 months of cleaning
- Glass bottles — a set of 4 costs $10 to $15 once and lasts indefinitely
Annual cost of making your own diy all purpose cleaner: approximately $5 to $8 per year after the initial bottle purchase. Annual saving compared to buying commercial products: $10 to $20 per year — plus the elimination of 3 to 4 single-use plastic bottles from your household waste.It is a small saving on its own. Combined with other homemade cleaning products and zero waste swaps like reusable paper towels, the cumulative impact on both your budget and your plastic waste is more meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a DIY all purpose cleaner actually disinfect?
No. These recipes clean surfaces, but they are not disinfectants, and vinegar and essential oils have not been shown to reliably disinfect. After handling raw meat, poultry or eggs, or when someone in your home is sick, first clean with soap and water, then use an EPA-registered disinfectant and follow its label, including how long the surface must stay wet. Never mix vinegar with bleach.
Will my DIY all purpose cleaner smell like vinegar?
Briefly, while the surface is wet — but the vinegar smell dissipates completely as it dries. Adding citrus peel, lemon essential oil, or lavender oil significantly reduces the smell even while wet. The finished homemade all purpose cleaner on a dry surface has no vinegar smell at all.
How long does homemade cleaning spray last?
The vinegar and water version lasts indefinitely — vinegar is self-preserving. The kitchen degreaser contains castile soap and no preservative, so make small batches and discard it after about 2 weeks, or sooner if it looks cloudy or smells off. Store all versions in a cool, dark cupboard away from direct sunlight and shake before each use.
Can I use this homemade all purpose cleaner on my phone or electronics?
No. Vinegar is too acidic for electronic screens and can damage oleophobic coatings on phone screens and laptop displays. Use a dry microfibre cloth for screens and electronics. The homemade cleaning spray is for hard non-porous household surfaces only.
Is making your own cleaning products worth the effort?
Three minutes to make, pennies per bottle, no plastic packaging, and no synthetic fragrance in your living space — yes. The effort is genuinely minimal. The bigger value is not the financial saving but the reduction in chemical load in a small apartment space and the elimination of single-use plastic from your household. It fits naturally alongside other zero waste swaps like reusable paper towels and apartment composting as part of a broader approach to reducing waste at home.
Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar?
Technically yes — apple cider vinegar has similar acidity to white vinegar. But it is amber-coloured and can stain light-coloured surfaces over time, and it costs significantly more. White distilled vinegar is always the better choice for a diy all purpose cleaner. Save your apple cider vinegar for drinking and cooking — or make your own from scraps. Our guide to apple cider vinegar from scraps shows exactly how.
More Zero Waste Swaps for Your Apartment Kitchen
Replace paper towels too
Make a set of 12 reusable cloth alternatives in 30 minutes from old fabric — saves $80 a year.
Reusable Paper Towels Guide →Compost your kitchen scraps
Turn vegetable peel, coffee grounds, and food scraps into free plant fertilizer — no garden needed.
Apartment Composting Guide →Make your own apple cider vinegar
The same vinegar that cleans your home — made from apple scraps for almost zero cost.
Apple Cider Vinegar Guide →See all zero waste projects
DIY cleaning products are one of six apartment homesteading skill areas — see how they all connect.
Apartment Homesteading Guide →
