I’ve avoided it for years, but the reality is—our homes and the products we clean them with are often full of ingredients we can’t pronounce and chemicals we probably shouldn’t be breathing in daily.
Now before anyone thinks I’m about to throw everything under my sink in the trash… I’m not. 😊
Instead, I’m taking a back-to-basics approach. Little by little I’m looking for simple, effective replacements that help simplify both my shopping list and my cleaning routine.
This homemade all-purpose cleaner is one of the first swaps I’ve tested in my home over the past month. It uses just a few basic ingredients, works surprisingly well, and keeps things a little closer to the way our grandmothers used to do it.
Sometimes the best solutions aren’t complicated at all—just simple ingredients used the way they always have been.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
(or lemon slices steeped in the vinegar)
Instructions
- Pour everything into a spray bottle.
- Shake gently before using.
- Spray on counters, sinks, stovetops, appliances, etc.
- Wipe with a cloth or paper towel.
What it’s good for
- Kitchen counters
- Sink & faucet buildup
- Grease on stovetops
- Bathroom surfaces
- Glass & mirrors (wipe dry)
Avoid using on
- Natural stone (granite, marble, quartzite)
- Unsealed wood
The vinegar cuts grease and disinfects, and the lemon helps with smell and extra degreasing.