Sticky fingerprints, splattered stovetops, and mystery drips on cabinet fronts don’t need a specialty bottle for every room. This simple all-purpose liquid cleanser mixes right in the bottle and handles everyday wipe-down jobs without turning your cleaning caddy into a chemistry set (your under-sink cabinet can relax now).
Making your own costs less than buying many ready-made multi-surface sprays. Based on current big-box pricing for borax, washing soda, white vinegar, and a vegetable-based liquid soap, this 2-cup batch works out to roughly 15 to 25 cents per bottle, while store-bought multi-surface cleaners commonly run several dollars each. You also control the acid choice by using either white vinegar or lemon juice, and you’re not stuck with added fragrance if you’d rather skip it.
You only need 5 materials for this cleanser: borax, white vinegar or lemon juice, washing soda, vegetable-based detergent, and very hot water. The mixture goes straight into a plastic spray bottle, so the only real equipment needed is the bottle itself and measuring spoons.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools & Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Cost Breakdown
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser
- 📌 Love this All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser
Materials You’ll Need
- 2 teaspoon borax
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon washing soda
- 1/2 teaspoon vegetable-based detergent
- 2 cups very hot water
Tools & Equipment
- Plastic spray bottle
- Measuring spoons
How to Make All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser
- Measure the borax, white vinegar or lemon juice, washing soda, vegetable-based detergent, and very hot water into a plastic spray bottle.
- Shake gently to mix.
If you prefer a ready-to-spray option with a slightly different formula, take a look at this All-Purpose Spray Cleaner as well.
Customization Ideas
- Use white vinegar when that’s what you already keep on hand for household cleaning.
- Use lemon juice if you want the citrus option listed in the formula.
- Keep one bottle in the kitchen for quick wipe-downs and another in the bathroom so you’re not hauling a single bottle room to room.
How to Use It
Spray the cleanser onto the surface you want to clean, then wipe it away with a clean cloth or sponge. It’s handy for general household messes when you want one simple bottle instead of juggling several. For tougher scrubbing jobs, you might also like this Scouring Cleanser.
Safety Information
Use a labeled plastic bottle and keep it out of reach of children and pets. Don’t mix this cleanser with bleach or ammonia-based cleaners. The CDC also advises against mixing household cleaners and recommends good ventilation while you clean, which is a smart habit anytime you’re working with spray products: Mold Clean Up Guidelines and Recommendations.
If you’re switching from another cleaner, rinse the bottle well before making a batch so you don’t accidentally combine products.
Storage
Store the cleanser in its plastic spray bottle with the nozzle closed when not in use. Keep it in a cool spot away from direct heat, and give it a gentle shake before each use if the mixture sits for a while.
Cost Breakdown
This batch uses small amounts of inexpensive household staples, so the per-bottle cost stays low. Using current retail pricing for borax, washing soda, white vinegar, and vegetable-based soap, the estimated consumable cost lands at about $0.20 per batch, depending on which acid you use and what brand of soap you buy.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- 20 Mule Team Borax, 65 oz
- Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, 55 oz
- Distilled White Vinegar, 1 gallon
- Vegetable-based liquid soap
- Plastic spray bottle
Frequently Asked Questions about All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser
Yes. The formula gives you that choice, so you can use either white vinegar or lemon juice in the same amount listed.
Yes, that’s the bottle type the formula specifies. It also makes sense for a cleaner you’ll shake and use around the house without worrying about a glass bottle taking a dive off the counter.
Very hot water helps the borax and washing soda dissolve more easily so the cleanser mixes more evenly in the bottle.
You can, as long as your bottle has enough room to hold the larger amount and still lets you shake the mixture gently without overflow.
Yes. A gentle shake is a good idea if the cleanser has been sitting, since simple homemade mixtures can settle over time.
No. Don’t mix this cleanser with bleach. Since the formula includes vinegar or lemon juice, combining it with bleach is a bad idea and not worth the gamble.
Yes, but rinse the bottle thoroughly first. You don’t want leftover cleaner in the sprayer reacting with the new batch.
Use a liquid detergent or soap that’s clearly labeled vegetable-based by the manufacturer. Since brands vary, the label is your best guide here.
No. This is presented as an all-purpose liquid cleanser for general cleaning. Cleaning and disinfecting are not automatically the same thing, so don’t assume this homemade mix works as a registered disinfectant.
📌 Love this All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser? Pin it!
Did you try this project? Tell us whether you used vinegar or lemon juice, and where this cleaner earned a permanent spot in your routine.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser
All-Purpose Liquid Cleanser
Equipment
Materials
- 2 teaspoon borax
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon washing soda
- ½ teaspoon vegetable-based detergent
- 2 cups very hot water
Instructions
- Measure the borax, white vinegar or lemon juice, washing soda, vegetable-based detergent, and very hot water into a plastic spray bottle.
- Shake gently to mix.
- Estimated cost reflects consumable materials only and will vary by brand and store.
- Do not mix this cleanser with bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.
- Rinse reused spray bottles thoroughly before filling.
- Store in a labeled plastic spray bottle out of reach of children and pets.
how long can this be kept…or does it need to be made fresh each time?
what is a vegetable based detergent?
i just tried this and love it!!!! take less than 5 mins to make and works great, I have a really old poodle that has had back surgery and dribbles on the kitchen floor, and this cleanser cleaned the mess wonderful without and greasy or sticky residue that other cleaners do. and it cost almost nothing….
:stars:
update: i just tried this cleaner on my glass table top and it works great no nasty smell, no streaks, no cloudy residue.. this is turning out to be one of my favorites…..:celebrate1: