Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (That Works!)

Katie Wells Avatar

Reading Time: 5 minutes

This post contains affiliate links.

Read my affiliate policy.

all purpose cleaner
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Home » Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (That Works!)

Once upon a time, I was a single college student in a one-room dorm and it didn’t take much to keep it clean. Fast forward a few years and I had a few kids who weren’t so neat and orderly! I needed an all-purpose cleaner that worked, STAT!

A Natural Way to Clean

As a mom, I soon learned that child is a synonym for “maker of messes while being absolutely adorable.” It’s amazing how fast toddlers can make messes.

I also realized kids put everything in their mouths. So I looked for natural cleaning options that could stand up to toddler messes but wouldn’t accidentally poison them if (when) they licked the floor.

I learned about all the harsh chemicals in most commercial household cleaning products and found I could make healthier ones at home. One of the hardest ones to create was a natural all-purpose cleaner. I finally found one that works well (and my kids have tested it hard!). I’ve calculated that over the years I’ve saved over $200 making this myself!

It has the cleaning power of plant-based essential oils to help with grime, soap scum, and everyday dirt. It also helps to deodorize surfaces without bleach or other harsh cleaners.

Why Make Your Own Natural Cleaner?

Short answer: It takes less than a minute, saves money, and works better!

This all-purpose cleaner is so simple to make that my kids are now old enough to make it on their own!  It’s eco-friendly and free of the toxins found in many conventional household cleaners. Plus you can customize this surface cleaner to your taste by adding your favorite essential oils.

Important note: There is some debate about borax and if it is safe in homemade cleaners. I personally feel it’s safe to use and much safer than most cleaning products. This article has a good breakdown of the information and my thoughts on it.

Don’t agree? Just leave it out or use a natural concentrated cleaner like Branch Basics in place of this recipe.

all purpose cleaner
Print
4.72 from 7 votes

Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (That Works!)

This natural cleaner is easy to put together and great for hard surfaces around the house.
Prep Time4 minutes
Total Time4 minutes
Yield: 16 ounces
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

Instructions

  • Place borax, washing soda, essential oils, and soap in a spray bottle (preferably glass).
  • Add distilled water until the bottle is almost full. Be sure to leave room for the sprayer. Distilled water is best, but any water that has been boiled will work.
  • Screw on the lid and shake well. Use as needed. I use it as a bathroom cleaner, floor pre-treater, kitchen cleaner, and on toys.

Notes

Store your cleaner away from direct light and heat. It should last for about 3 months when stored properly. 

All-Purpose Cleaner FAQs:

Worried about the chemistry of making your own cleaners? Want to make a substitution? These are the most commonly asked questions about my homemade all-purpose cleaner:

Is Washing Soda the Same as Baking Soda?

No, they’re similar but with some important differences. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and washing soda is just sodium carbonate. Washing soda is stronger and more effective in this recipe (but still non-toxic). Don’t have it? Make your own with washing soda using this tutorial.

Is This a Disinfectant?

Technically no, but most home messes don’t need a disinfectant. And using too many disinfectants can cause problems as well. I wouldn’t use this cleaning agent on food-related messes, especially raw meat. However, it’s a great multi-surface cleaner for hard household surfaces like countertops, floors, and cabinets. The essential oils do have mild disinfectant properties in some studies. I’d stick to hydrogen peroxide or food-grade or rubbing alcohol and soap/water to disinfect raw meat messes.

Why Isn’t There Vinegar in this Recipe?

Vinegar isn’t the cleaning powerhouse it’s made out to be. It does have its uses, like for streak-free windows, but isn’t an effective degreaser or disinfectant. Also, vinegar and washing soda (acid and base) will cancel each other out. This whole recipe would be less effective if vinegar was added.

Want to use vinegar in natural cleaning? Save your fresh lemon and orange peels, pour white vinegar over them, and leave for a few weeks. This makes a great citrus-infused vinegar that cleans windows and most smooth surfaces.

Vinegar also un-saponifies the soap in this recipe, leaving a nasty stringy mess. Use vinegar if you want to, just don’t use it in this recipe!

Is Borax Dangerous?

There’s a lot of debate about this. I talk about my opinion here, but I generally feel safe using it on nonfood surfaces. If you aren’t comfortable using it, just omit or use witch hazel or food-grade alcohol in its place.

If you still aren’t a fan of borax and want a completely natural alternative that works at least as well as this recipe, I recommend Branch Basics concentrate.

Does This Actually Work?

Yep. It works really well. But don’t take my word for it… a reader Anne commented:

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!

I Don’t Like Lemon/Lavender/Orange Oil. Can I Use a Different One?

No way. Just kidding!

Use whatever scent you like in this recipe. Peppermint is lovely too and geranium has a mild bug-repelling property if you have flies in the kitchen. Tea tree is another green cleaning favorite for cleaning solutions. You can even omit the oils entirely for an unscented version.

