Is it just me or do lemons just smell clean? Maybe it’s the fact that most commercial cleaners are lemon scented so we’re conditioned to think that, or maybe it’s just that lemons (and citrus fruits in general) are so fresh and bright. I don’t know, but when I clean I like things to be lemony fresh. I do not, however, like to use abrasive, chemical laden, artificially scented, commercially produced cleansers. Aside from the yuck of the cleansers themselves, they are generally packaged in non-recyclable, chemical laden plastic containers. No thank you.
This homemade citrus-infused cleaning spray is sooo much better than any of those store-bought cleaners. It smells great, does the job, and since I’m making it myself, I know exactly what is going in.
Two things. That’s what’s going in. Just two ingredients and a little bit of time and you’ve got an excellent alternative to the less-than-great stuff you pick up in the cleaning aisle sandwiched between the bleach and the mops. This all-purpose cleaner is versatile, easy to make, smells great, and can be made from just two simple ingredients, which you probably already have hanging out in your kitchen. Distilled white vinegar and lemon.
Why vinegar?
Vinegar has long been used as a cleaning product. Legend has it that ancient Babylonians used it as such. They found other uses for it too, as have others throughout history. My own grandmother swore by it as a glass cleaner. The natural antibacterial qualities of vinegar make it an excellent surface cleaner and a wonderful addition to your cleaning arsenal.
In addition to it’s cleaning power, vinegar is super budget friendly and easily accessed. Distilled white vinegar can be found in just about any grocery store. I buy mine in a one-gallon jug and use it to clean, disinfect, remove soap scum, and
de-scale everything from cookware to the showerhead (we have very hard water around here). A gallon of vinegar costs about the same as a 32 oz spray bottle of your average disinfectant spray, making it much less expensive, especially when you consider that, in some cases, it should be diluted and thus will stretch even farther.
Why lemon?
Because lemons smell good.
Okay, okay, that’s only part of it. Lemons do smell good on their own, but they are also very useful for neutralizing many unpleasant odors, particularly in the kitchen. So instead of just masking an odor with artificial scents and perfumes, lemon can actually get rid of the smell altogether. Yay!
Lemons are acidic. Like, really acidic. That’s why biting into one results in that great, puckered-up, sour face. That’s also what makes them such great stain removers. Can they remove all stains on all surfaces? No, of course not. Lemons are awesome, but they can’t work actual miracles. They can, however, remove many stains, particularly surface stains from food on things like cutting boards, countertops, or crockery. Awesome.
Like vinegar, lemons are antibacterial. Their intense acidity makes for an unpleasant environment for bacteria. When combined with vinegar, the cleaning power of lemons gets a boost, and vice versa. How cool is that?!
So how do we make this great cleaner?
You are going to infuse the vinegar with the lemon. It is a simple process, but it does take some time—about 2 weeks.
There is really no need for precision here. I use an old pickle jar and add lemon peels as I use up the lemons, then I just stash it under the sink until I have more lemon to add. But for those of you who prefer some actual measurements/directions, here you go:
Put two cups of white vinegar in a one quart jar. Add lemons or peels to fill the jar and pack them in pretty tightly. The actual number will vary depending on the size of your lemons and how much pulp may be left behind. You want the vinegar to cover the lemon, so add vinegar if needed. Pop the lid on the jar and store your vinegar somewhere with a consistent temperature for at least two and up to six weeks. Every couple of days, pull the jar out and give it a little swish to make sure it’s coming together nicely. Since we are dealing with acidic components you want to be careful to avoid prolonged contact between the contents of the jar and a metal lid so as to avoid corrosion of that lid. Swap out the metal canning lid for a plastic storage lid, or add a few layers of parchment between the lid and the jar. After a couple of weeks, strain and discard the lemon. Your all-purpose surface cleanser is ready to use! Funnel it into a reusable spray bottle and enjoy the lemony-fresh scent as you use it to clean & disinfect surfaces throughout your home.
Is this really all-purpose?
Yes! But also, no.
There is really no such thing as truly ALL purpose. By that I mean, that some tasks really do need a specialized product. Dishes, for example. I’ll use this spray to clean up the sink, but I want soap to wash the dishes first. For the most part though, this little powerhouse will do the job. Use it on countertops, sinks, the stovetop, inside the microwave, the toilet, etc. Spray it all over, and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it up. Letting it sit on the surface allows time for the antibiotic properties of the vinegar and lemon to get to work before you wipe it all away.