Natural DIY Vinegar and Lemon Cleaner
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.
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.
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).