Green Multi-Purpose Cleaner

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to transition to using homemade cleaning products. I wanted to clean my house with products that were kid-friendly and also didn’t harm the environment. The products I used in past had labels that read “Keep out of reach of children,” and that concerned me. It made no sense to me to keep the product itself out of my daughter’s reach but to leave its cleaning residue all over her bathtub, her dishes, the floor where she played and the space where I prepared her food.

As much as I wanted to make the switch, I wasn’t ready to toss out all my conventional toxic cleaners (a decidedly un-eco-conscious move and un-budget-friendly as well). I knew I had a lot of research to do and that the learning curve at the beginning would be quite steep. However, once I began to read about making my own cleaners I was shocked to find how easy it really is.

If you are not ready to use all green cleaning products all the time, I understand. It’s taken me a while to make the switch, too, and I’m not quite all the way there yet. However, I want to challenge you to try mixing up a bottle of multi-purpose cleaner. A bottle of this stuff will replace all your Clorox cleaner, 409, Fantastik and Windex. You might be surprised at how easy and effective it is.

Materials needed:
1 spray bottle $0.98
Vinegar (1 gallon, 128 oz costs $2.26)
Water

All-purpose disinfecting cleaner:
Mix 12 oz vinegar and 12 oz water.

Cost breakdown:
Vinegar 1.77 cents/ounce x 12 ounces = 21 cents
Water costs less than 1 cent per gallon
Total cost: $0.21

A couple of other notes:

• I purchased a new spray bottle rather than refill the empty spray bottles of my conventional cleaners to avoid any toxic residue mixing with the vinegar cleaner.
• I use this cleaner on all types of surfaces including the kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, glass doors, windows and mirrors.
• Do not use vinegar or vinegar solutions on marble.
• You can also add a squirt or two of dishwashing liquid like Dawn for cutting through grease.
• Another option is to add a drop or two of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic.
• If you decide to add any other essential oil, I highly recommend you do further research as some of them are dangerous if applied incorrectly or without due care.
• Read about how vinegar kills bacteria, mold and germs here.