I don’t know about you, but we go through cleaning products pretty quickly in our house.

Walking down the cleaning aisle, there seems to be a product for everything—and the cost can add up quickly.

Some household cleaning products also contain ingredients that you may prefer to avoid around your home and family. So, friends, today we’re going to try another way!

One day, I saw a jar of lemons sitting at a friend’s house. When I asked her about it, she explained that she was making a homemade household cleaner. I decided to give it a try, and I’m sharing it here in case you’d like to try it, too.

This simple lemon vinegar cleaner is an easy, budget-friendly way to make a household cleaning solution with ingredients you may already have at home.

This is for you if you:

Want a simple homemade alternative to store-bought cleaners
Use ingredients you already have at home
Like the fresh scent of lemon
Keep your cleaning routine simple and affordable

This DIY lemon vinegar cleaner is a simple nontoxic homemade house cleaner made with just a few ingredients you probably have already. It’s an easy option to keep on hand for an everyday household cleaning staple.

Why Make Your Own House Cleaner?

Making things at home or DIY is not only rewarding but often more affordable and can be better for our health.

This natural cleaner is made of simple ingredients, is easy to make, is budget friendly, and can be used time and time again. Plus, it smells good!

Why?

Simple ingredients
Safe for the family
Easy to make
Pleasant lemon scent
Budget-friendly

DIY Lemon Vinegar Cleaner Ingredients

Thankfully, this DIY project has only three ingredients.

Ingredients:

White vinegar: acidity helps tackle odors, soap scum, and bacteria
Fresh lemon peels: oils + acids that cut grease, kill bacteria, and deodorize
Water: dilutes the solution to protect your surfaces + extend the use

How to Make Lemon Vinegar Cleaner

Now, for the fun part.

Step 1: Add lemon peels
Place lemon peels into a clean glass jar that you can seal.

I find it most practical to collect our leftover lemon peels over a week or two in a plastic bag. When the bag is full, then it’s time to make this natural household cleaner.

Step 2: Add vinegar
Cover the lemons in white vinegar until they are submerged.

Step 3: Let it work!
Seal the container and allow the mixture to sit for 1-3 weeks.

The longer it sits, the stronger it will be.

Step 4: Strain
Strain out the peels.

Step 5: Dilute
Pour the lemon-influed vinegar with water in a spray bottle and add enough water to make a 50:50 water to vinegar solution.

Step 6: Label + use!
Label your bottle and get to cleaning!

How to Use This DIY House Cleaner

You can use this homemade house cleaner on the following:

Possible uses for lemon vinegar cleaning spray:

Kitchen counters
Sinks
Bathroom surfaces
Stainless steel
Glass
Laminate
Ceramic tile
Microwave interiors
Non-porous surfaces

What NOT to Clean With Vinegar

Because vinegar is acidic, it isn’t suitable for all surfaces. Be sure to avoid the following:

Do Not Use On:

Marble
Granite and other acid-sensitive natural stone
Unsealed stone
Certain wood finishes
Electronics/screens

If you have questions about a specific product, a quick Google search can help.

Tips for Making Homemade House Cleaner

This DIY house cleaning product is quite simple, and so are the tips:

Use fresh lemon peels instead of throwing them away.
Label your spray bottle.
Test on a small, inconspicuous area first.
Don’t mix vinegar with bleach or other incompatible cleaning products.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lemon Vinegar Cleaner Recipe

Can I use lemon juice instead of lemon peels?

You could, but it is best not to since it can leave a sticky mess behind.

If you do this, using a damp cloth to wipe the surface can help remove the residue.

How long does homemade lemon vinegar cleaner last?

The vinegar in this homemade natural cleaner naturally preserves the solution. But, it is best to use it within 3-6 months to maintain the fresh lemon scent.

Can I use lemon vinegar cleaner on countertops?

Be sure to avoid granite, marble, and quartz. Soap and water are a great alternative for these surfaces.

Does vinegar disinfect?

Vinegar does have some disinfectant properties, but not enough to be considered a “disinfectant” by EPA Standards. These standards require the product to kill 99.9% of the harmful bacteria and viruses.

Disinfecting is important when someone in your home is sick by helping to eliminate the spread of germs.

Force of Nature is a great option with safer ingredients for you and your loved ones. Once you mix the solution, it is effective for disinfection for two weeks.

Here is another alternative that simply uses hypochlorous acid and water that lasts around six months after opening. This ends up being the cheaper alternative consistering start-up costs.

Can I use vinegar cleaner on granite?

It can harm the granite, so soap and water are a better option.

Quick Recipe: DIY Lemon Vinegar Cleaner

Prep: 5 minutes
Infusion: 1-3 weeks
Yield: 3-6 months of solution, depending on use

Ingredients

White vinegar
Lemon peels
Water

Instructions

Place lemon peels into a clean glass jar that you can seal.

Cover the lemons in white vinegar until they are submerged.
Seal the container and allow the mixture to sit for 1-3 weeks.
Strain out the peels.
Pour the lemon-influed vinegar with water in a spray bottle and add enough water to make a 50:50 water to vinegar solution.
Label + use! (best if used in 3-6 months)

Closing

Making your own household cleaner can be simple and effective. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of prep time, you can make a staple cleaner to keep on hand for everyday household tasks.

Caring for what God has given us can be a joy.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24)