Learn how to make your own lemon and vinegar all-purpose cleaner with just two ingredients. A very simple and budget-friendly recipe for a cleaner that’s effective, all-natural, and smells amazing.
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If you’re looking for a natural, non-toxic all-purpose cleaner that’s tough on dirt, smells amazing, and will even make you save money, look no further! This homemade lemon and vinegar all-purpose cleaner is one of my easiest and favorite natural recipes. It’s simple, all-natural, and made from kitchen scraps, and will leave your house squeaky clean and smelling amazing!
Keep reading to find out how to make this lemon and vinegar cleaner and all the ways you can use it!
Why You’ll Love this Lemon and Vinegar Cleaner
Non-toxic
This cleaner is made with only two simple ingredients and totally free from synthetic fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals, perfect for anyone trying to reduce toxins at home. It’s safe to use around kids and pets, too! Find out more ways to reduce your toxin exposure in this post.
So Easy to Make
All you need to do to make this cleaner, just save your lemon peels and pour vinegar over them. Let the vinegar infuse, then transfer to a pray bottle. That’s really it. No boiling, blending, or complicated steps.
Affordable
Let’s face it, non-toxic cleaners can be surprisingly expensive! By making your own with simple ingredients like lemon peels and vinegar, you can cut the cost by up to 10 times (or more!) while still keeping your home fresh and chemical-free.
Made from Scraps
Instead of tossing your lemon peels after you use lemons to make lemonade, this amazing coconut flour lemon cake, or anything else, turn them into something useful.
It’s a great way to reduce waste, be resourceful, and get the most out of your food. If you like more ways to be resourceful and reuse your kitchen scraps, try my homemade bone meal garden fertilizer made from leftover bones from bone broth!
Surprisingly Effective
Vinegar is naturally antimicrobial and cuts through dirt, grease, mineral deposits, and soap scum, while also shining and deodorizing surfaces.
The citric acid in lemons is also a natural disinfectant, can help dissolve stains from fabrics and surfaces, cut through grease, deodorize, and whiten fabrics.
Smells Fresh
While not everybody loves the smell of plain vinegar, infusing it with lemons give this cleaner a nice citrusy smell that’s very pleasant and fresh. It’ll even make you want to clean your home!
How to Use this Lemon and Vinegar Cleaner
This lemon and vinegar cleaner is a perfect all-purpose cleaner that can be use for many cleaning needs around the house.
Dilute with water for everyday cleaning:
- Wiping kitchen counters (avoid natural stone like marble or granite)
- Cleaning bathroom surfaces
- Wiping down tables, chairs, highchairs, and other furniture
- Cleaning glass and mirrors
- Shining tiles and stainless steel appliances
- Deodorizing and cleaning the refrigerator
- Spot-cleaning and freshening up couches and upholstery
Use it full strength for tougher messes:
- Removing hard water stains from sinks and faucets
- Deodorizing and refreshing cutting boards
- Cutting through tough grease on stovetops and ovens
- Descaling mineral buildup from kettles
- Cleaning and deodorizing trash cans
- Pre-treating fabric stains before washing (always spot test first)
- Boosting laundry cycles
- Together with baking soda for cleaning and refreshing washing machines
- Removing sticky labels from glass and other surfaces
For extra scrubbing power, sprinkle baking soda on the surface first, then spray the lemon vinegar. This is a wonderful way to effortlessly cleaning fireclay farmhouse sinks and bathtubs.
Ingredients for this Lemon and Vinegar Cleaner
Lemon (or any citrus) peels and other scraps including any membranes and seeds. Simply save any lemon scraps from juicing lemons in a large jar or container. You can store in the fridge until you have enough to fill your jar, or cover with vinegar as you go to prevent mold. Use organic lemons if you want your cleaner to be completely non-toxic.
White distilled vinegar.
Essential oils (optional). You can add a few drops of essential oils for fragrance and/or extra cleaning properties. I like adding peppermint essential oil for its fresh scent, antimicrobial properties, and for its ability to keep away ants and other pests. Other good options include tea tree oil and lavender.
Tool You May Need
Quart-size glass jar with lid (mason jar works great) or other container.
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
Funnel (optional, for pouring into spray bottle).
Spray bottle (glass or plastic). You can reuse any cleaned cleaner spray bottle.
How to Make this Lemon and Vinegar Cleaner
Step 1: Collect lemon peels and place them in a clean glass jar.
Step 2: Pour vinegar over the peels until fully submerged.
Step 3: Seal the jar and let it sit at room temperature for 2–3 weeks. Shake occasionally.
Step 4: Strain the mixture trough a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a bowl or directly into your spray bottle, or use a funnel to fill your spray bottle up.
Step 5: Add essential oils (optional) and dilute with water if needed. This cleaner can be used straight or diluted up to 1:1 vinegar:water.
Step 6: Label the spray bottle and store it in a cool, dry place when not in use. For longer storage, keep any leftover lemon vinegar infusion in the refrigerator before transferring it to a spray bottle.
Notes
You can also use other citrus fruit’s scraps for this recipe, such as limes, oranges, or clementine.
To collect your lemon scraps, save any lemon scraps in a large jar or container. Store in the fridge until you have enough to fill your jar, and/or cover with vinegar as you go to prevent mold.
Use organic lemons if you want your cleaner to be completely non-toxic.
Use this cleaner straight for tough dirt, and dilute with water up to 1:1 for everyday cleaning needs (see posts for how to use).
If you like this simple natural cleaner recipe, drop me a comment down below and let me know any other uses you find for it!
Pin it for Later
Related Posts and More Natural Recipes from the Blog
Lemon Cake with Coconut Flour (Grain-Free, Gluten-Free)
Healthy Lemon Frosting with Homemade Lemon Curd
How to Make Bone Meal Fertilizer with Bones
Printable Recipe Card
Natural DIY Vinegar and Lemon Cleaner
Equipment
- Quart-size glass jar with lid (mason jar works great).
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Funnel (optional, for pouring into spray bottle).
- Spray bottle (glass or plastic).
Ingredients
- Lemon peels and scraps enough to fill your jar
- White distilled vinegar enough to cover lemon peels
- 10-30 drops essential oil of choice optional
Instructions
- Collect lemon peels and place them in a clean glass jar.
- Pour vinegar over the peels until fully submerged.
- Seal the jar and let it sit at room temperature for 2–3 weeks. Shake occasionally.
- Strain the mixture trough a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a bowl or directly into your spray bottle, or use a funnel to fill your spray bottle up.
- Add essential oils (optional) and dilute with water if needed. This cleaner can be used straight or diluted up to 1:1.
- Label the spray bottle and store it in a cool, dry place when not in use. For longer storage, keep any leftover lemon vinegar infusion in the refrigerator before transferring it to a spray bottle.
I love making citrus vinegar for cleaning. This is a fantastic recipe and I appreciate all your details and instructions on using it. This citrus vinegar recipe makes such good use of ‘scraps’. I really love that you’re providing ways to use everything and prevent wasting things in all your recipes. Excellent article!