It’s time for our next homemade cleaning product recipe!
Again, I absolutely LOVE making my own cleaning products for several reasons, including:
- Healthier
- Cheaper
- Safe for our kids to use
- Easier (I can make most of them in just a couple of minutes, vs. running out and needing to get more at the store)
- More fun
- I also know exactly what is in them!
So, it’s time for our simple recipe that we use to create a homemade DIY dusting spray with lemon that is a frugal and healthier replacement to the commercial product Pledge.
I make 4 oz. at a time and store it in a glass spray bottle. It realistically will keep for only 2-3 months since it is made with natural ingredients, so the smaller bottle ensures that I don’t have to throw any out after a few months.
Here’s the ingredients:
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup water (purified or boiled and cooled)
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil
We have talked about Lemon Essential Oil many times on our site as it is such a great item to have on hand for natural cleaning and natural solutions to many issues. In fact, you can read up on 17 Helpful Household Uses for Lemon Essential Oil HERE. Then we also talk about the different qualities and purities of the essential oils and the 7 Best Essential Oils for Cleaning in this post HERE along with where you can get it for less.
Now this particular combination of ingredients for a dusting spray is intended to do a few things – clean, disinfect and moisturize/nourish the woods and furniture that you intend to dust. This combination will do all of that. *Now like with any homemade product, you will always want to test a small inconspicuous area on the item you intend to use this on before a full use and application to test it!
Here’s how to make this dusting spray:
- Just add the water and vinegar first, using a funnel.
- Then add the olive oil and essential oils.
- Put the spray lid on and shake vigorously.
You are probably already asking – “since it is oil, vinegar and water…. it won’t mix?” Yes, you are right! It is much like Italian Dressing, before you use it, you have to shake it to mix it and pour immediately on your salad. Same concept here.
How to use it:
- To use it, first…. shake it up!
- Then I spray a rag or microfiber cloth with the spray and then wipe the surface. I don’t spray the surface directly.
Before
and After
Enjoy the natural and effective results!
Visit our Cleaning Page HERE for Over 2 Dozen Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes
See our Cleaning Pinterest Board and our Homemade Products Pinterest Board
Haley
If someone doesn’t have any essential oils is it still possible to make?
Cassie
Hi Haley, Yes, you can omit the essential oil. There will be just a little less shine, a little less cleaning power and a scent from the vinegar – but the vinegar smell only lasts a couple of minutes before it fades. However, it is still going to be effective in it’s job 🙂 Essential oils basically take it from a good product to a great product!
Pat Crawford
Do you have a good recipe for killing ants. We have our house sprayed on the outside but still get ants in the house! Thank you
Meg
Borax and honey will kill ants.
Mis a pinch of borax into a tablespoon of honey.
Put mixture into a small glass jar. Drill a hole, large enough for the ants to enter. in the lid towards the edge. Lay the jar on it’s side and leave in the path of the ants. You will get a flurry of activity in the first couple of days. And then you won’t see another ant.
This mixture can be used inside and out.
Warning! Borax is a poison. The jar will protect your pets and children from accidental poisoning. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling borax.
Meg
*Mix
Marcia Hesse
Use regular corn meal that you buy at the grocery store. It is non toxic to pets. We have used it when we had carpenter ants and they love it! The corn meal absorbs the liquid in their bodies and they die of dehydration.
Shanice
I am going to have to try this! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams on Fridays 😀 Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.
Michelle
I used a solution of with olive oil off of Pinterest and it left a sticky residue after a while. At first it was great. Loved the shine and I didn’t have to dust as often but I had to go back to pledge. Ugh! I think I’ll try your solution.
Tiffany
Does it have to be lemon essential oil? I have lemon balm, lemon grass, but no plain lemon:/ Do you have any other good alternatives?
Cassie
Hi Tiffany – I am not sure about the other oils. Lavender would be good! Also, probably any other citrus based oils. Perhaps try any of those. You could also omit the essential oil. It will still be a decent dusting spray!
Jolee
I use lemon grass oil in mine. It works and smells amazing!
Megan
Do you have a more printer-friendly version of this, like your other cleaner recipes?
Johanna
Wait a minute, I just read on another pin to definitely NOT use olive oil to clean wood because it will go rancid and stinky? ?
Catherine K
Thanks for this! Do you know how many expensive cans of Pledge I’ve thrown away because the nozzle froze up before the can was empty?!
Katrina Penders
Do u need the olive oil? Need to dust badly and only have vinegar and oils :/
Cassie
Hi Katrina – olive oil is recommended, but other natural oils like avocado oil might work. You really can’t use canola or vegetable oil. It doesn’t work the same in the furniture as olive oil.