5 Days of Favorite Family Recipes: Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

So far this week I've share recipes for Australian Damper Loaf and Beef Tacos w/DIY Taco Seasoning...but today I'm going to take a step back from food and share with you a Favorite Family Recipe that is good for you...to clean with!

We threw out our store bought cleaners, once I started making my own versions with MUCH healthier and safer ingredients. I've discovered that my cleaners work just as well (and sometimes even BETTER) than anything that I've used before. And they still smell good and are good for sanitizing my home! After looking at several different recipes and trying out different ingredients, I recently came up with a *favorite* ingredient combo for a Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner that I want to share with you!

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The best place to find the large 28-oz empty spray bottles is a dollar store--they have them at Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree. WalMart is another option or any other grocery store with cleaning products. But the best price is going to be your dollar stores. Make sure you label it after it's filled up so you don't forget what is in it! Especially if you have several of them with homemade mixes!

To fill the bottle, I suggest a funnel. It offers you the highest chance of success...take this advice from one who had to clean up her counter when she tried to "freehand" the pouring of the liquids. LOL! 

I have tried recipes that call for vinegar and not the alcohol. They work good. But there is something about this one that seems to work better on my counters for taking off dried yucky stuff. You could use Vodka in it's place if you so desire.

You can buy a box of washing soda at most grocery stores in the laundry detergent section. This recipe calls for a tiny amount, but washing soda is in a lot of other homemade cleaners AND you can use it in my Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent recipe too. It's also great as a general add in for laundry.

Liquid castile soap can usually be found in stores with organic or natural food and body products sections. I know you can get it at Fred Meyers, Kroger, Jungle Jims, and Trader Joe's to name a few. I like to use the citrus scented one in my cleaners, but any will work.

I have tried a LOT of different essential oil combinations in my cleaners. The main ones that you find in recipes across the board for homemade versions are usually Lavender, Rosemary, Lemon and Tea Tree. This is because these are disinfectant wonders! Not only do they have incredible anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties, but they smell good too!

If you count up the drops of essential oil it adds up to 25 drops of oil. If you don’t have some of these that I have listed, you are more than able to change them out for what you do have! Simply adjust the number of drops for the oils you have!

Here are some other anti-microbial essential oils that you could try too:

Basil, Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Fir, Juniper, Lemongrass, Orange, Oregano, Peppermint, Pine

If you have a name brand oil blend like Thieves (Young Living), Purify (doTerra), or something similar, you could use that too! I like to swap out the Lemon and Lime, replacing them with 5 drops of Purify when using this recipe. Are you seeking a supplier of essential oil--maybe even looking for organic essential oils? I have nothing but good to say about the quality of the essential oils I have purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs.  They are one of the few companies that carries certified organic essential oils. They are very high quality and I have purchased nearly all of my single oils from them. Their price is very reasonable and you can order straight from their website. They carry a wide range of oils--including the exotic ones.
Enjoy using this fresh smelling and disinfecting all-purpose cleaner for your counters, cabinets, refrigerator, blinds, tile, sinks, tubs...just about anything with a surface that needs cleaning!  (Except laminate floors. It's too harsh for that. Trust me on this one.)
Print the recipe for Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
***** I'd love for you to pop over and see what other things are going to be covered by our crew this week!

To make it even easier, here are some of the ladies who are participating with me in this great series this week--if you start with them, I know you will find something that is interesting for you!

Anne Marie @ Future.Flying.Saucers ~ Christian Worldview 101

Marya @ Suncoast Momma ~ Homeschooling Special Needs

Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break ~ Ordinary Homeschooling

Dawn @ Double O Farms ~ Helping Your Struggling Learner

Gena @ I Choose Joy! ~ Homeschooling Middle School

Christine @ Our Homeschool Reviews ~ Free and Frugal Homeschooling

Monique @ Living Life and Learning ~ Homeschooling with Lapbooks

DaLynn @ For the Display of His Splendor ~ Diagramming the Proverbs