2-Ingredient DIY All-Purpose Cleaner (safe & natural!)
2-Ingredient DIY All-Purpose Cleaner has just essential oils + Dr. Bronner’s soap. It’s easy, safe, and non-toxic and can be used on everything, except wood and glass! This DIY all-purpose cleaner eliminates the need for toxic, expensive, store-bought cleaning supplies.
I realize I’m a bit late to the DIY Natural Cleaner Game… Well, not late to using them; just late to posting them on my blog…
I mean, Pinterest has been showcasing thousands upon thousands of natural living bloggers’ myriad of DIY/natural/non-toxic/essential oils/magic cleaners since Pinterest started.
Believe me, I think they all work on some level, too. 😉
Maybe you’ve seen a DIY All-Purpose Cleaner that’s better than mine, or maybe you have your own concoction… Great! Share it with me in the comments.
Here’s my version, made just like this, tried-and-true for I don’t even know how long. Enjoy!
2-Ingredient DIY All-Purpose Cleaner = My Go-To Cleaner For All The Things
I’ve been using this 2-Ingredient DIY All-Purpose Cleaner for so long, I can’t even remember when or how I came up with it.
One doesn’t live in the “crunchy world” long before hearing about essential oils or Dr. Bronner’s soap… or both. So, one tries these magical, hippie products because that’s what you want to be: a natural, magical hippie.
Or some variation of it.
So, that was me all those years ago: living in my very suburban home, driving my very stereotypical white minivan, desperately wanting to abandon Suburbia, and live barefoot, on a farm, somewhere.
Well, I got what I wanted… Suburbia is long and very happily (for us) gone. I plant my bare feet in the healing energy of the earth as often as I possibly can, weather-permitting. And, I wouldn’t call what we have a “farm”, but we grow and harvest things, so that counts for something.
We also use all-homemade, all-natural cleaning products in our home. Always. This is better for us, for our environment, for the earth, and for our septic system. 😉
The primary ingredients for our homemade cleaning supplies involve any number of combinations of items I generally have on-hand anyway:
- essential oils
- Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap
- distilled white vinegar
- baking soda
- hydrogen peroxide
- course kosher salt
- fresh lemons
Of course, this 2-Ingredient All-Purpose Cleaner has just 2: essential oils + Dr. Bronner’s soap. (Well, and water. But that doesn’t count because I hope you have that on hand.)
Why Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners?
#1 — It’s better, cleaner, and safer for your home’s air. Toxic cleaning supplies are one of the top sources of indoor air pollution. The chemicals in these cleaners can linger in your home’s environment for hours or even days.
You definitely do NOT want to breathe air with cleaning chemicals in it! And you probably don’t want your kids or pets breathing it either. (Read about the 5 Sources Of Indoor Air Pollution and how you can fix them TODAY.)
#2 — You’ll save money! Lots and lots of money. Even using essential oils! My 2-Ingredient All-Purpose Cleaner costs cents to make, compared to expensive store-bought cleaners that may cost $5 per bottle or more.
And if you are buying the “all-natural” cleaners (like Seventh Generation), you’re going to save even MORE money because you’re paying a premium for their marketing. And this cleaner performs just as well, cross my heart.
#3 — It saves space! You’ll have lots more room in your cabinets when you get rid of the idea that you need a bottle of cleaner for every specific surface in your house. You do NOT need a toilet bowl cleaner AND glass cleaner AND all-purpose cleaner AND tub and tile cleaner AND wood polish AND a bottle of Swiffer cleaning refill!
Seriously, this All-Purpose Cleaner really is all-purpose. It cleans all the things, and maybe you don’t want to use it on wood or glass.
#4 — It’s better for the planet! Rather than throwing out a plastic bottle once it’s emptied, I can reuse one bottle over and over again, simply refilling it with my cleaning mix again and again. This results in less plastic that ends up in the ocean, rivers, lakes, sewage systems, and other precious ecosystems.
Here’s How To Make Your Very Own All-Natural, Non-Toxic Cleaner
Combine 1/4 cup Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap (any flavor you like, but I especially like the Peppermint and Tea Tree varieties) plus 25 drops essential oils of your choice in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Then fill the bottle with water. Insert the sprayer nozzle, shake gently, and use on surfaces such as tile, porcelain, granite, formica, marble, quartz, Corian, and butcher block.
Avoid using on wood furniture, windows, mirrors, or other glass. The cleaner won’t hurt these materials, but it may be an effort to wipe off completely. Try it and see what you think!
I like these combinations:
- Peppermint Soap + 25 drops lemon essential oil (or 12 drops lemon essential oil + 13 drops lavender essential oil — great during allergy season!)
- Citrus-Hemp Soap + 25 drops peppermint oil (or 12 drops peppermint oil + 13 drops orange oil)
- Tea Tree Soap + 25 drops Shield blend oil (great for use during and after sickness!)
More Homemade + DIY + Non-Toxic + Natural + Magical Things…
- Non-Toxic Period Emergency Kit For Teens
- How To Make Flavored Salt With Essential Oils
- Essential Oil Lice Repellent Spray
- Oral Health Essential Oil Blend {fight bad breath, cavities, & gum disease!}
- Herbal Sunburn Tea + 3 More Natural Sunburn Remedies
- 5 Natural Remedies For Ear Infections {no antibiotics!}
- How To Use Up Every Last Drop Of Your Essential Oils
[…] 2 Ingredient All Purpose Cleaner – All The Nourishing Things […]
[…] 2 Ingredient DIY All Purpose Cleaner from All the Nourishing Things […]
I just came across this article & have a few comments. I make an AP cleaner that is great (even gets out carpet stains) & one of the ingredients is Castille soap. Unfortunately, even though I use distilled water, mine can leave a film so I’m looking for another. A 1/4 cup of soap seems like A LOT & wonder if there are any problems with film. I’ve also never used essential oils & wonder what its purpose is other than scent.
Great question, Sam! This is 1/4 cup that’s diluted quite a bit. However, I don’t have carpet in my home, so I haven’t used it on carpet and can’t speak to it leaving a film. If your experience has taught you that too much castille soap leaves a film and you’re specifically wanting to use this cleaner on your carpet, perhaps cut the amount of castille soap in half? Essential oils do much more than add scent. They also have cleaning properties of their own. For example, lemon and orange essential oil are awesome at cutting grease. Lavender and peppermint… Read more »
Thanks! I don’t have carpeting now but I was just using that as an example of how good the cleaner is. Mine has 1T Castille soap, 1T Borax, 1.5t washing soda & 6 cups of distilled water. I use it everywhere, including the bathroom. I’ll try yours with orange essential oil.
So good! We love Dr. Bronner’s too!
I love it. I also use Bronner’s + water + tea tree or lemon for my shampoo. So you could add that your all-purpose cleaner works on hair, too… haha. 😉
Yes yes yes to all of this! (Also because I’m lazy, I looove multi-purpose cleaners!!) Thanks for sharing! =D
Dr. Broners works for everything! We make our own cleanners too- so simple.
I can’t say enough about how awesome this post is! I can’t use anything other than natural anymore and this DIY version is amazing! Loving the different options!