Here are some tips on how to make your own homemade all-purpose cleaner for your vacation rental cleaning needs. Homemade cleaning solutions are much cheaper than premade store-bought options. They are super easy to make and much safer for your guests, especially the ones with babies and kids. As an added bonus they are more environmentally friendly than a lot of the options out there.
Vinegar-free
After researching many different recipes online, I created a formula that is all-purpose and works for many needs. This way you won’t have to make multiple cleaners for different purposes. A lot of people will use vinegar in a lot of homemade cleaners; however, I am not a fan of the smell of vinegar. I really like this recipe because it does not use vinegar and smells very nice.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
One of the main ingredients is Grapefruit seed extract which is a wonderful antiseptic and anti-microbial product. I have used it in the past for health purposes like cleaning a wound or taken internally to combat an infection. When you purchase the bottle, it has so much in it that it’s nice to find other uses for it.
Essential Oils
Another item in this recipe is essential oils that really open up creativity. You can choose from many different scents like peppermint, lavender, and orange. Some essential oils that are also really great for upping the disinfecting power are tea tree oil, thyme, eucalyptus, and lemon. I also give the option of using just plain castile soap instead of essential oil.
For me, I find that it works better to use in a small enclosed space like a small bathroom. If I am using a spray bottle with essential oils in it, it can be too strong for my nose. Therefore, in smaller rooms, I use this blend with castile soap and not the essential oils. Some nice scents of castile soap are peppermint, lavender, rose, and almond.
Preparing the Solution
Get a Mason jar or measuring cup to do your mixing. I use a quart mason jar or quart measuring cup so that I have plenty of space to add all my ingredients.
List of Ingredients:
- 2 cups (16oz.) water
- 1.5 tablespoons Castile soap and/or 5-15 drops essential oils
- 20 drops GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract)
Take your mason jar or measuring cup and fill it with 16 oz (2 cups) of water. Put 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract liquid and then 5 to 15 drops essential oil of your choice (or 1.5 tablespoons castile soap). You can add both the essential oil drops and castile soap for extra cleaning power.
Next, mix your solution with a fork or whisk. If it is in the mason jar you can put the lid back on and shake it and use the jar for storage. If it is in the measuring cup you can pour it into a spray bottle. Remember to label and date your mason jar or spray bottle.
Storing Your Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
If you are using a plastic spray bottle to store it, make sure not to make too much and store it too long in the plastic. It is healthier to store in glass for longer periods of time. Over time some properties in the plastic will leach into the cleaner, which is not what we want!
You could even get creative and save some small glass bottles and attach a bottle sprayer to the top. I found that small mineral water bottles work nicely for this. They also make lovely homemade gifts if you want to make a big batch and gift some out for birthdays or Christmas. Happy cleaning!
