Grimy counters, dingy sink edges, and mystery splatters don’t need a pricey specialty spray. This simple all purpose bleach cleaner mixes in minutes and handles quick wipe-down jobs on colorfast surfaces without turning your cleaning routine into a science project. It’s plain, practical, and refreshingly hard to overthink (a rare household miracle).
A comparable bottle of store-brand bleach at Walmart currently runs about $4.54 for 81 fluid ounces, which works out to roughly 17 cents worth of bleach for this batch, plus water you already have on hand.
That keeps the per-batch cost far below most ready-made bleach cleaners, and you can control the strength by mixing only what you need and choosing whether to use a bucket and cloth or a labeled spray bottle.
You only need 2 materials for this cleaner: liquid chlorine bleach and cold water. The directions make 1 quart, and the original method lets you either mix it in a bucket for immediate use or pour it into a spray bottle, so keep a bucket or clearly labeled spray bottle ready along with a clean washcloth or rag.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools/Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make All Purpose Bleach Cleaner
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Estimated Cost
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about All Purpose Bleach Cleaner
- 📌 Love this All Purpose Bleach Cleaner? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: All Purpose Bleach Cleaner
Materials You’ll Need
- 3 tablespoons liquid chlorine bleach
- 1 quart cold water
Tools/Equipment
- Bucket
- Clean washcloth or rag
- Spray bottle, optional
- Label for bottle
How to Make All Purpose Bleach Cleaner
- Pour the cold water into a bucket.
- Add the liquid chlorine bleach and combine.
- Dip a clean washcloth or rag into the cleaner and wipe it onto a colorfast surface, or pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
- If you use a spray bottle, be sure to label the bottle clearly.
How to Use It
- Apply the cleaner to the colorfast surface with the damp cloth or by spraying it on.
- Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Rinse the surface off.
This works best when you keep the job simple and use it for quick wipe-down cleaning on suitable colorfast surfaces. If you need other homemade cleaner ideas for different rooms or finishes, take a look at All Purpose Cleaner #1 or The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Own Granite Cleaner.
Customization Ideas
- For quick daily cleaning: Mix the batch in a bucket and use it right away with a rag or washcloth.
- For grab-and-go cleaning: Pour it into a spray bottle so it’s easier to apply to bathroom or kitchen surfaces.
- For different cleaning jobs: Keep one labeled bottle for household surfaces and use a separate homemade cleaner for specialty materials like stone, wood, or painted finishes.
Safety Information
Use this cleaner only on colorfast surfaces, and always rinse after the 2 to 3 minute contact time. Keep the bottle labeled, avoid getting the cleaner on fabrics or finishes that can discolor, and never mix bleach with other cleaners. For hard, nonporous surface disinfection and general bleach handling guidance, check the EPA’s bleach handling and label guidance.
Storage
If you mix this in a bucket, use it the same day for the simplest routine. If you pour it into a spray bottle, keep it clearly labeled and stored out of reach of children and pets.
Estimated Cost
This batch uses 3 tablespoons, or about 1.5 fluid ounces, of bleach. Using Walmart’s current price of $4.54 for an 81-fluid-ounce bottle of Great Value bleach, the bleach in one quart batch costs about $0.08. Water adds very little, so a reasonable estimated total is about $0.08 per quart, not counting any reusable tools or bottle you already own.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Liquid chlorine bleach at Walmart
- Liquid chlorine bleach on Amazon
- Spray bottles at Walmart
- Spray bottles on Amazon
- Make Your Own Laundry Detergents, Stain Removers, Pre-Wash Sprays and More!
Frequently Asked Questions about All Purpose Bleach Cleaner
Yes, you can pour it into a spray bottle, and the original directions specifically say to label the bottle. If you only need it for one cleaning session, mixing it in a bucket works just as well.
This formula uses 1 quart of cold water, so stick with that measurement and method if you want to follow it exactly. There’s no good reason to complicate a two-ingredient cleaner that already does the job.
Use it on colorfast surfaces. If a surface can fade, spot, lighten, or lose its finish, skip this cleaner and choose something better suited to that material.
Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse it off. That short wait gives the cleaner time to work without leaving it sitting around longer than the directions call for.
Absolutely. The original method says to dip a clean washcloth or rag into the cleaner and wipe it onto the surface, so you don’t need a spray bottle unless you prefer one.
No. Keep this formula exactly as written and do not mix bleach with other cleaning products. Simple is safer here, and it also saves you from creating a much bigger problem than the mess on the counter.
It makes 1 quart. That’s enough for a small batch you can use for a round of household cleaning without committing to a giant container.
No special cloth is listed. A clean washcloth or rag works for applying the cleaner from the bucket method.
Because this is a bleach cleaner, and you never want anyone guessing what’s in an unmarked spray bottle. A clear label helps prevent accidental misuse and keeps your cleaning supplies organized.
📌 Love this All Purpose Bleach Cleaner? Pin it!
Did you try this cleaner? Tell us whether you used the bucket method or the spray bottle, and what surface you tackled first.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: All Purpose Bleach Cleaner
All Purpose Bleach Cleaner
Equipment
Materials
- 3 tablespoons liquid chlorine bleach
- 1 quart cold water
Instructions
- Combine the cold water and liquid chlorine bleach in a bucket.
- Dip a clean washcloth or rag in the cleaner and wipe it onto a colorfast surface, or pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
- Label the spray bottle clearly.
- Let the cleaner sit on the surface for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Rinse the surface off.
- Use only on colorfast surfaces.
- Do not mix bleach with other cleaning products.
- If using a spray bottle, label it clearly.
- Estimated cost reflects consumable bleach only and will vary by brand and store pricing.
from taking classes on sanitation for childcare, i learned you should only use cold water with bleach, because hot water causes it to loose its strength. and it needs to be made a new batch every day because the chlorine evaporates. i never knew this, always used hot water with bleach.