Some days, my house smells like a questionable science experiment.
You know the vibe—pets zooming, kids leaving behind a Hansel-and-Gretel-level crumb trail, and some mystery scent lurking in the air.
Old juice box? Wet dog? A rogue sock that met an unfortunate fate?
Honestly, no idea, but it’s not a good smell……
I like a nice smelling home, I want a nice smelling home, but it’s hard when you have kids who play lots & lots of sports………..
I wanted my house to smell like fresh lavender, but I just didn’t have time to spend hours creating the aroma I want, or figuring out the actual aroma I liked. I barely have time to workout these days, so I needed something quick, easy, and actually effective.
A friend of mine told me about how she makes her own cleaning solutions, and how much cheaper they are than store bought cleaning solutions, so I thought I would give them a go!
I have to tell you I was completely shocked by how good my house now smells! The best part is that it’s all from stuff I found in my own kitchen.
No sketchy chemicals. No stress. Just that fresh, clean, spa-like dream smell.
So, now I am going to share with you the best DIY cleaning solutions you can try at home!
Homemade Cleaning Solutions with Vinegar
If something smells off in your house, and you need a quick fix—but you don’t want to use any those overpowering chemical cleaners. I have the answer for you!
Enter vinegar: the MVP of natural cleaning.
It’s cheap, non-toxic, and when mixed the right way, it leaves your home smelling fresh without that eye-watering “just scrubbed with chemicals” scent.
The best part? These DIY vinegar-based cleaners are ridiculously easy to make and actually get the job done—because who has time to scrub for hours?
NO….BO….DY!!!
Here are my go-to homemade cleaning solutions that keep my house fresh and clean without the harsh stuff.
1. Citrus-Infused Vinegar Spray
How to Make It:
- Fill a jar with lemon, orange, or lime slices (peels included).
- Pour white vinegar over the peels until they’re submerged.
- Let it sit for 48 hours.
- Then strain the liquid into a spray bottle and dilute with equal parts water.
This spray is a kitchen’s best friend. Counters, sinks, stovetops—you name it. It tackles those stubborn platters and sticky juice spills with ease. Plus, the citrus acts as a natural bug repellent, keeping those pesky ants at bay. And the scent? Think freshly peeled oranges, instead of overpowering chemicals.
2. Lavender Vinegar Cleaner
How to Make It:
- Add 1 cup of white vinegar to a spray bottle.
- Mix in 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil.
- Add 1 cup of water and shake well.
This lavender spray is perfect for bathrooms that need a refresh. It effortlessly wipes away toothpaste globs and water splashes, leaving mirrors streak-free. And the lavender aroma gives you instant spa vibes, Lavender is one of my favorite smells, because it makes your whole house smell good.
3. Vanilla Bean Vinegar Spray
How to Make It:
- Split a vanilla bean pod and add it to 2 cups of white vinegar.
- Let it infuse for 48 hours.
- Dilute with water (1:1 ratio) in a spray bottle.
This one’s a game-changer for furniture and baseboards. Whether it’s wiping down tables after a toddler’s snack time or cleaning up after a pet’s muddy adventure, this spray handles it all. Plus, your home will have that warm, inviting vanilla scent, reminiscent of freshly baked cookies.
4. Mint and Vinegar All-Purpose Spray
How to Make It:
- Fill a jar with fresh mint leaves.
- Cover with white vinegar.
- Steep for 48 hours and dilute with equal parts water.
Ideal for refreshing kitchens after cooking aromatic dishes. Use it on counters, stovetops, and even fridge handles. It also works wonders on appliances like microwaves and toasters. The lingering minty freshness gives your kitchen a clean fresh smell!
5. Rosemary and Lemon Vinegar Cleaner
How to Make It:
- Add fresh rosemary sprigs and lemon peels to a jar.
- Cover with vinegar and steep for 48 hours.
- Strain and dilute with water in a spray bottle.
This aromatic blend is perfect for disinfecting cutting boards, wiping down dining tables, and freshening up garbage bins. The combination of rosemary and lemon not only cleans but also leaves a refreshing scent that’s both invigorating and calming.
6. Eucalyptus Vinegar Disinfectant
How to Make It:
- Combine 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle
- Add 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
- Shake well before each use.
This powerful disinfectant is excellent for high-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. Did you know eucalyptus oils have natural antibacterial properties, ensuring a clean and germ-free environment.
