Inside: Are you 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, a couple of months ago I saw this homemade Lemon Vinegar Cleaner recipe on Bob Vila Tip of the Day, and I finally decided to try it. I love how inexpensive it is; the lemon helps with the smell of vinegar.
If you want the cleaning power of vinegar with a better smell check out this lemon and vinegar cleaner.
Why It Works
Vinegar is one of those powerful all-natural cleaners. Vinegar disinfects, degreases, removes hard water, is non-toxic, and inexpensive.
Lemon is a degreaser and smells great! It will help offset the smell from the vinegar.
Where Not To Use It
Before we get started there are a few places I recommend not using vinegar.
- Stones such as granite and marble
- Unfinished Hardwood Floors
Lemon Vinegar Cleaner
To make the lemon vinegar cleaner you will need a few things. Although it takes only a few minutes to make you will need to let it sit for a while.
Items Needed:
- Lemon
- Vinegar (just plain white vinegar)
- Spray bottle (I love these glass bottles from Amazon)
- Canning Jar
- Funnel
Note: You will need 1 lemon to make this lemon vinegar cleaner. I have used them when they are getting old so just about any lemon works.
Step 1: Slice the lemon up into pieces small enough that will fit in your spray bottle or canning jar. I cut them up pretty small so they are easy to get out.
Step 2: Place the lemons in the jar.
Step 3: Next, you will want to fill approximately half of the spray bottle with vinegar.
Step 4: Then fill the spray bottle the rest of the way up with water.
Step 5: Lastly, you will want to let the spray bottle sit with the lemons and vinegar in it. I recommend letting it sit for at least one week.
Three is usually best to get the best smell from the lemons. 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.
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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 lemon vinegar in a gallon of warm water and use it to mop. I love to use this in my favorite homemade floor cleaner to give it some extra lemon smell.
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 or marble. The vinegar can etch the stone. If you are looking for a good cleaner for your granite check out the one here.
I also wouldn't recommend it on unfinished hardwoods.
Lemon Vinegar Cleaner
Equipment
- 1 Knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 spray bottle or canning jar
- 1 funnel
Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- 2 cups vinegar
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Slice the lemon up into pieces small enough that will fit in your spray bottle or canning jar. I cut them up pretty small so they are easy to get out.
- Place the lemons in the jar.
- Next, you will want to fill approximately half of the spray bottle with vinegar.
- Then fill the spray bottle the rest of the way up with water.
- Lastly, you will want to let the spray bottle sit with the lemons and vinegar in it. I recommend letting it sit for at least one week.
Notes
This easy to make lemon vinegar spray will last for years. Because vinegar can help preserve foods the lemon in the vinegar will keep from getting rancid.
Yes! You don't need all the toxic chemicals to clean and disinfect your home. Vinegar is a non-toxic disinfectant that cleans as well as the commercial cleaners.
Of course! If you have just a leftover lemon peel from a recipe you can use it too. I like to use the whole lemon for a heavier lemon smell, but either will work.
No, it works fine to be stored in a pantry. I just keep mine with my cleaning supplies.
Yes, much like lemons oranges will add a nice smell to your vinegar cleaner. Plus they also have antibacterial properties.
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.
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.
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.
Jessica says
Did you use distilled white vinegar?
Julie says
Yes, just plain distilled white vinegar.
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.
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.
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!
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.