How Long Does This Last?

I haven’t had this last longer than 3 months because I use it up in less time than that. I can vouch for its shelf life for at least three months though.

Does This Need to Be Stored in Glass?

I’m not a fan of plastic and don’t feel it’s good for the environment (or the body). I try not to buy it even for cleaning. Plus, if you use essential oils, it’s important to store them in glass as they can break down certain plastics over time. Glass is always a good idea!

More DIY Natural Cleaning Products

Here are more healthy cleaning recipes with simple ingredients.

Do you make any DIY cleaners? Share your favorite below!

This homemade all-purpose cleaner is natural and much less expensive than conventional cleaners. All natural and it works!
Sources

Become a VIP member!

Get access to my VIP newsletter with health tips, special deals, my free ebook on Seven Small Easy Habits and so much more!

Easy Habits ebook on ipad

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

285 responses to “Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (That Works!)”

  1. Emily S. Avatar

    Can this be used on stainless steel appliances? I made the granite cleaner but somewhere in that article it said not to use on stainless steel.

  2. Brenda Avatar

    Looking for a safe DIY clearer to use around my cat and dog. Essenial oils make me very nervous when it comes to a cat that pretty must jumps and walks wherever she sees fit. Thank you

  3. Dawn Avatar

    I have Super Washing Soda. What’s the difference between washing soda and Super Washing Soda?

    1. Sam Avatar

      I think it’s just a gimmick that Arm & Hammer uses because I’ve never seen anything BUT A&H super washing soda in stores. Besides, there’s such a small amount of it in the cleaner.

  4. Debbie C Avatar
    Debbie C

    I love your site and info! I have been making this cleaner for quite a while and I have given away a LOT of containers of it for others to try. Re-reading your recipe i realized I accidentally omitted the castile soap all this time! Oops! And it seems to work ok. Have you had experience with that?

  5. orinoco womble Avatar
    orinoco womble

    And you can even make your own washing soda by putting bicarbonate of soda in the oven for about an hour at 400ºF and stirring twice in that time. Store in an airtight glass jar.

  6. Mylinda Avatar
    Mylinda

    Hi! How long does this last with tap water? How can you tell when it’s no longer good to use?

  7. Jess Avatar

    Here are a few articles that quantify the differences in using regular store-bought cleaners vs. vinegar. This article is incorrect in stating that vinegar does not disinfect well. Scientific research proves differently–it helps kill the flu virus.

    Also essential oils used at this dilution really don’t contribute much unless spraying it directly on a cut or something.

  8. Vanessa Avatar
    Vanessa

    Can I had peroxide or witch hazel to this recipe to make it a disinfectant?

  9. Kelsi Avatar

    Two questions:
    1. Do you think this cleaner would work to clean up coffee messes in a break room setting? I’m trying to find a non-toxic surface cleaner to use at work in our mailroom…lots of coffee stains on the counter if the cleaner isn’t strong enough.
    2. Instead of using the unscented castile soap with essential oils, could a person just purchase the scented castile soap? Or is there a specific reason you use unscented?

  10. Sam Avatar

    I used this all-purpose cleaner for about a year & found it to be the best non-commercial one I’ve ever used. But one time after cleaning, when the light was just right, I noticed it left a film on my microwave door & refrigerator. Follow up use (even different batches) confirmed it so I quit using it. Too bad as I really liked it.

  11. Kate Avatar

    How long does it last before bacteria starts growing? I dont think keeping water mixture without preservative is safe in a long run?

  12. Shanna Avatar

    Does this cleaner do floors well…streak-free? Or should it only be used as a prewash?

  13. Shanna Avatar

    GLASS SPRAYER BOTTLES… let me say I like glass too but in a fairness, the part that breaks down from essential oils is the sprayer and even though you use a glass bottle, the sprayer mechanism is still plastic and that is what goes bad. The same goes for roller bottles…even the onces with a steel roller ball.
    Would LOVE to know of something that does not contain any plastic.

  14. Jean Avatar

    Great recipe! How much witch hazel should I use if I’m using it in place of borax? Thanks, Katie!

  15. Cheryl Avatar

    Good morning!
    I went to the Grove site to see if I could get the spray bottle and they did not offer it, but instead offered a dish soap and scrubber. Is there a way to get the spray bottle offer?
    Thanks!
    Cheryl

  16. Wileesha Avatar

    I love using your natural products and they work great! Better than any chemical. I did learn some really startling info from my daughter’s pediatrician. She told me to avoid lavender oil because it causes premature puberty in girls because of its estrogen like affect on the body. It scared me because I use lavender oil in my cleaning products and on her toys. So just a heads up, if you have kids especially girls be cautious when using in cleaning products or diffusers.

4.72 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating