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5 Best Homemade Cleaners That Actually Work

/34 Comments/in , , /by Mary Hunt

If there’s one place where you can trim household expenses without feeling deprived, it’s cleaning supplies. Store-bought cleaners are getting outrageously expensive, and many are packed with harsh chemicals. The good news? Homemade cleaners are cheap, safe, and just as effective, sometimes even better, than their commercial cousins. With a few simple ingredients you probably already have, you can mix up DIY cleaners that tackle soap scum, grime, and odors while saving serious money.

homemade cleaners recipes woman wiping countertop microfiber spray bottle

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average individual spends about $170 a year on laundry and cleaning supplies. That may not sound like much at first glance, but think about it: for a family of four, that’s nearly $700 a year just to keep things scrubbed, shiny, and smelling fresh. Switching to homemade cleaners can cut that number down to just a fraction.

Now, here’s the kicker, most of that money is going toward products that are mostly water, mixed with a few inexpensive ingredients and dressed up in fancy packaging. When you make your own homemade cleaners, you’re skipping the marketing hype and paying pennies for the exact same cleaning power.

Take vinegar and a squirt of dish soap—two of the cheapest items in any grocery store. Combine them the right way and you’ve got a tub and shower cleaner that rivals the most expensive brand-name bottle in the aisle. And because these homemade cleaners use ingredients you probably already keep on hand, you’re not just saving money, you’re simplifying your life, too.

Contents

  1. Tub and Shower Homemade Cleaner Recipe
  2. DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner That Works
  3. Safe Granite Homemade Cleaner
  4. Heavy-Duty Bathroom Cleaner for Tough Messes
  5. Homemade Floor Cleaner for Wood, Laminate & Vinyl

1. Tub and Shower Homemade Cleaner Recipe

best soap scum remover cleaner pink midcentury contemporary tile shower homemade cleaners

If I could only keep one DIY cleaner forever, this would be it. My tub and shower spray beats every commercial product I’ve ever tried. No contest. It wipes out soap scum, mildew, and hard water stains with almost no effort, and it’s made from two budget-friendly staples you probably already have on hand.

Ingredients

Quick Instructions

Mix about ½ cup Dawn with vinegar in a 32-ounce spray bottle (adjust if you’re using concentrated Dawn). Shake gently, spray on your tub or shower, let it sit, then rinse away the gunk. For extra-tough spots, give it a quick scrub before rinsing.

Pro Tip: Use it weekly for maintenance and you may never have to scrub your shower again.

Check out the full recipe and post here →

2. DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner That Works

diy toilet bowl cleaner female gloved hands spraying vinegar and baking soda homemade cleaners

Cleaning the toilet is nobody’s favorite job. But with this simple DIY cleaner, you don’t need expensive products or harsh chemicals. Just two pantry staples, a quick fizzing reaction, and a few swipes of the brush will leave your toilet sparkling (and deodorized) in minutes.

Ingredients

Quick Instructions

Turn off the water supply and flush to empty the bowl. Sprinkle in baking soda, then pour or spray vinegar over it. Let the fizzing action work for 10–30 minutes, scrub with a toilet brush, then flush. Repeat for stubborn stains.

Pro Tip: For mineral rings that just won’t budge, let the mixture sit for the full 30 minutes before scrubbing.

Check out the full recipe and post here →

3. Safe Granite Homemade Cleaner

homemade granite cleaner diy closeup kitchen countertop homemade cleaners

Granite countertops may look tough, but they need gentle care to stay beautiful. Skip the pricey specialty sprays. This DIY cleaner keeps your counters streak-free and shiny for just pennies a bottle. It’s safe for granite (and other sealed stone), easy to mix up, and smells fresh if you add a few drops of essential oil.

Ingredients

Quick Instructions

Pour rubbing alcohol into your spray bottle, add soap and optional essential oil, then top with water. Shake gently to combine. Spray directly onto counters and wipe with a microfiber cloth. No rinsing needed.

Pro Tip: Use distilled water to prevent streaks and extend the life of your cleaner.

Check out the full recipe and post here →

4. Heavy-Duty Bathroom Cleaner for Tough Messes

female cleaning bathroom sink with purple spray bottle microfiber diy heavy-duty bathroom cleaner homemade cleaners

Bathroom cleaning is the chore we all love to avoid. Between toothpaste splatter, soap scum, and mystery gunk, it can feel overwhelming. But this two-ingredient DIY spray makes it quick, cheap, and (almost) painless. With rubbing alcohol to disinfect and vinegar to cut through grime, you’ll have a sparkling bathroom in minutes. Again, no harsh chemicals, no rinsing, no excuses.

Ingredients

Quick Instructions

Fill a spray bottle halfway with rubbing alcohol, then top it off with vinegar (a 50/50 mix). Shake gently. Spray directly on bathroom counters, sinks, mirrors, faucets, or tile. Wipe clean with a sponge or cloth. No rinsing required.

Pro Tip: For stubborn buildup, let the spray sit for a few minutes before wiping.

