This simple homemade cleaner, while usually exclusively advertised as an oven cleaner, is also my go-to for sinks, showers, tile and my entire kitchen! It’s gentle, yet abrasive for anything stuck to showers or countertops (even soap scum and red sauce!).

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Prep time: 5 minutes

Makes a full, standard sized spray bottle’s worth

• 1/4 cup dish soap
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1-1/4 cup water

Optional:

• Orange peels, cinnamon sticks, or mint leaves for a less harsh vinegar scent

• Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake gently to mix. There will be some foaming. Spray on hard surfaces only. Let sit for a few minutes for stuck on stuff, then using a sponge or rag wipe clean for a nice smooth, clean surface.

• If you want to add orange peels, cinnamon sticks, mint leaves, or another scent of your choice, you may need to leave it in the bottle for several days/weeks to let the scent come through. Vinegar is a strong smell and hard to mask entirely, but adding other things can help lessen the smell.

I use this on all kinds of hard surfaces and I use it often. I’m probably mixing up a new bottle once a month because I love how clean and streak free it leaves everything. It is unmatched by anything I’ve ever bought at a store.

I originally tried this because I was looking for something tough that would clean my showers, stove/oven, and countertops without streaking or having to scrub a lot, and that didn’t have a harsh smell. None of the store bought stuff was doing it for me or, if it did work, it was such a toxic smell of chemicals I couldn’t even breathe when using it. I certainly don’t want my four-year-old breathing it in either (let alone myself).

I’m so glad I gave it a try because it’s so easy to make with simple, store bought ingredients, and I can mix it up at home anytime I’m low. And now I’m sharing it with you so you can be as obsessed as I am and hopefully to cut your cleaning time down! We’ve got better things to do than scrub, y’all.

Until next time,