7. Thyme and Lemon Vinegar Spray
How to Make It:
- Add fresh thyme and lemon peels to a jar.
- Cover with white vinegar and let sit for 48 hours.
- Strain and dilute with equal parts water.
By now, you can probably see that making these homemade cleaning solutions is much the same for each individual spray, they really are super easy to make! I swear by this one for cutting boards—especially after chopping onions. It wipes out that lingering food funk in no time.
But why stop there? Counters, stovetop, fridge shelves—this stuff is like a total kitchen refresh.
The thyme and lemon combo? It makes your kitchen smell like you’re prepping for a fancy brunch… even if you’re just reheating last night’s pizza. It also works great to clean up microwaves.
8. Orange and Clove Vinegar Cleaner
- Fill a spray bottle with orange peels and a few whole cloves.
- Pour white vinegar over the top until fully submerged.
- Let it steep for 48 hours, then strain and dilute with water.
This spray is basically fall in a bottle.
I love using it on my floors, because they smell so good after, it leaves the whole room smelling warm and cozy.
Pantry shelves? Yep. Crumbs and mystery spills show up out of nowhere, but this makes everything smell like I have my life together.
I also like to use it in my trash cans, because it leaves them smelling good and not how they normall smell!
9. Cinnamon Stick Vinegar Spray
How to Make It:
- Add 3-4 cinnamon sticks to a jar.
- Pour in 2 cups white vinegar.
- Let steep for 48 hours.
- Strain and dilute with water in a spray bottle.
This smell is so perfect for the holidays. I love that my house smells like Christmas, even when it’s not Christmas!
Give your house a quick clean before guests come and they will arrive to a house that smells so good, they will tell their friends and family how good your house smelled!
I like to give everywhere a good spray, so the smell takes over the whole house. In fact your guests won’t even know you have kids when they get a whiff of this spray!
Homemade Cleaning Solutions with Bleach
Mold creeping into the corners, weird stains on the sink, and that mystery smell that just won’t quit?
Yep, it’s time to bring out the bleach, bleach is essential when you need a good deep clean!
When it comes to using bleach, you think of a horrible hospital type smell that nobody wants to have in their house!
That’s not the case here, you don’t need to gas out your whole house to get things sparkling. Homemade bleach cleaners get the job done without any eye-watering fumes.
10. Lemon Fresh Bleach Cleaner
How to Make It:
- 1 gallon water
- 1 tablespoon bleach
- Juice of 1 lemon (or 10 drops lemon essential oil)
This blend is a kitchen MVP—perfect for sinks, cutting boards, and countertops, especially after handling raw meat.
It deep cleans like a champ while leaving behind a fresh lemony scent instead of that overpowering bleach smell.
Bonus? It wipes out sticky juice spills and any other mystery gunk the kids magically create overnight.
11. Lavender Spa Bleach Spray
How to Make It:
- 2 cups water in a spray bottle
- 1 tablespoon bleach
- 10 drops lavender essential oil and shake.
Bathroom counters, shower tiles, and yep—even that dreaded toilet zone.
This mix kicks germs to the curb while leaving behind a soothing lavender scent—more “spa day” and less “just scrubbed every inch of my bathroom.”
It’s a game-changer for tackling toothpaste splatters and giving your bathroom a quick refresh when needed!
12. Minty Clean Bleach Spray
How to Make It:
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon bleach
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
This spray is a lifesaver for kitchen appliances—fridge, microwave, and those questionable stove knobs.
It powers through grease and grime while leaving your kitchen smelling fresh—like it just had a minty-fresh reset.
Also a must for trash cans, because let’s be real, those get funky fast.
13. Eucalyptus Bleach Bathroom Spray
How to Make It:
- 3 cups water
- 2 tablespoons bleach
- 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Mix in a spray bottle and shake well before using.
This spray is perfect for handles, sinks, tubs, and yep—the entire toilet zone.
This one’s for those deep-clean days when you need a total refresh, but you’d rather your bathroom smell like a eucalyptus spa, not an industrial cleaning closet.
Spray, wipe, and boom—instant luxury retreat vibes… even if there are rubber ducks everywhere.
14. Orange & Clove Bleach Surface Cleaner
How to Make It:
- 4 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon bleach
- Peel of 1 orange
- 5 drops clove essential oil
Let the orange peel steep in warm water for 10 minutes, then mix everything together in a spray bottle.
Tables, chairs, highchairs—basically anything your kids turn into a sticky mess.
