Inside: Tired of the smell of vinegar but love the cleaning power? Try this easy to make lemon vinegar cleaner. It smells like lemons and will do a great job of cleaning. This lemon cleaner is amazing!
My sister has been telling me for the past couple of years how great vinegar is for cleaning. She uses a vinegar and water mix as an all-purpose cleaner for her kitchen and bath. Although I knew that vinegar makes a great cleaner and deodorizer I wouldn't use it. Every time I tried to use it to clean the smell bothered me too much. So, when a couple months ago I saw on Bob Vila Tip of the Day this homemade Lemon Vinegar Cleaner recipe and I finally decided to give it a try. I love how inexpensive it is and the lemon really helps with the vinegar smell.
I had a lemon that was getting ready to go bad so I used it. Just cut the lemons up and put them in a spray bottle. Then fill the spray bottle up with 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water.
Then I just let the spray bottle sit for three weeks. The original recipe for the lemon vinegar cleaner recommends two weeks, but I waited an extra week. If you really dislike the vinegar smell I recommend the extra week. At the end of three weeks, my spray bottle looked like it had lemonade in it. It smelled a lot like lemonade too. The overwhelming vinegar smell was completely gone.
You can use this homemade lemon vinegar cleaner to clean windows, bathrooms, kitchens and more. Vinegar kills bacteria and germs so you can use it in your bathroom for around the sinks and toilets. You can also mix a 1/2 cup of the lemon vinegar in a gallon of warm water and use it to mop. I love the light lemon smell that this leaves behind. This is a great way to save money instead of buying cleaning products. The only place I wouldn't recommend using it is on your granite. The vinegar can etch the stone. If you are looking for a good cleaner for your granite check out the one here.
Lemon Vinegar Cleaner
1 Lemon
2 Cups Water
2 Cups Vinegar
Cut lemons into small wedges. Put the lemon slices in a spray bottle. Add two cups water and two cups vinegar and put on the lid. Allow to sit for 2-3 weeks until the vinegar smell has reduced. Use the lemon vinegar cleaner around the kitchen and bath as an all purpose cleaner.
Evonia says
Lemon - Vinegar water is also great for removing cat or urine smells on washable items. Just wipe the item clean of any visible urine. Spray on the solution and make sure it dries completely. The smells are gone because the oily residue from the urine is broken down by the solution and the drying process evaporates the moisture.
Julie Sellers says
Thanks! I will have to try that next time my dog has an accident.
Munchkintime says
I need to try this. My girls love to wash windows and i love how this spray has no chemicals in it perfect for kiddos to use . Thank you so much for sharing, pinning it!
Julie says
Your welcome!
Kathy H says
Do the little bits of lemon not clog up the sprayer?
Julie says
I haven't had a problem with that before. If you want you can always take out the lemons after they sit for a couple of weeks.
Mimi says
Can I use pure lemon juice instead of lemon slices?
Julie says
I have never tried pure lemon juice, but I don't see why not? Maybe try a tablespoon or two? I would love to hear how it turns out.
Jessica says
Did you use distilled white vinegar?
Julie says
Yes, just plain distilled white vinegar.
Caitlin says
How long does it keep for? I would worry about it fermenting or molding as the lemons still have some sugar in them.
Julie says
I have had some for over 6 months without any problems.
Nicole says
how do you get the lemons out of the bottle when you are ready to make a new batch? or do you just buy a new bottle each time?
Julie says
I cut the lemons up in small enough pieces that I can shake them out. They usually start to disintegrate as they are in there so they fall out pretty easy. If not I use a chopstick to work a piece out.
Shera says
I just whipped this up tonight. Does it need
to be kept in the refrigerator? Thanks for sharing!
Julie says
No, I just keep mine in the cleaning closet with the rest of my cleaners.