I’ve Used This House Cleaner’s DIY Cleaning Spray For Years, And It’s So Effective

TL;DR

Before you orderOffer from Amazon

Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
• Member-only deals all year

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

Apartment Therapy contributor Stephanie Ganz has republished a professional house cleaner’s simple DIY spray recipe: equal parts distilled water and white vinegar, with optional scent additions. The article says it can be used on many household surfaces but warns against wood and natural stone, which vinegar may damage.

Apartment Therapy contributor Stephanie Ganz has shared a professional house cleaner’s DIY spray recipe: equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. Ganz says she has used the mixture for years, while the article warns that vinegar may damage wood and natural stone.

Ganz writes that she began searching for cleaning products that would work without aggravating eczema or sensitivities to artificial fragrances and dyes in her household. Some store-bought products were, in her account, effective but expensive, while others did not meet her needs. She says a professional house cleaner shared the recipe with her a few years ago, and she has not returned to store-bought all-purpose cleaner.

The recipe calls for filling a clean spray bottle with equal amounts of distilled water and distilled white vinegar, then gently shaking the mixture. Ganz says boiled water can be used if distilled water is unavailable. The article also suggests adding about 10 drops of essential oil or other scent additions, but presents these as optional rather than necessary ingredients.

For use, the report recommends spraying the mixture and wiping with a microfiber cloth. It lists windows, appliances and faucets among possible applications and mentions minor carpet stains. However, the article explicitly cautions against using the spray on surfaces that may be etched or eroded by vinegar’s acidity, including wood and natural stone. It says an unscented water-and-vinegar mix can last indefinitely, while batches with added natural ingredients should be discarded after about a month.

A Low-Cost Recipe With Surface Limits

The story offers readers a simple alternative to buying a separate bottled all-purpose cleaner, particularly for people who want to control the ingredients or avoid added fragrance and dyes. Reusing a spray bottle may also reduce the number of single-use cleaner bottles a household discards, though the report provides no data measuring cost savings or environmental effects.

The recipe is not suitable for every material. Vinegar is acidic, and the source warns it can damage some surfaces. Readers should check care instructions for the item they intend to clean and test an inconspicuous area when appropriate. The article does not establish that the mixture is a disinfectant or claim that it kills specific germs, so it should not be treated as a substitute for a product labeled for disinfection.

Why Ganz Sought a Homemade Cleaner

Ganz’s report is a personal account rather than a product test or scientific study. She explains that sensitivities to artificial fragrances and dyes in her family shaped her search for a cleaning solution. The professional cleaner’s recipe appealed to her because it uses two common ingredients and can be mixed in a reusable bottle.

The source also identifies other reasons people might choose to make a cleaner at home: knowing what goes into it, limiting packaging and reducing spending. Those are motivations described in the article, not verified findings about how much money or plastic any household will save. The report does not compare the spray’s performance with commercial cleaners under controlled conditions.

“I haven’t gone back to the store-bought version since then.”

— Stephanie Ganz, Apartment Therapy contributor

Performance and Disinfection Remain Unverified

The source does not provide laboratory testing, independent comparisons or evidence that the mixture disinfects surfaces. It also does not specify which wood finishes, stone types or other materials can tolerate the spray, beyond warning readers about wood and natural stone generally. The extent to which the recipe may suit an individual’s skin or fragrance sensitivities is also not tested in the report.

Ganz’s account establishes that she has used the mixture and found it useful in her household; it does not establish that every reader will get the same results. The article gives no measured price comparison, plastic reduction estimate or data about the cleaner’s effect on eczema.

Check Surfaces Before Mixing a Batch

Readers considering the recipe should first identify the surfaces they plan to clean and follow their manufacturers’ care instructions. Avoid using the spray on wood and natural stone, as the source advises. Make a small batch in a clean bottle, label it clearly and keep it away from children and pets. If adding scent ingredients, the report recommends discarding the mixture after about a month; it gives no tested storage period for specific additions.

The supplied article does not announce a follow-up test or new product launch. Its practical next step is household use with attention to surface compatibility, rather than assuming the mixture is safe or effective for every cleaning task.

Key Questions

What is in the DIY cleaning spray?

The recipe uses equal parts distilled water and distilled white vinegar. The report says boiled water can be used if distilled water is not available. About 10 drops of essential oil or another scent addition are optional.

Which surfaces should not be cleaned with it?

The article warns against using the acidic mixture on wood and natural stone, where it may etch or erode the surface. Check manufacturer care guidance before applying it elsewhere.

Does the article say the spray disinfects?

No. The report describes a homemade cleaner but does not provide evidence that it disinfects or kills particular germs. Do not treat it as a replacement for a product labeled for disinfection.

How long can the mixture be stored?

The article says a water-and-vinegar mixture without added ingredients will last indefinitely. For a scented batch with natural additions, it advises discarding it after about one month.

Source: rss