How to Make Your Own Multi Purpose Cleaner

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Making a multi-purpose cleaner is often cheaper than buying pre-made formulas. You can make your own cleaning formulas using common household products like hydrogen peroxide, pine oil, and sodium borate. If you want to go a more natural route, you can use vinegar and essential oils. An ammonia solution is best to clean heavy grime stuck on a variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces. Choose a homemade recipe based on the products you typically keep in your home and the types of materials you plan to clean.

Ingredients

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

1 cup (240 mL) of hydrogen peroxide (3%)
2 cups (470 mL) of water
¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of lemon juice (or 2 to 3 lemons)

Making Heavy-Duty Disinfectant

³⁄₄ cup (180 mL) of hot water
¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of powdered laundry detergent (bleach-free)
1 tablespoon (15 grams) of sodium borate (Borax)
¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of pine cleaning oil (8% to 12%)

Creating a Natural Scented Cleaner

³⁄₄ cup (180 mL) of hot water
¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of powdered laundry detergent (bleach-free)
1 tablespoon (15 grams) of sodium borate (Borax)
¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of pine cleaning oil (8% to 12%)
White vinegar
Water
Citrus rind (optional; lemon or orange peels)
Essential oils (optional; lavender, tea tree, sweet orange, eucalyptus)

Cleaning with an Ammonia Solution

3.5 cups (830 mL) of water
¹⁄₈ cup (30 mL) of sudsy ammonia

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

1
Fill an opaque spray bottle with 1 cup (240 mL) of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Choose a non-clear spray bottle that can hold at least 26 fluid ounces (770 mL) of liquid and pour in 1 cup (240 mL) of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is known to have disinfectant qualities, so it a perfect ingredient for killing household bacteria.^{[1]
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- Most hydrogen peroxide blends sold at drugstores are 3% concentrations, but check the label just in case.
- It's important to use an opaque spray bottle because light can cause the hydrogen peroxide to decompose into water over time.
2
Add 2 cups (470 mL) of water to the bottle. Use a measuring cup to measure out 2 cups (470 mL) of room temperature water and pour it into the bottle. Diluting hydrogen peroxide is necessary because inhaling fumes from straight hydrogen peroxide can irritate your lungs.^{[2]
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- Use warm or hot water if you plan to use all or most of the cleaning solution right away on floors or other large areas. Hot or warm water will slightly increase the solutions bacteria-killing power.
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3
Pour in ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of lemon juice and shake the bottle. Use the same measuring cup to measure out ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of bottled lemon juice and pour it into the spray bottle. Screw the spray head onto the bottle and shake the solution to combine the ingredients. The acid in the lemon juice will add a fresh scent to your solution and help disintegrate scum and grime.^{[3]
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- Lemon juice can kill bacteria like salmonella and E. coli.
- You can also squeeze 2 or 3 medium lemons to extract ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of juice.
4
Shake the solution and use it on porcelain, hardwood, and granite surfaces. Use the cleaning solution to disinfect and clean mildew off of porcelain toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers. It will also disinfect granite, sandstone, slate, and quartzite kitchen or bathroom countertops. Hydrogen peroxide cleaner is especially effective on hardwood floors because it can remove stains while keeping the wood free from moisture in the process.^{[4]
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- Let the solution sit on the surface for 2 or 3 minutes before you wipe it away for extra sanitization.
- A hydrogen peroxide solution will help remove any stains and odors from pet urine, vomit, and feces.
- This solution will remove hard surface stains from coffee, tea, or food.
- You can use a hydrogen-peroxide based cleaner on marble, limestone, onyx, or travertine, but make sure to wipe these types of surfaces with a damp cloth afterward.
5
Store hydrogen peroxide cleaner upright for up to 6 months. Place the bottle of hydrogen peroxide cleaner upright where it won’t come in contact with any flammable chemicals in case it spills. If you put it someplace with other cleaning supplies, make sure to avoid putting it near a bottle of vinegar or another cleaning solution containing vinegar.^{[5]
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- Mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together form corrosive acid, which can irritation your lungs, skin, eyes, nose, and throat.
- Hydrogen peroxide is most effective up to 45 days after exposing it to air, but it will still maintain cleaning power for up to 6 months.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Heavy-Duty Disinfectant

