Homemade Cleaners: Simple Recipes and What Each Can’t Do

Many effective cleaners can be made from a few inexpensive ingredients: white vinegar, baking soda, mild dish soap and water. Homemade mixes reduce plastic waste, avoid strong fragrances and are often perfectly good at everyday cleaning. They also have real limits. Vinegar is not a registered disinfectant, some ingredients damage certain surfaces, and a few combinations are genuinely dangerous. The recipes below each come with what they work well on and where not to use them.

First, the safety rules

• Never mix bleach with vinegar or other acids. The combination releases chlorine gas.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia. This produces toxic chloramine vapors.
• Don't combine hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in the same container. Together they form peracetic acid, which can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs.
• Label every bottle with its contents and keep homemade cleaners out of reach of children and pets.
• Test on a hidden area first before using any cleaner on a surface for the first time.

Recipe 1: All-purpose spray

Mix: equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. A few drops of lemon juice or essential oil can soften the smell, which fades as it dries.

Works well on: glass, sealed laminate counters, stainless steel sinks, tile, and removing hard water spots and soap scum.

Avoid on: natural stone such as marble, granite and limestone, because acid can etch the surface. Also avoid on waxed or unsealed wood, cast iron and some electronic screens.

Recipe 2: Gentle soap cleaner

Mix: a teaspoon of mild dish soap in a spray bottle of warm water.

Works well on: almost everything, including natural stone counters, sealed wood, painted walls, cabinet doors and appliance exteriors. Soap lifts grease and dirt without the risk of etching.

Avoid on: very little, but wipe with a damp cloth afterward to prevent streaks and residue.

Recipe 3: Scouring paste

Mix: baking soda with just enough water or dish soap to form a thick paste.

Works well on: stovetops, baked-on oven grime, sink stains, grout and the inside of pots and pans. Baking soda is a mild abrasive, so it scrubs without scratching most surfaces. For oven cleaning, spread the paste inside a cold oven, leave it for several hours or overnight, then wipe it out and spray any residue with vinegar to finish.

Avoid on: high-gloss or delicate finishes, and some aluminum, which can discolor.

Recipe 4: Glass and mirror cleaner

Mix: one part white vinegar to four parts water, with an optional tablespoon of rubbing alcohol to help it evaporate quickly without streaks.

Works well on: windows, mirrors and glass shower doors. A microfiber cloth or squeegee gives the best finish.

Avoid on: phone, tablet and computer screens with anti-glare coatings. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions for those.

Recipe 5: Drain freshener

Method: pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let it fizz for 15 minutes, then flush with hot water.

Works well on: minor odors and slow drains with light buildup.

Limits: it won't clear a real clog. A drain snake or plunger works better, and serious blockages need a plumber.

Recipe 6: Cutting board refresher

Method: sprinkle coarse salt on a wooden board, scrub with half a lemon, rinse and dry upright.

Works well on: lifting stains and odors from wooden boards. Wash boards with hot soapy water after each use, especially after raw meat.

Recipe 7: Microwave steam clean

Method: fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and a few slices of lemon or a tablespoon of vinegar. Heat on high for several minutes until the window steams up, leave the door closed for five more minutes, then wipe the inside with a cloth.

Works well on: softening dried splatters so they wipe away without scrubbing, and reducing lingering food smells.

Limits: let the bowl cool before removing it, since the water can be very hot and may boil over if disturbed.

Recipe 8: Carpet and upholstery deodorizer

Method: sprinkle baking soda evenly over a dry carpet, rug or fabric sofa, leave it for at least 15 minutes, or overnight for stronger odors, then vacuum thoroughly.

Works well on: absorbing everyday smells from pets, cooking and damp. For fresh spills, blot rather than rub, then treat with a small amount of the gentle soap cleaner and blot again with clean water.

Limits: check care labels first, since some fabrics, such as silk and some wool rugs, need specialist cleaning.

What homemade cleaners can't do

Vinegar can reduce some bacteria, but it is not registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency as a disinfectant and is not reliable against many germs. When you need to disinfect, for example after someone has been sick or after handling raw meat, use a product registered as a disinfectant, or a properly diluted bleach solution, following the label instructions, including how long the surface must stay wet. Clean visible dirt off first, since disinfectants work best on clean surfaces.

Ingredients worth having

• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Mild, unscented dish soap
• Rubbing alcohol
• Coarse salt and lemons
• Microfiber cloths, a soft brush and reusable spray bottles

Making it a habit

Homemade cleaners work best for regular light cleaning. Wiping counters daily and dealing with spills quickly prevents the buildup that requires stronger products. Make small batches, since mixes are cheap to replace, and rinse and relabel bottles when switching recipes so they never get mixed by mistake.