I Use This 2-Ingredient Cleaning Spray for Everything (2024)

Stop buying store-bought all-purpose cleaners. A former house cleaner shares her super easy cleaner recipe.

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Laurel Randolph

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Updated January 03, 2024

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As a former house cleaner, I’ve learned to stretch cleaning supplies to keep costs down. I’ve also learned that, in many cases, a homemade cleaner works as well as costly store brands. Plus, through tons of trial and error, I’ve learned what actually works.

One trick I picked up from my cleaning days is this 2-ingredient cleaning spray. I can’t remember the last time I bought an all-purpose cleaning spray from the store.

My 2-ingredient cleaning spray ticks all of the boxes: It uses supplies you already have on hand at home and turns them into a workhorse cleaner, cleaning everything from kitchen counters to floors. It also costs pennies, which is a huge win in my book.

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Why It Works

My all-purpose cleaner combines two must-haves for budget-minded cleaning enthusiasts: Dawn dishwashing liquid and white vinegar. Both are excellent for cleaning—Dawn for its grease and grime-fighting powers and vinegar for its acidic muscle, good for cleaning dirt and build-ups. Both ingredients are also antibacterial.

Add some water and you have a cleaning spray that will keep your kitchen counters clean and germ-free, produce squeaky clean floors, and more. I also use this spray as an all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Spray it on the bathtub or shower and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off with a wet sponge.

How To Make My 2-Ingredient Cleaning Spray

First, you’ll need a good spray bottle. I save the bottles from any store-bought cleaners, but you can also buy one for cheap at most places, like a hardware store. Combine one squirt of Dawn dishwashing liquid (I use original formula) with one part white vinegar and one part water.

For a small spray bottle, start with one cup of vinegar, one cup of water, and one squirt of Dawn. If you have a large spray bottle (like 32 ounces), double the vinegar and water and use two squirts of Dawn. The mixture should look very pale blue. Give it a gentle shake and you’re ready to go.

Don't Love the Smell of Vinegar?

If you don’t love the smell of vinegar, add a few lemon peels or a few drops of essential oil.

Use the spray as you would any other all-purpose cleaner and say goodbye to costly name brands. I promise you’ll never look back!

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I Use This 2-Ingredient Cleaning Spray for Everything (2024)

FAQs

What ingredients are in cleaning spray? ›

The most common ingredients in household cleaning products include alkalies, acids, detergents, abrasives, sanitizers, and spirit solvents.
  • Abrasives. Abrasives are materials that wear off dirt by rubbing. ...
  • Acids. ...
  • Alkalies. ...
  • Bleaches. ...
  • Detergents. ...
  • Sanitizers. ...
  • Spirit Solvents. ...
  • Making a Cleaner.

What is the active ingredient in all-purpose cleaner? ›

All-purpose cleaners are usually concentrated solutions of surfactants and water softeners, which enhance the behavior of surfactant in hard water. Typical surfactants are alkylbenzenesulfonates, an anionic detergent, and modified fatty alcohols.

What is the best homemade solution for cleaning? ›

DIY All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
  1. 1/4 cup vinegar.
  2. 12-20 drops essential oil.
  3. 1 tsp castile or phosphorous-free dish soap or washing soda.
  4. 2 cups boiled or distilled water.

What is a key ingredient for cleaning? ›

White Vinegar

Because it's acidic, white vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits from all sorts of surfaces, such as glass, coffee makers, toilets and showerheads. Vinegar also has strong antibacterial properties, making it ideal as a multipurpose, household cleaner.

Is cleaning spray safe? ›

If you use them properly, cleaning products are safe to use. But improper use can cause: respiratory problems like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or asthma. red, irritated eyes or a burning sensation in the eyes.

Can you use all-purpose cleaner for everything? ›

Takeaways: Use an all-purpose cleaner to clean just about anything, from countertops to floors, to appliances and car interiors. Even when wanting to disinfect, always use an all-purpose cleaner first for best results.

What is the best all-purpose spray cleaner? ›

Our favorite all-purpose cleaner is the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner. It comes in a variety of great scents and is Leaping Bunny certified. If you're looking for wipes versus a spray, we also love the Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes that are an EPA Safer Choice product and compostable.

What is a multipurpose cleaner? ›

All technical components aside, multi-purpose cleaners can be a disinfectant, detergent, degreaser, a solvent, or be a combination of any of these types of cleaning solutions. Generally, such a cleaning solution effectively wipes surface fingerprints, stains, and surface grit or grime from various surfaces.

What cleaning solution do professional cleaners use? ›

Professional Cleaning Products

The star of your cleaning caddy should be a high-quality all-purpose cleaner. We use Mr. Clean, which has been proven effective and safe for all surfaces. It now even comes in multiple Febreeze scents and in an antibacterial formula, which cleans up to 99.9 percent of all bacteria.

What do professional house cleaners use to make a house smell good? ›

Housekeepers have several methods to make homes smell good, depending on personal preference and the type of cleaning required. These methods range from using natural scents such as essential oils and herbs to more commercial options like air fresheners and cleaning products with added fragrances.

What is the strongest cleaning solution? ›

Acid cleaners are the most powerful type of cleaning agent and should be used with care. If they are not diluted correctly, acid cleaners can be very poisonous and corrosive.

How do you make deep cleaning solution? ›

What solutions should I use to deep clean my home?
  1. ½ cup of warm water.
  2. 1 ½ cups of baking soda.
  3. ½ cup of liquid dish soap.
  4. 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.
  5. a squeeze of lemon juice.
Mar 1, 2022

How long to let Dawn and vinegar sit? ›

“We let it sit for 10 minutes and then wipe the soap scum away.” Since then, I've learned that an added step makes this secret sauce even better — use the microwave before applying. In a microwavable safe glass container, mix ⅓ cup Dawn dish soap with 3 cups white vinegar. Microwave for five minutes until simmering.

What is the best homemade disinfectant? ›

In a standard-sized glass spray bottle, add 1 part water, 1 part vinegar and 5-15 drops of 100% essential oil or lemon oil. You can use whichever essential oil whose scent you prefer, or customize the scent according to what room in your home you are cleaning.

What is disinfectant spray made of? ›

Disinfectant sprays contain antimicrobial agents that work by destroying microorganisms living on surfaces. Examples of chemicals commonly used in disinfectant sprays include: Alcohol. Chlorine or chlorine compounds.

Can you be allergic to cleaning spray? ›

VOCs and other chemicals released when using cleaning supplies contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches. Studies are underway to assess how these chemicals affect people who have asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

What is the active ingredient in disinfectant cleaner? ›

Active ingredients in disinfectant cleaning products

Quaternary ammonium (quats) or benzalkonium chloride: used in disinfectant cleaners to break down the cell membrane of microbes. This is also used as a surfactant, which helps to reduce the surface tension of water making it easier to trap germs.

What are the chemicals in cleaning products? ›

Common Chemicals Used for Cleaning & Decontamination Guideline
  • Hypochlorite (Bleach) ...
  • Alcohols. ...
  • Chlorine Dioxide. ...
  • Hydrogen Peroxide & Peracetic Acid. ...
  • Iodophor Disinfectant (Wescodyne) ...
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats) ...
  • References.

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