1
Pour ³⁄₄ cup (180 mL) of hot water into a spray bottle. Choose a spray bottle large enough to hold 16 fluid ounces (470 mL) of liquid and fill it with ³⁄₄ cup (180 mL) of hot tap water. Hot water will increase the cleaning solution’s bacteria-fighting power.^{[6]
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- Use water that’s hot but not boiling. Boiling water could partially melt the inner lining of the plastic bottle.
2
Stir ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of powdered laundry detergent into the water. Use a measuring cup to dole out ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of powdered laundry detergent and add it to the water. Stir it together with a narrow stirring spoon, knife, or straw until it has fully dissolved.^{[7]
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- Avoid using a powdered laundry detergent that contains bleach because it will damage porous surfaces like wood, drywall, and natural stone.
3
Add 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of sodium borate to the bottle and stir. Sodium borate has antimicrobial properties that can help keep mold from growing on non-porous surfaces. Use measuring spoons to dole out 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (15 grams) of sodium borate and stir it into the solution.^{[8]
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- Borax is a brand name sodium borate product that you can find in the laundry aisle at most grocery or big-box stores.
4
Mix in ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of pine cleaning oil. Pine cleaning oil is a common disinfectant used in lots of household cleaners for its antimicrobial properties. As a plus, it will leave your home smelling like pine trees! Use a measuring cup to measure out ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of pine cleaning oil and add it to the solution. Stir it well with a narrow spoon, knife, or straw.^{[9]
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- Some pine oil cleaners are merely pine-scented don't contain pine oil. Check the label to ensure it's made up of 8% to 12% pine oil.
- This solution can be used on any surface unless you’ve used detergent containing bleach. If you’ve used bleach, don’t use this formula on porous surfaces like wood, natural stone, and drywall.
- Note that pine cleaning oil is not the same as pine essential oil.
5
Store the spray bottle in a cool place out of reach of children and pets. Ingesting any cleaning solution that contains pine oil and laundry detergent is poisonous and can be fatal. Place the bottle in a high cupboard that children and pets can’t get to.^{[10]
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- The solution will continue to work for 1 year, but it’s most effective if you use it within 6 to 8 months.
- Note that the hot water will turn cold as you store it. The solution will still disinfect, but it won’t be as powerful.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Creating a Natural Scented Cleaner

1
Fill a spray bottle halfway full with white vinegar. The acidity in vinegar can break down grime and soap scum, so it's a great natural alternative to common cleaning chemicals. Choose a spray bottle of any size and fill it up halfway with plain white vinegar.^{[11]
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- Note that vinegar isn't a disinfectant so it won't kill bacteria like staphylococcus.
- As an alternative, use distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
2
Fill the rest of the bottle with plain water. Hold the bottle under the faucet and fill it to the top. The less water you use, the more potent the cleaner will be. However, it's still important to dilute it so you can use the solution on any surface.^{[12]
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- For instance, you can use undiluted vinegar to clean heavy grime or soap scum off of porcelain, but it will leave a cloudy residue if you use it on windows or mirrors.
3
Add fresh citrus rind or essential oils for scent if desired. Put 4 or 5 lemon or orange peels into the bottle to add a hint of citrus aroma. Or, use 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to give your all-purpose cleaner a fresh scent.^{[13]
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- Sweet orange, eucalyptus, ylang-ylang, and lavender are all great choices if you dislike the smell of vinegar because they’re strong, distinctive scents. Essential oils won’t entirely mask the smell of vinegar, but they can dampen it.
- Tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties, so it's the perfect way to increase the cleaning power of your homemade cleaner.
- Adding scent won't entirely mask the smell of vinegar, but it will help!
- Note that if you use fresh citrus peels, you’ll need to remove them 24 hours after mixing the solution to prevent them from rotting. To remove them, pour the mixture through a sieve into another container then pour it back into the original spray bottle.
4
Shake the bottle before using it each time. Give the bottle a quick shake before you start spraying surfaces. This will ensure your added scents are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- If you didn't use added scents, you don't need to shake the bottle.
- Avoid using a vinegar solution on hardwood floors, granite, marble, natural stone, and aluminum surfaces because it can cause discoloration and etching.
5
Store the bottle out of reach from children and pets for up to 2 years. Vinegar is an eye irritant, so put the bottle of natural cleaner in a place where children and pets can’t access it. If you have hydrogen peroxide in your home, place the vinegar-based cleaner away from it or in a different cupboard altogether.^{[14]
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- If the vinegar solution accidentally gets in your eyes, flush them with water for 2 minutes.
- If you, your child, or your pet has swallowed the solution and is experiencing severe pain, call poison control right away.
- If you used fresh citrus peels, remove them from the cleaner 24 hours after mixing the solution to prevent them from rotting.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Cleaning with an Ammonia Solution