It wipes out germs while leaving behind those warm, cozy fall vibes.
I love using it after meals when my table looks like a mini food fight happened, but I want my space smelling fresh and spicy—not like a science lab.
15. Cinnamon Vanilla Bleach Cleaner
How to Make It:
- 1 quart water in a spray bottle.
- 1 tablespoon bleach
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 5 drops cinnamon essential oil and mix well.
This is another wonderful cleaner for the holidays, it’s perfect for tackling tables, chairs, and shelves before the holiday chaos kicks in.
It makes your house smell so good, your guests will think you’ve been cooking all day long!
16. Rosemary Lemon Bleach Mop Solution
How to Make It:
- 1 gallon warm water
- 2 tablespoons bleach
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Juice of 1 lemon
Let the rosemary and lemon steep in warm water for a few minutes, then add the bleach.
This works wonders on sticky kitchen floors.
It also helps to get rid of muddy paw prints, juice spills, and whatever your toddler dropped under the table.
Give it a try and see how good your house smells.
Stay Safe When Making Homemade Cleaning Solutions
Mixing up your own fresh-smelling cleaning sprays is fun, but let’s be real—some cleaning mistakes can turn real messy (or even dangerous) fast.
The wrong combo—like bleach and vinegar—can create toxic fumes that’ll have you flinging open windows and evacuating the house. So, let’s keep things safe and simple with these easy-to-follow tips!
1. Start Simple – No Need to Overcomplicate It
I have a tendency to go all in when I start something new.
So, you can imagine what happened when I first got into DIY cleaning solutions.
I may have gone a little cuckoo, think 20 different oils, lots of herbs.
My house…..did…..not….smell….good, and I became overwhelmed super fast!
It’s important when you’re starting something new that you take it slowly and start off simply.
All you really need is vinegar, baking soda, bleach, and a few good essential oils.
That’s it. These powerhouse ingredients handle pretty much every mess life throws at you. Plus, when you keep it small, you might actually use what you have instead of becoming instantly overwhelmed..……like I did!
2. Essential Oils Are Your BFF
A few drops of essential oil can completely level up your cleaning game.
- Lemon = Instantly freshens and brightens any space.
- Lavender = Turns your bathroom into a mini spa (my personal favorite).
- Peppermint = Perfect for when your kitchen feels chaotic and needs a refresh. (I did not think I would like this one, but it has quickly become a favorite smell of mine)
Essential oils make cleaning feel a little more fun and a lot less like a chore.
3. Always Dilute Bleach and Vinegar Properly
Unfortunately I think most of us have done this!
Have you ever poured straight bleach on something and instantly regretted it—same.
That stuff is potent, and undiluted vinegar isn’t much better if you skip the water.
Here’s the safe way to use them:
- Bleach – 1 tablespoon per quart of water is all you need for disinfecting.
- Vinegar – A simple 50/50 mix with water works like a charm.
Go any stronger, and you’ll be scrubbing while gasping for air.
Trust me—less is more, and your lungs will thank you.
4. Never Mix Bleach & Vinegar—NEVER!
Mixing bleach and vinegar produces toxic gas, which is extremely dangerous.
It may seem like combining two powerful cleaners would enhance effectiveness, but in reality, it creates harmful fumes that can cause serious respiratory issues.
To stay safe, always keep them separate—use vinegar for everyday cleaning and bleach for deep disinfecting when necessary. They should never be mixed under any circumstances.
5. Always Label the Bottles
I love using labels, plus I also feel that labels are an absolute necessity when it comes to- well anything.
For whatever reason I always seem to think that my memory will never fail me, and that I will remember what I put in a bottle even without a label – I never do!
Take the time to write up a label and stick it on the bottle so you know what kind of cleaning supply it is!
This will save you a lot of headaches, trying to figure out what exactly is in each bottle you made!
The Best Homemade Cleaning Solutions For Your House
If you are looking for the best homemade cleaning solutions for your house, I hope you check these out and see which ones you like the most. Give these a try and see how good your house smells.
For more cleaning and organizing tips, follow me on Pinterest.
Other Cleaning Articles You May Enjoy!
- Spring cleaning hacks to help spruce up your home
- Beautiful kitchen decor counter ideas you’ll love
- 10 High traffic areas that make your home look messy!
- How to maintain order at home
- 10 Benefits of having a clean home that will shock you!
- Declutter your home checklist
Leave a Reply