DIY All Purpose Cleaner Without Vinegar (All Natural)

This DIY all purpose cleaner without vinegar is a great choice for cleaning household surfaces.

And since it doesn’t contain vinegar, it’s safer to use on surfaces such as granite and natural stone countertops.

If you like making your own homemade cleaners but you don’t like the smell of vinegar, this recipe is for you!

DIY All Purpose Cleaner without Vinegar

I’ve shared before about how I became interested in making my own homemade cleaners after becoming a mom.

I just didn’t want to expose my family (particularly young children) to substances that might cause problems with hormones and immune function, among other things.

It doesn’t take a lot of research to find out that many commercial cleaning products on the market today are made with harmful chemicals.

Making DIY cleaners avoids all of the toxic ingredients commonly found in commercial cleaners.

That’s why I came up with this DIY all purpose cleaner recipe. It only uses natural ingredients that are safer to use around the house, and doesn’t require any vinegar.

Why Make Your Own Natural All Purpose Cleaner?

The main reason I like to make my own cleaning products is that they are safer than conventional store-bought cleaners.

I want to use natural products I can feel good about. After all, who wants to spray potentially toxic chemicals around their house?

There’s nothing wrong with buying ready-to-use natural cleaning products, but even some of those have been found to contain questionable ingredients—and some have even been linked to cancer.

But honestly, I just enjoy making DIY natural cleaners. They’re super simple to make, and I love knowing exactly what it is I’m spraying around my house!

After finding out about the potential dangers associated with common cleaners, I decided to start making my own green cleaners.

I started with these simple cleaning recipes, and then branched out to making my own air freshener, lavender linen spray, DIY toilet spray, and foaming hand soap.

Why You’ll Love This DIY Natural Cleaner

This all-purpose cleaner without vinegar is such an easy recipe.

All you need are four simple ingredients. Add the ingredients to your bottle, shake, and you’re ready to go! It’s really that easy.

But not only is this a super-simple recipe. It can also be used to clean more surfaces than DIY cleaners that contain white vinegar.

Plus it doesn’t have that strong vinegar smell that some people just can’t stand. (If you don’t mind the smell of vinegar, try my favorite DIY all-purpose cleaning spray recipe.)

It’s not recommended to use vinegar-containing products on granite and natural stone surfaces.

Vinegar contains acetic acid, which can damage granite surfaces.

This recipe doesn’t have any ingredients that are listed as harmful for granite or stone.

But not only that—this natural cleaning recipe also has liquid castile soap. The added soap makes it more effective at removing dirt and grime than cleaners that leave out the soap.

Another thing to love about this cleaner is that the scent is customizable. You can make it smell pretty much however you want!

I like to use lemon and orange essential oils, but you could use other essential oils in addition to, or in place of, those oils.

DIY All Purpose Cleaner Without Vinegar Notes

• This cleaner really is “all purpose.” It can be used on just about any surface including sinks, granite, marble (and other sealed stone counters) and stainless steel.
• You can use just about any of your favorite essential oils to make this recipe smell like you want it to. I like orange and lemon essential oil, but  lavender, tea tree, or peppermint are other good choices. You can even leave the essentials out if you don’t have any or don’t want the natural scent.
• Rubbing alcohol and Vodka can be used interchangeably. If you use rubbing alcohol, I prefer rubbing ethyl alcohol.
• Some people like to use liquid dish soap (like Dawn) instead of castile soap. Just be aware that many dish soaps contain artificial ingredients, so I prefer using pure castile soap.

Affiliate links included below, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure here.

​Supplies Needed to Make Natural Cleaner

To make this easy DIY recipe, all you need are a few supplies:

• 16 ounce glass spray bottle
• Label maker (not required, but fun to use!)
• Funnel (optional, but makes it easier to fill the bottle—I love this mini funnel)
• Two-cup measuring cup
• Measuring spoons

DIY All Purpose Cleaner Ingredients

You can find the full recipe and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

​Four simple ingredients are all it takes to make your own all purpose spray:

• Distilled water
• Rubbing alcohol or Vodka
• Liquid castile soap (either unscented or scented variety)
• Lemon essential oil (or other essential oils of your choice)

How to Make DIY All Purpose Cleaner Without Vinegar

It really couldn’t be any easier to make this homemade natural all purpose cleaner!

1. Add all ingredients to the spray bottle and shake to combine.

2. Add a label to the bottle so you know what’s in it.

Your cleaner is now ready to use!

Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Natural Cleaner

Can I use essential oils other than lemon?

Absolutely! Any essential oils can be used. Orange, peppermint or tea tree oil would be great choices. But you can use whatever scents you like best!

Can I use Isopropyl Alcohol instead of Rubbing Ethyl Alcohol?

Yes, you can use isopropyl alcohol in place of ethyl alcohol. I prefer ethyl alcohol since it is safer for human consumption in the event the spray is accidentally ingested. But either one works well.

Does this natural cleaner kill germs?

Alcohol (rubbing alcohol or Vodka) has some antibacterial properties. Using essential oils such as lavender, rosemary or tea tree oil can add more antibacterial action. Thyme oil is one of the most powerful natural antimicrobials.

Can this cleaner be used on food preparation surfaces?

You can use this on food preparation surfaces.

Will this cleaner remove grease?

Because of the addition of liquid soap, this cleaner will be more effective at removing grease than cleaners that don’t contain any soap.

Can this cleaner remove carpet stains?

It may help with carpet stains, although it may not be strong enough to help with deeply set stains. Apply equal parts cleaner and baking soda to stains and rub the mixture in using a soft cloth or paper towel.

More DIY Cleaning Inspiration

• DIY Homemade Natural All Purpose Cleaner
• DIY Toilet Spray Recipe
• How to Make Foaming Hand Soap
• DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe
• DIY Essential Oil Air Freshener
• Lavender Linen Spray DIY Recipe
• How to Create a Cleaning Routine

DIY All Purpose Cleaner Without Vinegar