1
Fill a 32 fluid ounces (950 mL) spray bottle with 3.5 cups (830 mL) of water. Ammonia is extremely strong, so it needs to be heavily diluted to be safe to use on household surfaces. It makes a great kitchen cleaner because it can remove buildup and stains from animal fats (grease), vegetable oils, and wine.^{[15]
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- Note that an ammonia-based cleaner will not kill staphylococcus bacteria.
2
Protect your mouth, hands, and eyes before opening ammonia. Ammonia can irritate your eyes and skin, so wrap a bandana or nose-and-mouth mask around your face, wear protective glasses or goggles, and put on rubber gloves before handling and opening the bottle.^{[16]
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- If you wear contact lenses, take them out before working with the ammonia because they can trap gas and trap the ammonia vapors in your eyes.
3
Place the spray bottle in the sink and add ¹⁄₈ cup (30 mL) of sudsy ammonia. Place the spray bottle in the sink in case you spill any of the sudsy ammonia. Putting it in the sink will also prevent you from leaning over the bottle as you pour in the ammonia.^{[17]
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- Leaning over the bottle will give the fumes direct access to your face, so keep both bottles as far away from your face as possible.
- If you can't find sudsy ammonia in stores, you can make your own by adding a dime-sized amount of bleach-free liquid dish soap to regular ammonia. It's important to use bleach-free dish soap because ammonia and bleach create toxic vapors.
4
Shake the bottle and use it on ovens, stoves, glass, concrete, and grills. Ammonia will eat away at grime and stains and leave your oven, oven racks, stove, and grill looking brand new. Spray it on, let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes, and then wipe down the surface with a rag. To clean glass, spray it on and wipe it away immediately just like you would with a regular glass cleaner.^{[18]
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- To deep clean your oven racks, make a large batch of ammonia cleaning solution and place it in a large plastic tub. Place the oven racks in the tub and let them soak for 15 to 20 minutes before taking them out and wiping them clean.
- To clean concrete stains in your driveway or garage, spray it on the surface and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then scrub the stain with a bristle brush or old toothbrush.
- This solution can also be used on porcelain bathroom tiles or kitchen backsplashes.
- If you have breathing problems or lung-health issues, avoid using this solution because it may irritate your lungs.
5
Store ammonia-based cleaner in a cupboard away from heat, children, and pets. Ammonia isn’t flammable, but it’s best to keep it away from heat or open flames. Store it in a cleaning closet, cupboard, or garage where children and pets can’t get to it.^{[19]
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- If you accidentally inhale a lot of ammonia vapors and experience trouble breathing or a burning sensation in your throat, call an ambulance right away.
- If you accidentally get the ammonia-based solution in your eyes, flush them with water and call for emergency medical care as soon as possible.
- If you spill the solution on your skin or clothing, thoroughly wash your skin with water. If it gets on your clothing, remove your clothes and wash your skin underneath the area where it spilled.

Expert Q&A

Question

Are there any other easy homemade cleaners I can make if I don't have these ingredients?

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. Seatown Cleaners offers standard, deep, and move-in/out cleaning services using green products and cleaning techniques. Every cleaner is thoroughly vetted and every cleaning is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.

Elias Weston

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

An easy and very effective multi-purpose cleaner can be made with just 3 ingredients: water, vinegar, and Dawn dishwashing liquid. Simply mix 2 cups of warm water with ¼ cup of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish soap and add it to a spray bottle.

Warnings

Test the cleaner to make sure it doesn't damage the surface by spraying it on a small hidden part before using it on a larger area.

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If you or anyone in your home has inhaled or ingested any of these cleaning solutions and is experiencing breathing problems, swelling, pain, itching, or any other side effects, call an ambulance right away.

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