DIY All-Purpose Citrus Kitchen Cleaner
All-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner
Did you know there is a difference between your kitchen cleaner and kitchen disinfectant? Some cleaners are meant to clean (lift grease) and some are meant to disinfect (kill germs), rarely does your average kitchen cleaner do both. Not only that, but if you are spraying your counters then wiping them off, you are doing it all wrong. You will not find a residential kitchen cleaner that disinfects on contact. Most require you to spray and let sit 5-10 minutes. Have you ever done that? Who has the time, right? I think we have been given a false sense of security by the commercial industry and needlessly exposing ourselves and our families to a plethora of deadly chemicals.
I have taken years to develop these recipes into something that works best for my family, and every recipe I share have met all 3 G’s:
The 3 G’s
- Good for You– In order to meet my first G, a cleaner is required to, on no account, be a threat to human safety when used properly.
- Good for the Environment- To meet my second G’s requirements, a cleaner has to: pose no threat to the environment, be biodegradable, have a natural origin and to have been produced or harvested sustainably.
- Good for your wallet-To meet my third G, it has to be cost effective. If you made your own cleaning products you will see a 90% savings—even more!
Herbal Citrus Kitchen Cleaner
(All-purpose kitchen cleaner)
- Peel the outer layer of organic: Orange, Lime, Lemon, or Grapefruit and fill any size glass jar 3/4 way full with peels. If you do not have organic, scrub your citrus with a brush and vinegar, then rinse thoroughly.
- Add a sprig of Rosemary (or more if you like)
- Pour distilled white vinegar over the peels until almost full and secure with plastic cap
- Set in a sunny area for two weeks shaking daily
- Drain Vinegar off and pour into squirt bottle ¾ way full (reserve peels for another recipe and compost herbs)
- Add 10 Drops of citrus essential oil
- Add 2 drops of Tea Tree Oil
- Fill remainder of squirt bottle with distilled water, store extra cleaner in a sealed container for refills. *
- Optional: add 1 tsp of Borax for extra cleaning power
This cleaner can be used to: cut grease, sanitize, clean windows, kill mold, bathroom, kitchen, floor, etc.
** Vinegar is not recommended for granite or marble, use peroxide for these surfaces
Baby Step: This cleaner will replace your kitchen cleaner spray (such as Pine-sol, Clorox, Lysol, 409, and so on). The best option for you, your home, and the environment (the 3 G’s) is to make your own with our recipe. If you are unable to make it or don’t have the time, buy an Organic biodegradable kitchen cleaner such as Green Shield Organic Kitchen Cleaner
The 3rd G- Good for Your Wallet
This is what sold my husband and will sell you too, (especially if you’re frugal like me), the price comparison.
This will not be an exact price comparison to what you buy or use. This price list is based on the prices at the store I shop at and I buy my ingredients in bulk for making cleaning supplies. While the cost may not be penny for penny, I promise you that you will save a fortune by making your own.
Multi-Purpose Cleaner (kitchen/floor) Price Compare
Pine-Sol $4.99
3-G $0.25 for 16oz
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