You are here:Home Natural Living Natural Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

Natural Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

63 Comments

Larg9 30 2007lavender Natural Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

After I learned about all the chemicals that are contained in household cleaning products and that I could make healthier ones at home, I started making my own. One of the hardest ones to create was an all-purpose cleaner, but I finally found one that works well (and my kids have tested it hard!)

In a spray bottle mix:

  • 1 tsp borax
  • 1/2 tsp washing soda
  • 1 tsp liquid castille soap
  • essential oils as preferred- I use 4 drops lemon, 4 drops lavender and 10 drops orange

Add 2 cups of warm water. Distilled is best, but any water that has been boiled will work. Cover bottle and shake well. Use as needed. I use as bathroom cleaner, floor pre-treater, kitchen cleaner and on toys to disinfect.

pf print icon Natural Homemade All Purpose CleanerPrint pf pdf icon Natural Homemade All Purpose CleanerPDF
Filed Under: Natural Living

Related Posts

Like What You Read?

Sign up for exclusive Wellness Mama updates to get my newsletter, coupon codes, & bonuses emailed FREE! (No spam ever, I promise!)

About Katie - Wellness Mama

Katie is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, & Pinterest.

Disclaimer: Many of the links on my site, especially those from Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs, Tropical Traditions and OraWellness are affiliate links. Should you click on these links and decide to purchase anything, I will receive a small commission and you will have my sincere thanks for supporting Wellness Mama!

DISCLAIMER: The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

  • Pingback: Tweets that mention Natural Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner — Wellness Mama -- Topsy.com

  • Anonymous

    I love this stuff! It works just as well as the store bought stuff at a fraction of the cost!

  • Tar Gzip

    Does this work with semi-hard water? (I mean, I hope it does not leave a deposit… and I hope I used the right word, as English is not my first language :) )

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It does, I’ve used it when we lived in places with hard water and it
    worked just fine.

  • Brittenemily

    what is “washing soda?”

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It is sodium carbonate and you can find it in most laundry aisles in
    grocery stores. Arm and Hammer makes the most popular one and it is
    just called “washing soda”

  • Lois

    Hi, is Vitamin E a safe oil to use in homemade cosmetics? It uses wheat germ I believe…

  • Lois

    Hi, is Vitamin E a safe oil to use in homemade cosmetics? It uses wheat germ I believe…

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Unless you are officially a celiac, you shouldn’t have any trouble
    with it, especially just topically.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Unless you are officially a celiac, you shouldn’t have any trouble
    with it, especially just topically.

  • SilentMachinery

    Hi! Wonderful blog with great tips.

    One thing I worry about is the disinfectant capacity of this mixture. Is this really effective in killing germs in kitchen/bathroom areas? Thanks!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    The essential oils are effective in killing germs, though you could always up the amount if you were especially worried about the germs. In my own opinion, we focus to much on killing germs rather than just having a strong immune system to be able to resist them. At least for kids, it seems that a lot of the recent research is showing that exposure to some germs can actually help prevent allergies and such.

  • http://whatissharondoingnow.wordpress.com/ Sharon

    Made this today (after months of thinking about it) and so far very pleased.  Thank you Wellness Mama

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    You are welcome :-)

  • Pingback: Top HEALTHY Gifts for Your Loved Ones — Wellness Mama

  • Amanda

    Is there a reason your recipe does not use white vinegar? I noticed that most other recipe’s call for it. I still have not made my own cleaner and am looking for input from several sources before I do.  Thanks! Amanda

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I’ve found it isn’t needed in this one, and while it does clean very well, I’m not a huge fan of the house smelling like pickles all day :-)

  • Pingback: Help Getting Organized | Get Organized with Organizational Tips from Buttoned Up | 8 homemade alternatives to toxic household cleaners | Buttoned Up

  • Pingback: Homemade Cleaning Supplies: Can They Cut Costs? « Leah Vachani

  • Pingback: Natural Cleaning: Kitchen | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: Natural House Cleaning and Organizing Checklist | Wellness Mama

  • Anitra Sweet

    I have heard recently about how borax isn’t good to use. Is this true? I love this all purpose cleaner but wanted to ask you. I will try to find the article someone sent me.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    A lof of the research on this looks at boric acix and in a different concentration than what is used in borax. Borax is sodium tetraborate, which is a different chemical structure. In general, i don’t use borax on areas where food will be directly prepared and consider it safe everywhere else…

  • Holly Dispain

    Doesn’t vinegar natural antibacterial properties? Can you use delisted vinegar as a cleaning agent?

