Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

This is a recipe that I have been using to clean our home for nearly 10 years now. I use it for cleaning pretty much everything.

The tea tree oil is anti-bacterial without being toxic. It is a bit of an initial outlay, but as you only use a few drops, it lasts for years. It also gives everything a wonderful clean smell.

The vinegar also has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. It also helps fight mould.

The cleaner is easy to make: just mix the vinegar, water and a little tea tree oil (or essential oils of choice – mix and match to get your favourite scent), in a spray bottle.

There’s your all-purpose cleaner for just a few cents.

Save money, reduce chemical toxins in the home and reduce waste: the bottle gets reused over and over for years.

For tougher marks, this all-purpose cleaner can be combined with  bicarb soda

Simply spray your surface, sprinkle on a little bicarb and wipe until the stains and tough grime is gone. A little bicarb goes a long way – don’t use too much otherwise you’ll end up with a powdery residue.

Other pure essential oils with anti-bacterial properties include eucalyptus, Manuka, rosemary, thyme, oregano, lemon myrtle or lavender, to name a few. Citrus oils smell great and are also quite inexpensive. Don’t use cheap synthetic oils, they don’t have the same properties as pure essential oils.