Check out the full recipe and post here →

5. Homemade Floor Cleaner for Wood, Laminate & Vinyl

Best homemade wood floor cleaner DIY wood floor cleaner Natural laminate floor cleaner homemade cleaners

The secret to shiny, streak-free floors isn’t in a pricey bottle. It’s in your pantry. This homemade cleaner dries fast, won’t damage your floors, and leaves them looking freshly polished. Bonus: it costs pennies to make.

Ingredients

Quick Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Sweep or vacuum first, then lightly mist a small section of the floor. Wipe immediately with a microfiber cloth or mop. Never let liquid sit on wood or laminate.

Pro Tip: Always work in small sections: spray, wipe, and dry right away for a streak-free shine.

Check out the full recipe and post here →

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34 replies
  1. Sheri B. says:

    Mary, Do you happen to have “How to clean the “rust” off of the blades of my garbage disposal? I have tried vinagar and baking soda and it did not get the rust off.
    I don’t understand why the companies that make the garbage diposal rust proof.

    Reply
  2. Sammy says:

    I have tried a dozen cleaners, for cleaning at work (common areas, offices and make apts move in ready). I have yet to find a solution (or perhaps the wrong formula or ratio) to clean/wipe down anything painted, or wood surfaces. Most of the time I use Murphy’s oil cleaning orange 2n1 stuff. But otherwise everything takes the paint or peels it. As well as the chrome I clean usually has a streak or foggy finish. Any solutions or tips?

    Reply
  4. K. Martin says:

    One of my bathrooms has natural slate tile. The sealant has worn off of most of it, as I didn’t know I was supposed to seal it periodically. Anyway, due to several mishaps of my commode leaking at the bottom from a worn-out ring, the slate floor surrounding it has a buildup of what looks to me like a mineral deposit from the water overflow. Can you tell me how to clean this mineral deposit buildup? I feel I need to do this first thing before I can proceed with putting new sealant on the floor and finally, replacing the commode ring.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Emma, you can use the search function at EverydayCheapskate.com (upper right) and type in a keyword like “shower” or “shower cleaner” … it will come up along with other similar posts. Posts are all archived there. By the way it’s called Daily Shower Cleaner. I want to encourage you and your fellow readers to use that search funciton. I get hundreds of email message every day asking me to send things people have read in posts. Sadly, it is not feasible to respond or I wouldn’t get anything else done.

      Reply
  6. Madi says:

    Can I tell you that i use the dawn/vinegar bathroom cleaner as a spot remover?? Got some motor oil on a pair of jeans. The oil did not come out. Before putting it in the dryer, I used the bathroom cleaner, worked it in well & rewashed. Came out great!! Also works on ground-in dirt!! I love this stuff!!

    Reply
  8. Kaite French says:

    Can’t live without your Laundry soap or the bathroom cleaner. Not just cheaper, but better in my opinion. Just got granite countertops after Hurricane Florence Flood rehab. I can’t wait to try out the granite cleaning formula.

    Reply
  9. Rudy U. says:

    For the heavy duty bathroom cleaner, you say that it is a ‘ratio is 50/50 rubbing alcohol to white vinegar’. The more appropriate way to describe this is a ratio of 1:1 rubbing alcohol to white vinegar or it is 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% white vinegar. However, both of these do lead to a further confusion since isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) can be commonly bought in strengths of 50%, 70%, and 90%. True ‘rubbing alcohol’ is the 70% isopropyl alcohol. Is this correct for your formula?

    Reply
  10. Belted cow lady says:

    Hello, I use the shower cleaner daily and my shower looks new!! I’ve used this formula for years.
    I do however recall, that you posted a everyday spray onshower cleaner with a slightly different formulation.
    Could you repost that, Please!
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      You are partially right, WEB. Vinegar can penetrate into the spaces for air if used continuously over a long period of time. If, however, you have sealed your grout on a regular basis—a regular maintenance task for all tile grout—the vinegar won’t be an issue. It’s a given that just like granite, grout must be resealed at least annually.

      Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Yes, all safe for septic systems. In fact, cleaning with vinegar can save your septic system. In fact you should consider replacing dangerous chemical cleaners around your house with non-toxic alternatives, such as baking soda, salt, isopropyl alcohol,vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide solutions. These are environmentally safe and are beneficial to your septic system.

      Reply
      • Donna says:

        Thank you for the quick reply. I have been a fan for many years, and tell everybody to check out Everyday Cheapskate!

    • Mary Hunt says:

      Is the marble sealed? It should be and should be re-sealed annually, the same as granite. Marble is soft and will stain easily so it’s important to keep it sealed. No vinegar on marble! Use the granite cleaner above and you’ll be golden.

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Yes. Yes, all safe for septic systems. In fact, cleaning with vinegar can save your septic system. As a septic system owner, I’m sure you know that phosphate is the enemy of your system. According to its manufacturer and also the International Bird Rescue Research Center that uses blue Dawn to degrease and rescue wildlife, Dawn is harmless, biodegradable, and contains no phosphates.

    • Mary Hunt says:

      Yes, perfect on porcelain or ceramic tile! But NOT natural stone or any surface that has been “sealed.” The vinegar will break down the sealant.

      Reply
  15. Marti Buurkarl says:

    Can totally vouch for the tub and shower cleaner! I thought I was going to have to use a lime and scale cleaner on some neglected shower doors. But this worked in one overnight, they sparkle!

    Reply

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