  • http://www.facebook.com/michelle.albanese2 Michelle Albanese

    I take my lemon peels and soak them in vinegar for a few weeks and use this liquid to clean with. It really extracts the oils from the lemon peels. You can also use orange and grapefruit peels. I also add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to disinfect. 

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    You can and it works great. I’ve just gotten out of the habit since we have granite countertops and you aren’t supposed to use vinegar on them. A 50/50 vinegar and water mix will clean most hard surfaces though.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I’ve actually got some of this on my counter right now too :-)

  • Pingback: Want to try Microfiber? | Wellness Mama

  • Carolineborck

    Can you use it on granite?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I have before, but now I stick to microfiber…

  • Anne

    Ok, I’m a little slow, just found this.  Good news – the gunk on the bathroom floor that no other cleaner in the world could get rid of (I have tried at least a dozen over the years) is now gone.  I sprayed this, let it soak about 5 minutes and wiped it up with a microfiber cloth.  I am astounded!!! Thanks so much for this!!

  • Mojo_02

    Do I need to rinse surfaces after I use this?

  • KKAY

    Just wondering how good this is at disinfecting cooking surfaces? I;’m excited about trying it :)

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    With the oils it is disinfectant…

  • Jmcaree

    What do you use on your granite? We have granite and I had no idea that I should not be using vinegar. Thanks!

  • Cindy

    Alright, I have all the ingredients on my shopping list for this week!  I’ve checked our local store and I can for sure get the Borax  & Washing Soda.  Just wanted to know about the Liquid Castille Soap…when I search for it on google, I get lots of hits on dishwashing soaps and hand soap.  Are those what you mean by liquid castille soap?  Or is there a more natural form I should be looking for that doesn’t have scents/extra chemicals added?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Dr. Bronners is a good brand and usually the easiest to find

  • Heyashleigh123

    When you say the lemon and lavender and orange, is that all together, or just for scent??

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Those are all different essential oils but just for scent

  • Dana

    Good morning. I have a question. Yesterday I put some water, rosemary, and orange peels in a little crock pot to simmer all day (plan to do the same today). I was thinking that somewhere I read that the rosemary would be good at disinfecting the air, anyhow, I was wondering if the strained out liquid at the end of the day would make a good kitchen counter cleaner? Maybe just in small batches that get used up before it would spoil? Do you think it would clean? Be safe? Just seems like a waste to pour out the liquid. Thank you!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    IT would work and be safe, but it might leave some discoloration if you have light colored counters…

  • Dana

    Thank you. :)

  • laura

    Hi I can’t find Dr bronners Castille soap(liquid or bar for your detergent)…just wondering could I use seventh generation dish soap?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I haven’t tried it but it would probably work

  • Sarah

    Hi. I have citronella, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, tea tree, clove, and pine needle essential oils on hand. Can you recommend a good mixture of those for the cleaner?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Lemon and Pine are great together, so are peppermint and tea tree.

  • Michelle Partington

    I’m wondering if this is the best option to clean my granite countertops. I’ve been looking for a natural granite cleaner. What do you use?

  • Pingback: The Chemicals In Your Closet [GIVEAWAY!] | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: Natural Cleaning Mini Challenge [Giveaway!] | Wellness Mama

  • Sue

    Gnc carris dr bronnes castille soap

  • Pingback: Natural Homemade recipes I’ve tried and LIKED | Carmen Homemaker

  • http://www.facebook.com/carrie.saint Carrie Saint

    Hi! I love this cleaner! I use it for everything and it works great! I’m expecting my first child in May and am looking for a natural toy cleaner/disinfectant? Would this recipe work if I added some Tea Tree oil?

    Thanks

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It would… you can also use hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle…

  • Carmen Gonzalez

    Does this work on glass and mirrors, as well? What about wood?

  • ginger

    whats the shelf life on this cleaner?
    Also we dont have a dishwasher…what is the best thing to use to disinfect our dishes other than bleach?

    Thanks so much I love this blog and have created my House Playbook today!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    several months… we use vinegar for most disinfecting or hydrogen peroxide…

  • http://www.facebook.com/vonda.rochelle Vonda Rochelle

    I love all of your recipes….so happy I’ve found you

  • http://www.facebook.com/vonda.rochelle Vonda Rochelle

    love that! I don’t care for the pickled house myself

  • Pingback: Natural All-Purpose Cleaner ~ Dana | Full Of Graces

  • Lori

    I am extremely sensitive to scents. Can I leave the essential oils out or will it compromise with it’s effectiveness?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    You can leave them out…

  • Pingback: Simple DIY All Purpose Cleaner | Cornered Tomato

  • andrea

    You mentioned you dont use borax where you prepare food. So is this not safe to use on my granite in my kitchen?